By Boitumelo Mahlabela
Reakgona Disability Centre (RDC) hosted a vibrant and engaging event on 5 September to celebrate National Casual Day. Held in collaboration with the South African Women Lawyers Association Student Chapter (SAWLASC) and Vhundwao Foundation, the celebration aimed to unite the broader University of Limpopo community with RDC students through inclusive fun and games.
Ntungu Mulele, Orientation and Mobility Practitioner of the Reakgona Diability Centre and project manager. Photo by: Forgive Hlongwane
RDC Orientation and Mobility Practitioner and project manager, Ntungu Mutulele, explained the event’s purpose and broader significance. “The RDC has partnered with the National Council for and of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), which fundraises for disability centres in South Africa,” she said. “Since this year’s theme for RDC is Beyond the Label, besides academic excellence this day is to raise awareness to the university community that we, as RDC, can also play those games play chess, play 30 Seconds, and skip rope.”
Mutulele emphasised that the games were selected by RDC students themselves, reinforcing their agency and participation in student life, “This shows that we have the ability.”
From The left, Tsholofelo Maliba, third level student of LLB and the chairperson of SAWLASC sitting with the founder and CEO of Vhudwao founder Mabunda Vhuhomi. Photo by: Forgive Hlongwane
SAWLASC Chairperson and third-year LLB student, Tsholofelo Maliba, shared the organisation’s motivation. “We aim to fight for marginalised communities and advocate for those who are pushed aside because they do not meet social expectations. We fight for everyone regardless of race, ability, or gender.” She added that such events help bridge gaps, “It gives them a chance to have conversations and know us, so that even in the future workplace they are able to advocate for all to be included.”
Students expressed how meaningful the day was. Final-year Communication Studies student, Bafana Seerane, shared, “We go to school expecting to be hired, so we hope that with such activities awareness could be raised for our future employers to see that we have the potential to fit in.” Similarly, third-year Translation and Linguistics student, Khakhodwe Thabo, appreciated the practical approach “Playing games, staying away from raising awareness only through talking people can see we are able to do what they can do.”
Students who came to support, playing 30 seconds’ game. Photo by: Forgive Hlongwane
Other students across campus also joined in. Third-year BSc student, Thabang Mpahlele, said, “I wanted to join in on the games and was looking forward to playing chess, but the highlight was dancing to step tsa manyalo.” Second-year Language and Communication student, Lebogang Kgwote, added, “I was excited to play Monopoly. I love playing games.”
Partially blind students of the RDC with the project manager popping a balloon. Photo by: Forgive Hlongwane
The day featured a variety of activities, including chess, Monopoly, 30 Seconds, card games, and skipping rope. It concluded on a lively note with energetic step tsa manyalo dances, which had the crowd on their feet joining in.
The RDC’s Casual Day celebration was a successful display of inclusion, fun, and student unity an inspiring reminder that everyone deserves a space to participate and be seen.
Students gathered at the front to dance to pleasure tsa manyalo stepe songs. Photo by: Forgive Hlongwane
