Protest highlights plight of the disabled in Makhuduthamaga

JANE FURSE – Makhuduthamaga Disability Forum, led by Chairperson Mahlakwane, staged a protest at the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality (MLM) offices in Jane Furse on Thursday 8 January 2026.

They were demanding recognition of people living with disabilities and response to their memorandum submitted on 18 July 2025.

The group ended up spending a night at the municipality entrance after their visit was ignored by officials.

The forum alleges that the municipality sidelines people living with disabilities, failing to provide adequate support and representation.

The protest highlighted several key demands, including the identification of permanent posts to be contested by people with disabilities, such as Disability Desk, Sign Language Interpreter, and Braille Machine Operator.

The forum also seeks to ensure that at least five disabled business owners render services to the municipality and that 20 EPWP and five CWP positions are allocated per cluster.

Their Infrastructure demands include the provision of RDP houses and toilets, free electricity for unemployed people with disabilities, and the paving or tarring of roads leading to Jane Furse Special School and Matobole Special School.

The forum also requests the installation of an elevator in the municipal main building and the regravelling of villages where people with disabilities reside.

Additionally, the forum demands that disability events be respected and honoured, and that the budget for disability be reviewed to accommodate calendar events and quarterly forum meetings. They also seek stipends for disability forum members and adequate transport allocation for people with disabilities attending events.

Mahlakwane expressed frustration that the municipality has not provided a clear response to their demands.

He stated that they are concerned that positions meant for people with disabilities are occupied by those without disabilities.

MLM is yet to respond to the publication’s enquiries.