Muhammmad Salie van Niekerk, from Portland, middle, celebrated his 50th birthday recently with friends and colleagues at Cafe Classique, in Westgate Mall. Also pictured are, at back, from left, Muhammad Nur and Shamila van Niekerk, Sheikh Ibrahim Gabriels, teacher Ayesha Gabriels and also Haafith Abdullah Sonday.
One of the founder members of the Greater Bulls sports organisation for people with disabilities, wheelchair user Muhammmad Salie van Niekerk, from Portland, celebrated his 50th birthday recently with friends and colleagues at Cafe Classique, in Westgate Mall.
A long-time supporter of wheelchair sport, including wheelchair basketball, Van Niekerk, who works as the marketing manager at the popular cafe, spent years helping to raise awareness and a little bit of funds, for the now-defunct Greater Bulls sports organisation.
“I want to remind other wheelchair users that, we are what we are, but we have to fight for what we believe in, ” he said. “Every day is a challenge for me, but there’s nothing that I can’t face,” he said.
Imran Paleker, a long-time friend and employer, says Van Niekerk decided that he would like to start a campaign to raise funds to assist others facing physical disabilities.
Paleker said Van Niekerk would like to raise funds for wheelchair sports especially, and he hopes to raise enough money to gift wheelchairs to disabled sports players and others in need of mobility.
Van Niekerk would like to be able to help them raise funds for the servicing of their wheelchairs too as they need a well-maintained wheelchair.
With the continuous support from the wider community, Van Niekerk is confident that he will be able to help as many people as possible in the months to come.
If you’d like to assist or get involved, call 061 4716481 or 061 188 3715. .