DISABLED MAN’S DREAM TO BE SOLDIER SHATTERED

SIPHOFANENI – His intention was to defy all odds when he took part in the army recruitment exercise but his journey ended before it began. This is the story of 37-year-old Sifiso Nhleko who has a disability.

He wanted to try his luck at Siphofaneni Constituency where the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF) was recruiting for this year’s intake, but he went home a dejected man after being told that people with disabilities could not be considered in the army.
Nhleko interchanges between the use of a wheelchair and crutches.

He arrived at the place as early as 8am after travelling a 10-kilometre journey as he is from around the area. His sole intention was to try his luck in the recruitment of the only two people to join the army.
He said he travelled by bus after public transport operators and his wife, Nomphumelelo assisted him to board it.

Nhleko was not given an opportunity to do any of the exercises and was disqualified immediately after he got off his wheelchair.
He was further informed that people in his condition were not permitted to partake in the exercises as they would get injured while running.
 A few years ago, Sir Charles Guthrie, Britain’s most senior military officer, triggered a debate about who should be allowed into the forces after he told the Royal Services Institute in London that people with disabilities had ‘no right’ to serve.

Nhleko, who holds a Diploma in Computer Science, said he was disappointed that he was not even afforded a chance to try and run on his crutches by the recruitment instructors.

“Since I have a certificate, I felt I would be accepted in the army and do other types of work, which do not require any fitness levels within the force. I am currently unemployed after finishing my diploma in 2008,” he said.

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