By Waaqiah Jaffer
Picture by Waaqiah Jaffer
In commemorating Mandela Day, the Department of Roads and Public Works and the Independent Development Trust (IDT) fulfilled Tshepiso Nqgoko’s dream to establish Lukhanyo Autism Daycare Centre, named after her son Lukhanyo.
MEC for Department of Roads and Public Works, Fufe Makatong, flanked by Head of Department from her office, Dr Johnny Mackay and Francis Baard District Director, Vuyani Mihlawli, marked the day by starting renovating a dilapidated building at the old West End Hospital to accommodate a center for autistic children. The renovation will be completed in February 2024.
Thabane Monambi from the IDT said, “This initiative will create job opportunities for twenty young people who obtained the necessary skills through the SETA program.”
“It was brought to our attention that the dilapidated buildings in the old West End Hospital are a haven for crime. Hence, we are happy to hand over this building for a good cause. The building will be leased for R50 to Lukhanyo Autism Daycare Centre for the next five years,” mentioned Makatong.
This project will also assist the Department of Education, which struggles to place autistic children in schools. It will be the first Autism Centre in Kimberley. The MEC pleaded with the community of Kimberley to inform parents with children with autism about the center.
An excited Lukhanyo’s mom, said “we wanted to start the center in 2018 but struggled to find suitable accommodation. Autistic children need special attention. Each class will have two teachers and an assistant. The program will start with twenty children placed in five classes.”
The Centre will officially open in January 2024. “We want to play a part in helping children with autism to build confidence and develop self-esteem. We want them to feel valued and appreciated by everyone because they are special and talented in different ways,” continued Ngqoko.
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