By Nomonde Makaula

Grahamstown - The Eastern Cape Social Development Department has set aside more than R32-million to achieve its objectives of alleviating the plight of people living with disabilities in the province.

The department's disability and development head Namhla Dekeda announced this yesterday. Dekeda was speaking at the handing over of a minibus worth R150 000 and development materials worth R18 000 to the Grahamstown Area Distress Relief Association (Gadra) by the national lottery operator Uthingo Trust.

The minibus would be used to transport visually impaired people involved in the association's eight-month training course to and from their homes. The centre offers training in carpentry, pottery, and weaving to more than 100 disabled people in the area.

Dekeda commended the Uthingo Trust for helping to relieve poverty and ease the plight of the disabled.

"It is encouraging to see the corporate sector getting involved in projects for the sick and aged, an area that private companies had shied away from in the past."

She said people living with disabilities were particularly vulnerable to poverty. However, the department's objectives for this financial year included increasing their social and economic activity.

For this reason, she mentioned the department had set aside R10,8-million to integrate the disabled in existing poverty alleviation programmes and R21,8-million to support NGOs working with the disabled in the province.
- BuaNews

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