March 10, 2005
By Bafana Nzimande
Maggie Khumalo is presented with her new wheelchair by councillor
Christine Walters (left) and regional director for Region 6, Patrick
Luphunya (right)
ALL Maggie Khumalo wanted was a wheelchair, and a wheelchair is exactly what she got. The 100-year-old Soweto resident received the gift when Christine Walters, the mayoral committee member for social development, paid her a surprise visit on Wednesday, 9 March 2005.
A delegation from the City - of Walters; Patrick Lephunya, the director of Region 6; and councillors Vusi Mtshali, Petros Kunene, Hezekial Monnakgotla, Fani Maseko and Janet Putsoa - presented the wheelchair after Khumalo's grandchildren approached numerous local councillors and Region 6's social development department to help find funds for a new wheelchair for their granny.
The years have taken their toll on Khumalo, who can no longer walk because of her age. "Though we do not have enough funds to assist every local resident, we felt it was our responsibility to assist the Khumalo family because of the sensitivity surrounding their case as it directly deals with one of our mature residents," Lephunya said.
"We have been sent here by Councillor Amos Masondo [the mayor] to deliver his gift to you," Walters said, as she presented the chair. "We hope it will enable you to move around the house with ease and also enable you to go to church."
Delighted family members and neighbours shouted with joy and clapped loudly. Khumalo was overwhelmed. "Does it move?" she asked, as she was carried to her new acquisition.
Granny Khumalo opted to put her new "wheels" to the test outdoors, tackling the newly tarred Mpanza Street outside her home. "God is amazing. Today He has sent his angels to my house. God is amazing," shouted Khumalo as she wheeled down the street.
A grateful Maggie Khumalo bursts into tears. Alongside are (back row)
Stephen Ramarata, councillor Petros Kunene, councillor Vusi Mtshali
(front row) councillor Christine Walters, councillor Janet Putsoa and
Patrick Luphunya, regional manager for Region 6
Monnakgotla said the presentation was part of the government's Batho Pele programme, which is aimed at providing basic services to people. "Today's presentation is also meant to send a message to people that our government cannot deliver services to silent people," he said, urging eligible people to apply for subsidies or grants.
Region 6 had recently conducted a campaign, registering more than 4 000 local senior residents for social grant packages, Lephunya said. Its social development department planned to set up social clubs and centres for senior citizens where they could have free massages, free meals and exercise sessions once a month.
"All these centres will be managed by well-trained staff." The first of the senior citizen centres would open soon at Naledi Hall.
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