JOE GQABI DEVELOPMENT CENTRE HOSTS DISABILITY AWARENESS SESSION

By Sipho Ncube

• The Gauteng Department of Social Development hosted a Disability Awareness session at the Joe Gqabi Integrated Development Centre in Soweto to educate residents on disability-related issues and provide essential information on accessing government services.
• The session featured representatives from various state departments who shared insights on disability grants, the importance of valid identification for grant applications, and legal advice on identity document management.
• The session highlighted the importance of empowering people with disabilities by promoting their skills, providing access to necessary resources, and ensuring legal protections for all residents.

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

Speaking at the session, Ntombekhaya Swekile from the Gauteng Provincial Association for Persons with Disabilities highlighted the organisation’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), emphasised that applicants for state-issued grants must be South African citizens with valid identity documents. She noted that disability grant applications would be rejected if the applicant’s condition could be stabilised 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.