Zondani firmly in driver’s seat
Wheelchair- bound Relly Zondani passed his drivers licence in June and would like to help other people with disabilities by teaching them to drive.
Zondani successfully completed the Eastern Cape Disability Economic Empowerment Trust (ECDEET) and Disabled People South Africa (DBSA) driver training programme and received his driver’s licence.
He now wants to encourage other people to apply for the programme.
“I first got my learners licence in 2011 and it expired because I didn’t have access to driving [a car] and I had never driven before. I had to write another [learners licence] test and this time I knew that I had to get my licence and I have. It’s a huge relief.”
Zondani said in his spare time he would also like to help his former driving instructor Mawande Majali by teaching disabled people how to drive.
“There are some things that Mawande does not understand about disabled people, so I could come in and help where I can.
“Now, I’ll be able to buy myself a car when I have enough money and I won’t depend on people to take me around or depend on public transport,” he said.
The programme was launched in April and the aim is to complement job creation initiatives, whereby young disabled people gain the skills that can help them find employment.
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) bought an automatic Honda Brio while Vodacom donated R10000 towards maintenance of the car.
Chief executive officer at ECDEET Thabiso Phethuka said they were very excited to have had their first person get a driver’s licence in the programme. “We are very happy because we have had a challenge with an instructor but to get someone pass the test makes up for all the challenges we have been faced with.”
Interested people can call DPSA office on (043) 722-7222.
BY QHAMANI LINGANI