Ayesha an inspiration to the disabled

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - "Aim high, dream big, keep smiling and remember: if one door closes for you, another will open!" These were the words of encouragement that disabled wheelchair basketball player Ayesha Majavie gave to the crowd at the Kranshoek Community Centre on Friday 1 September.

Ayesha was the guest speaker at a combined Kranshoek Neighbourhood Watch (KNHW)/police function to highlight crime affecting the disabled and show a united front against crime.

"Disabled people matter," said KNHW coordinator Michelle Jantjies. "The disabled are not considered when it comes to crime, but, like everyone else, they're vulnerable."

Ayesha, who was born disabled and is currently studying for a diploma to become a business assistant, said being disabled is not the end of one's life, but perseverance is important.

In her case she took up wheelchair basketball and was selected for the SA wheelchair basketball team, but the tournament never happened because of Covid-19. Ayesha, who revels in participation, showed off her skills in a demonstration match during the festivities.

"It does not matter what you look like physically, it is how you look from the inside…" She said it was the help of her mother and other family members that enabled her to learn to live with her disability and being wheelchair-bound, and even to start playing wheelchair basketball.

Friday's NHW festivities started with an exercise warm-up session led by police sector manager Sergeant Jonathan Jansen, followed by the netball match, egg-race for officials and a "wheelchair challenge".

Afterwards there were a number of games on offer like "klipgooi", fruit match, dominoes and painting.

Sergeant Jonathan Jansen, SAPS sector manager in Kranshoek, leads a group of community members in a warm-up session at the Kranshoek Community Hall. Photo: Chris van Gass