JOE GQABI DEVELOPMENT CENTRE HOSTS DISABILITY AWARENESS

By Sipho Ncube

• Last Friday, the Gauteng Department of Social Development held a Disability awareness event in Protea Glen, Soweto.
• Representatives from various state departments provided information on disability grants, mobility aids, and the importance of identity document security.
• Speakers emphasized the need for South African citizens with valid IDs to apply for grants and warned against the illegal practice of selling IDs to foreign nationals.

Last Friday, the Gauteng Department of Social Development in the Central Corridor hosted a Disability awareness event at the Joe Gqabi Integrated Development Centre in Protea Glen, Soweto. The event aimed to educate residents about Disability and featured representatives from various state departments.

Speaking at the event, Ntombekhaya Swekile, from the Gauteng Provincial Association for Persons with Disabilities, highlighted the organization’s efforts to promote the skills and talents of people with disabilities and assist them in accessing state grants, pensions, and mobility aids like wheelchairs.

Ntombifuthi Ntanda, representing the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), emphasized that applicants for state-issued grants must be South African citizens with valid identity documents. She noted that applications for Disability Grants would be rejected if the applicant’s condition could be stabilized with medication.

Mapaseka Shabangu from the Department of Home Affairs advised attendees against selling their IDs to foreign nationals, warning of legal consequences for those who do. She also recommended that landlords keep a copy of their foreign tenants’ passports for identification purposes.