Help Get Our Community Back on the Road: Potchefstroom Dienssentrum Faces Critical Loss After Bus Accident

Charlene Bekker
Jun 9
2 min read

For more than 42 years, the Potchefstroom Dienssentrum (Service Centre) has stood as a cornerstone of support, care, and practical assistance for vulnerable residents across the local community. However, the registered non-profit and welfare organisation has recently suffered a devastating setback that threatens the independence of hundreds of local citizens.

Their specialized, wheelchair-accessible bus was recently involved in a major accident and has officially been declared a total loss.

A Lifeline Disrupted

This was no ordinary vehicle. Equipped with a custom hydraulic wheelchair lift, it was the only vehicle of its kind in Potchefstroom specifically designed to transport wheelchair users safely and with dignity.

For 259 community members, this bus was quite literally a lifeline. It served as a bridge to essential medical care, rehabilitation services, and medication collection.

For many elderly residents with limited mobility and individuals living with severe disabilities, it was their only reliable means of transport,allowing them to step out of isolation and remain active, visible members of society.

Without it, conventional transport is simply not an option for these residents, leaving them cut off from critical healthcare and daily independence.

How the Community Can Help

As a non-profit organization, the Potchefstroom Dienssentrum relies entirely on the generosity and collective spirit of the community to sustain its vital services. The loss of this vehicle has left a massive gap, and the urgent mission now is to raise the necessary funds to replace it and get this essential service back on the road.

A fundraising campaign has been launched via BackaBuddy to help the centre recover from this crisis. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings the community one step closer to restoring dignity and mobility to 259 of Potchefstroom's most vulnerable residents.

Get in Touch & Support

If you would like to donate, partner with the centre, or find out more about the fundraising initiative, please reach out via the official channels below:

Back-a-Buddy : Click Here