THREE BROTHERS SHOW THAT DISABILITY CAN BE BEATEN WITH A SMILE

By Ray White

The Makaya Brothers are inseparable. They are often seen hanging out together, each with a smile, and ready with a hug.

They are not only bonded by being brothers, but also all live with profound intellectual disability.

Tshepo, Pule and Gontshe reside at LITTLE EDEN Society’s Elvira Rota Village in Bapsfontein, where every need is taken care of. 

Well except one. Gontshe needs a new reclining wheelchair, which caters for his every move.

But more on that later. First the story of the three brothers.

All three boys were diagnosed with Profound Intellectual Disability and Cerebral Palsy at an early age.

Their mother says she was not informed by hospital staff after birth that her children were living with these conditions and only found out much later.

The family lived in a rented outside room in Graceland, Mpumalanga, where five people shared a single space.

Although the room was kept neat and tidy, it was far too small to accommodate five individuals, especially considering the special needs of the three boys.

And looking after a large family is financially difficult – especially when both parents are unemployed. 

In 2009, the boys’ mother made the difficult decision to place the three boys in foster care so that she could seek employment. 

With a court order, all three brothers were admitted to LITTLE EDEN Society on 21 September 2009.

The parents visit the boys from time to time.

However, in 2024, they delivered more news. 

They disclosed that they had two more children – a 6-year-old son, who has the same condition as his brothers and a 4-year-old daughter, who appears unaffected.

The youngsters love a visit from their siblings and mom and are now used to a bigger family – albeit they don’t live with them.