Walking up to 10km a day or attempting to access unreliable public transport is a thing of the past
for therapists and field workers at a KwaZulu-Natal south coast organisation committed to assisting
historically disadvantaged children with disabilities and barriers to learning, thanks to a R660 000
vehicle donation.
Port Shepstone-based Siyakwazi has long supported teachers and parents with tools, resources and
methods to assist local children with disabilities. Its programmes include therapy, mentoring and
oversight and the delivery of resources.
Its outreach efforts have, however, been severely stunted because of a lack of transport, resulting in
its therapists and field workers having to use public transport and even resorting to walking in order
to reach those it serves.
Recognising the vital work the organisation undertakes on behalf of children with disabilities and
learning challenges and the difficulties staff faced in meeting a growing need for such support, the
South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) recently stepped into the breach, providing a
vehicle, valued at R660 000.
Commenting on its vehicle donation, SAMCT representative, Mr Gaff Osman, said: “The provision of
a vehicle will significantly ease the toll on the organisation’s staff, save time and will be a strategic
step towards Siyakwazi’s future growth and expansion aspirations.”
Statistics indicate that some 500 000 South African children with disabilities, aged five and over, do
not attend any educational institution. Of this number, some 117 000 are located in KwaZulu-Natal,
with many hidden away at home and denied the opportunity to learn. Parents, guardians and even
some teachers are unaware of the potential that all children have to learn, function, communicate
and participate with other children, in spite of their learning challenges.
Siyakwazi focuses on on-site school, early childhood development centre and family home visits and
is involved in the development of unique learning programmes, support for families and the
distribution of resources, including – in some instances – relief food parcels for those in need.
Mr Osman said: “Having a dedicated vehicle will now enable Siyakwazi staff to reach increased
numbers of marginalised children suffering disabilities and learning challenges, and their families. It
will give effect to enabling the more efficient distribution of resources, whilst ensuring the more
effective provision of its support visits and mentoring and monitoring initiatives.”
The SAMCT was created in 2008, the result of a partnership between Old Mutual Unit Trusts and Al
Baraka Bank, for the creation, marketing and distribution of a suite of Shariah Funds.
This has ensured that the SAMCT is the beneficiary of this Shariah suite of funds, enabling it to
provide funding, services and other resources for the improvement of the lives of the vulnerable,
deprived and disadvantaged. It has been singularly successful in delivering sizeable assistance
solutions throughout South Africa – irrespective of race or religion – and continues to work to
support needy organisations in the fields of social development, poverty alleviation, healthcare and
education.
Mr Osman added that the Siyakwazi had displayed massive operational growth since the completion
in 2019 of its resource centre, but that its efforts in the field had been sadly stunted as a
consequence of its lack of transport; a capital expense which was simply beyond the organisation’s
financial capability.
“The addition now of a vehicle is critical to their taking the steps necessary to become a truly
independent community-based organisation and one which is undertaking vital work in correcting
misconceptions about children with disabilities and learning challenges, while ensuring their
inclusion in the overall educational system, thus affording them the opportunity to also realise their
potential,” Mr Osman said.
For more information about SAMCT or its Siyakwazi vehicle donation, please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer
Tel: 084 506 2280
Email: samct@samct.co.za