Gold Reef'sCity Policy towards Blind People

Gold Reef'sCity Policy towards Blind People

I am a blind sugar diabetic.I was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 6. I reside with my dad who is a retired pensioner. My dad is my primary caretaker.

In 1993 I lost my right vision due to the diabetes.In 1998 I was shot in my lower back as a result of a stray bullet.I have a L5 back injury as a result of the gunshot.In 2013 I lost my left vision due to a detached retinaf urther complicated by the diabetes.

In June 2013 I lost my left vision due to a detached retina and became fully blind.

I am currently a student at Optima College in Pretoria.

On the 28th of October 2017 Optima college organised a trip for the blind and partially blind students to go to Gold Reef City.We departed from our college after 9 a.m. and arrived at Gold Reef City at 10:36 a.m.

We stood at the main entrance and waited for 2 hours to set foot in the theme park. After all arrangements were made with management in the preceding weeks we still had to wait in queues for such a prolonged period of time. As blind people we still get discrimanatedagainst by management of Gold Reef City.

Before proceeding further into the theme park the organisers told us that therewere rides that we could not go on as management felt that they were a risk to blind people.

It is quite amazing that in the case of blind people all things become a risk to us. Never mind the fact that we were accompanied by fully sighted and partially sighted people as our guides at the theme park.

Before proceeding to go on the rides we were split into 6 groups with a fully sighted and partially sighted members as part of the group. We were given a list of rides that we could go on. In total that worked out to 4 rides out of the 8 rides that are available for normal sighted people.

We proceeded to our first ride which was the big wheel. Upon arriving there we were told that we were unable to go on the ride as we did not have the required armband to proceed with the ride. Again management discriminated against the blind by not issuing us with the required armbands at the entrance gate. After contacting the supervisor we were finally authorised with the required permission to proceed with the ride.

After the ride we walked around the theme park to go to the next ride. As a blind person I pointed out the features as they were described to me. The reason I could do this was because I was a sighted person before I went totally blind and in the past I have visited the theme park numerous times since 1992 onwards.

We then proceeded to the next ride which was the Jozi Express and stood in the queue to await our turn to go on the ride. After waiting for an hour in the queue we got to the platform to embark on the ride.We were told by the ride attendant that we couldnot go on that ride as it was a danger to blind people. Our sighted guide then called for the supervisor to enquire the valid reasons why we could not go on that ride. After waiting another 30 minutes the supervisor finally attended to our enquiry. The supervisor told our guide that the ride was dangerous for us because of safety reasons and the ride might stop due to power failure. The supervisor was clearly lying to us as the ride had been operating fine the whole time that we were in the theme park.

So, in other words as soon as blind people arrive at any ride the ride will break down due to the fact that we are blind people. This obviously does not occur when sighted people want to go on any ride. Again management discriminates against blind and disabled people.

In other words, if any ride breaks down the blame will automatically fall on disabled and blind people.

This is utter ******* as blind people in other countries go to theme parks and enjoy any ride without any complications. There are blind people that go skiing and participate in extreme sports without any problems at all. The disasters only start when blind and disabled people visit Gold Reef City theme park. Management have a scripted speech which they deliver to the blind and disabledpeople without providing any valid reasons. So the message is clear:

If you are blind or disabled you are not welcome at Gold Reef City theme park at all as you will not be allowed to go on all the rides that you want to go on. That is the reason why blind and disabled people will not attain their full potential due to people always trying to dictate to us what we can and can't do.

That is why blind and disabled people will always achieve more in their lives than any normally sighted persons will ever do.