Wheelchair-Bound Man Relates Railway Horror

By Bame Piet
Staff Writer | Monday April 30, 2007 00:00

Ramolaise, who stays outside campus, narrated in a telephone interview how last month his wheelchair got stuck on a railway line that passes through the village. He said it was not the first time that he has experienced the ordeal, saying the way the level crossing is built is not user-friendly for the wheelchair-bound traveller. He said his wheelchair often gets entangled in the rail slippers and that can be quite a nightmare. He counts himself lucky that no speeding train has ever found him stranded between the rail tracks.
'In many cases I was lucky that passers-by came to my rescue by extricating me and my wheelchair from the spot,' he said. 

Ramolaise, who hails from Molepolole, claimed that despite accommodation on campus being available, he was ordered at short notice to leave Camphill premises to find accommodation in the village. 

He says that he travels a long distance to work and is always tired by the time he reports for duty. 'When they ordered me out I tried to plead with management to give me temporary accommodation but they refused. I was lucky to find a house to move into,' he said. 

Ramolaise stays alone. 

Meanwhile, Camphill Trust's secretary Andreas Groth has confirmed receiving allegations of abuse from disabled employees and Otse South councillor Haggy Isaacs, who have written to the South East District Commissioner (DC).

Groth further confirmed that they were investigating the allegations and steps would be taken against any perpetrators.  Councillor Isaacs is fuming, wondering why the SEDC and DC have taken so long to investigate the allegations.  He said he submitted his letter to the DC on March 7 this year and they promised to take action but up to now he has not been updated on any progress. 

Contacted for comment, the DC said he was not aware of the allegations and that he was not prepared for any telephone interviews.

Attempts to get a comment from the Department of Public Health in the Ministry of Health, which is responsible for centres for people with disabilities, were futile. Motse wa Badiri is part of Camphill Rankoromane villages for the disabled. Others are Legodimo Trust, Rankoromane School of Disabled, Nursery and Vegetable Production, and Godisa and their subsidiaries.  Government partly funds the running of the centre.