The disability activist

Leonard found that many people with disabilities in Kokstad had difficult lives. Some of them were neglected or hidden away in a back room by their families. Others lived in poverty. Many of them did not know about their rights as disabled people.

Leonard also discovered that people in the community had negative attitudes towards people with disabilities. They thought that people with disabilities could not do anything for themselves. Some people pitied them, others were ashamed of them. Leonard realised that people with disabilities had to unite to change this situation.

Leonard mobilized people with disabilities in Kokstad. Together they formed a new organisation, the Mount Currie Disabled People’s Organisation (MCDPO). It is named after the huge mountain which lies behind Kokstad. The launch of the MCDPO was held at the Kokstad Town Hall in March 1999. Children with disabilities performed music and drama and there were

Kokstad City Lovers under 14 team with head coach, Leonard Gregory, and co-officials at Mthatha Independence Stadium during the national under 14 Transnet Soccer Club Championships (2000)

One of its greatest achievements was to hold a gathering on June 16th, 1999, National Youth Day. On that day, children with disabilities met with ablebodied children from mainstream schools. Disabled youth choirs performed music and drama. Children with disabilities made speeches. The non-disabled children and the children with disabilities found that they enjoyed the same things. Afterwards the children with disabilities said that the able-bodied children treated them with respect. They were very grateful to the MCDPO for arranging the event.

The MCDPO has also helped deal with the housing crisis facing people with disabilities. Many of these people did not have their own houses and lived in poor conditions. The MCDPO helped them to get houses from the town council. For many people this was the first time they had a house of their own.

Another problem that people with disabilities face is unemployment. They cannot get jobs because employers do not want people with disabilities as workers. So the MCDPO set up a welding and carpentry workshop in some old municipal offices. Using skilled people with disabilities, MCDPO members were trained as welders and carpenters. The organisation won a welding contract from the municipality.

Leonard sharing his testimony to encourage people in the Kokstad Assemblies of God Church.

The organisation also fixes wheelchairs at its workshop. In this way it makes some money for the organisation. This money is used to buy new equipment. What is left is shared among the members.

Leonard and the MCDPO built up strong relationships with the municipality, the provincial government, nongovernmental organisations and professional soccer teams. The ex-Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Lionel Mtshali, spoke at MCDPO events. Soccer teams like Bush Bucks played at their celebrations.

Leonard uses his contacts in the soccer world to help improve the lives of people with disabilities. The MCDPO has many plans for the future. It wants to start a crèche for children with disabilities and a literacy programme for adults.

“Disability shouldn’t stop you,” Leonard says to people with disabilities. “You can participate fully in your communities.”

Leonard’s message to the community is simple. “People with disabilities have so much to offer. Members of the community should change their attitudes so that everyone can benefit from the contribution of disabled people.”

Leonard receives recognition from Bishop William J. Slattery for his achievement in coaching soccer (1999).

Leonard the activist is no longer a soccer star. Now he is an excellent soccer coach, but he has also found a new role – disability activist. Even today people still call him “Shoes”!

Leonard “Shoes” Gregory with Mlungisi “Professor” Ngubane and Leonard’s son, Lee Gregory (2000)