David Malatjie’s breakthrough…
… with help from Blind SA and the Tzaneen municipality
David Malatjie cried the day our Orientation & Mobility Practitioner visited.
It was partly his delight that somebody, finally, was reaching out to
help – and partly his shame at having to confess that his humble home
couldn’t offer his visitor the use of a toilet. It hasn’t been an easy
road for David.
A work accident in 2005 blinded David in his left eye, and he became
blind completely in 2010 – and then lost his job. While trying to come
to terms with his condition, his wife and son left because there was no
more income to meet their needs.
He waited six months to receive a disability grant, with his parents
managing to support him financially in the interim. But in 2014 his
parents passed on and he was left with no one to look after him.
David has spent most of his life in the mountainous, rocky surrounds of
Lepepane village, in the greater Tzaneen municipality. It was here that
our O&M Practitioner met and comforted him. David confessed that he
was often saddened by the local community who laughed at him and didn’t
care to assist him while struggling to find his way.
Our O&M Practitioner reported David’s circumstances to the
municipality through the local structure and to the district disability
co-ordinator. A site visit would be immediately undertaken with the
involvement of a local councillor.
According to the local authorities, David will now be offered
alternative accommodation funded by a local budget allocated for such
cases.
Additionally, David’s Orientation and Mobility training means he now has
the skills of normal daily living and will be able move around
independently using his new white cane.