SEE THE PERSON, NOT THE DISABILITY: DEPUTY MINISTER HENDRICKS CHAMPIONS INCLUSION AT MANGUZI GIJIMA

By Precious Mupenzi

• Deputy Minister Ganief Hendricks says disability inclusion must be part of everyday service delivery, not just special events.
• He reaffirms the principle of “Nothing about us without us” in the design of services.
• South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and the Department of Health plan to replicate the Manguzi Gijima model in other provinces, with Social Development’s support.

Persons with disabilities must have an equal opportunity to participate in community life and help shape the services that affect them, Deputy Minister of Social Development Mr Ganief Hendricks said at the Manguzi Gijima Sports and Wellness Day in KwaZulu-Natal today, 10 October 2026.

Speaking at Shayina Stadium in Manguzi, in the uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality, Hendricks called for disability inclusion to become part of everyday service delivery, extending beyond special events and awareness campaigns.

Held under the theme “I am not my disability – see my ability”, the annual initiative brings together sport, health services and community partnerships to promote the wellbeing and participation of persons with disabilities.
“We must see the person before we see the disability,” Hendricks said. “And we must create opportunities for people to participate, contribute, compete, lead and enjoy life on an equal basis.”

Healthcare workers at Manguzi Hospital established Manguzi Gijima in 2015 in response to the need for greater support for persons with disabilities in the uMkhanyakude District. It has since grown into a community initiative supported by the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), which coordinates stakeholders and mobilises resources.

Hendricks said the initiative demonstrated that health and wellbeing depended on more than access to hospitals and clinics. Physical activity, good nutrition, mental wellbeing and social connections were also essential, particularly for people facing isolation because of disability, poverty or age.

He encouraged communities to make healthy living accessible through everyday activities such as walking, rolling, dancing and playing together.
“Sometimes you simply need a friend who says, ‘Come, let’s walk.’ And sometimes you need a community that says, ‘Come, you belong here,'” he said.

The Deputy Minister linked the engagement to the Department of Social Development’s mandate to improve the quality of life of vulnerable individuals, families and communities. He emphasised the need for persons with disabilities to access social and health services, education, employment opportunities, sport and recreation.

Central to this work, he said, was listening to persons with disabilities and involving them in decisions.
“We cannot design services for people without involving the people who use those services,” Hendricks said, reaffirming the principle of “Nothing about us without us”.

He commended SANAC, the Department of Health, Manguzi Hospital, the Manguzi Gijima Foundation, organisations of persons with disabilities, traditional leadership, the municipality and civil society for their contributions.

Each partner brought something essential to the initiative, from government resources and local coordination to community knowledge and the lived experience of persons with disabilities.

The 2026 event also marked a transition, as SANAC, the Department of Health and their partners turned their attention to replicating the model in other provinces. SANAC identified the Department of Social Development as an invaluable stakeholder whose continued support would help advance this national expansion.

Hendricks welcomed the opportunity for Social Development to contribute to these efforts, stressing that the partnerships and lessons developed in Manguzi should continue.
“We must ensure that persons with disabilities are not only beneficiaries of programmes but are active participants, leaders and partners in shaping those programmes,” he said.
His message to participants was one of encouragement: “Your disability does not define the size of your dreams.”

The Deputy Minister emphasised that the lasting value of Manguzi Gijima lay in communities carrying its message of inclusion into daily life, ensuring that every person had the opportunity to belong, participate and contribute.

The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Thami Ntuli, and the Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Steve Letsike, also attended the engagement.