Building a better future for children with disabilities

Precious Seleke is an inventive community builder who envisioned starting an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre in the community of Maranteng near Postmasburg, Northern Cape.

Almost 30 years later, she is still running Lebelelang Centre for Disabilities (LCD), the first and only centre in her community that focuses on early childhood development, learners with severe to profound intellectual disabilities and skills development programmes.

“I started the centre from almost nothing in 1997and my plan has always been to take care of children in my community and ensure that they are introduced to educational programmes from an early age. While I was still attending high school, I used to be bothered by seeing young children loitering around the community every day before they started primary school and I had to come up with a plan,” she said.

For years, she faced challenges such as securing a permanent facility and retaining volunteers who work with her at the centre because they needed money. She had no funding to pay salaries and  because most people in her community are unemployed, she could not charge parents fees.

Recently, the LCD was unveiled and handed over to government for continued services, after construction through Social and Labour Plans by Kolomela Kumba Iron Ore Mine, Assmang Mine and Lesedi Power Projects.

The state-of-the-art facility houses 68 children, including children with moderate to severe disabilities with a vision to create an environment where all children can harness physical and social skills required to function in society.

“All these years, we have always welcomed all children, including those with disabilities because we want to teach them from an early age that every human being is equal regardless of their special needs. This helps to eliminate discrimination and bullying in society,” Seleke explained.

The centre has a total of five educators, four classrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, an administration block, ablution facilities and sporting grounds, with capacity for 120 learners. It also has a multi-purpose hall that can be repurposed for conferencing and training facilities to generate income.

The Deputy Minister of Social Development , Ganief  Hendricks joined the Northern Cape provincial government to accept the centre.

“As the department, we are committing to ensure that together with our partners this building will not be a white elephant. Together with the Department of Basic Education we will continue to lead the provision of ongoing training, governance and compliance support as well as subsidies towards sustainability of the centre,” said the Deputy Minister.

In 2019, the National Development Agency (NDA) identified the centre, and through its civil society organisation development framework, the centre was assisted with formal registration, capacity building, training and grant funding to erect a security fence for the safety of the children. Today, it remains compliant and can receive funding.

Kumba Iron Ore Mine executive officer Mpumi Zikalala handed over a further R1 million cheque to the establishment, followed by provincial MEC for Social Development, Youth, Women, and People Living with Disabilities, Nontobeko Vilakazi, with a cheque of R531,115.32. The chief executive officer of Assmang, Andre Joubert, also pledged a further R500,000.

Restoring dignity

Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul said the handing over of the facility restores dignity to persons with disabilities.

“This centre belongs to the community and we rely on them to take ownership and accountability for buildings delivered to them,” he said.

The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, encouraged other mining companies to contribute effective projects in communities.

“Development should be visible and should benefit the maximum number of people to bring down poverty. I am pleased to see a responsive and impactful programme such as this one,” he said.

Seleke said playing her part in developing and building her community is more important and that is why she has never looked back even when she faced many challenges in previous years.

Did you know?

Social Development Month is held in October in South Africa to highlight government programmes aimed at fighting poverty and creating a more caring society.