On Saturday evening, 23 October 2021 the body of 41-year-old Nomvula Ester Mtsweni was unfortunately discovered near Brendan Village, not very far from where her vehicle was found.
Nomvula Ester Mtsweni
Mtsweni, who was residing at Embalenhle Ext 4, was last seen on Sunday evening, 17 October 2021 when she went to close the gate after parking her vehicle inside the yard. The victim’s daughter who was inside the house heard her mom screaming, when she went out of the house to check, she saw her mom’s car being driven out of the yard, taking off at high speed.
Mtsweni has never returned home since. She was wearing a cream-white T-shirt, navy blue jeans and blue slippers at the time of her disappearance.
Nomvula’s body was found with bruises on her body and there are reports that she had been tied with wire.
A murder case was opened, and an investigation is underway.
Police at Embalenhle urged members of the public to assist with information on the whereabouts of the suspect(s) to contact Detective Sergeant Theodorah Mthimunye at 076 106 2984 or call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111.
Community members can also send information via MYSAPSApp.
All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
27 years on and Emzinoni residents are still fed empty promises for water
The executive mayor of Govan Mbeki Municipality started an outreach program to residents of Govan Mbeki Municipality.
These outreach programs are seen as election ploys by most opposition parties. Repairs and Maintenance that should have been done throughout the year are being tackled at a high rate that surprised even some residents.
The Mayor recently worked in Emzinoni and even gravelled some roads. The response on the GMM Facebook page was very negative.
Gravelled road in Emzinoni
It is also very noticeable that some of the people accompanying the Mayor in his outreaches wear political party regalia.
The Democratic Alliance responded with a press statement.
Facebook messages
“The DA in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality notes the further empty promises being made by the Executive Mayor, Nhlakanipho Zuma, by using outreach programmes as a campaign strategy,” said DA Councillor James Masango
Zuma recently campaigned in Emzinoni informal settlement and promised water and extra taps to the people. Some officials were seen in ANC regalia and the mayor was wearing red SACPregalia while this was an outreach program funded by the municipality and ultimately the taxpayer.
DA Councillor James Masango
Many residents in Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) complain of water outages daily where there are taps.
Early this year, the DA wrote to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to intervene since several areas in GMM experienced a lack of water for weeks.
This was during hard lockdown while people were in quarantine without water and others were being exposed to vulnerability due to a lack of water to wash their hands regularly in the midst of the pandemic. Their response to the SAHRC was that they are busy dealing with the problem. However, water problems remain in GMM.
Failure to replace old water pipes is causing pipe bursts all over GMM. What makes it worse is that our municipality is in business terms bankrupt and should have been liquidated long ago if it was not an institution of government. The GMM owes Rand Water close to R340 million.
“It can’t pay Rand Water its outstanding account and sometimes fails to pay the amount agreed upon in the 40 days that Rand Water has graced the municipality to pay in,” said James, “In addition, it is farfetched to think that the ANC-led municipality will ever pay this account when it fails to attend to the fact that the municipality loses 30% of the water that it purchases consistently.”
The DA discovered that the 50 boreholes that are said to be installed in farming communities are dysfunctional.
Water tankers are also not delivering water as required despite farm dwellers reporting to the municipality on a regular basis and residents will go for weeks before the municipality finally sends out a water tanker.
Water is a basic constitutional requirement and water is life. Therefore, getting water is not a favour from the government but a right.
“As we have in the municipalities where we govern, the DA will ensure that residents have access to clean and reliable water,” James continued, “On the 1st November 2021, the residents of GMM will have the opportunity to allow the DA to bring much-needed change to the municipality.”
“Vote for the same ANC with empty promises and corruption or vote for the DA and get things done,” said James
‘N groep dames het hulle hare afgesny en aan Cansa geskenk
“n Paar vroue het die groot stap geneem om hulle lang hare af te sny en aan Cansa te skenk.
Om hare te groei neem nogal lank en meeste mense sny nie maklik lang stukke af nie. Om hierdie groot stap te neem verg oortuiging en braafheid.
Jeanine Maré het die hare sny gereël. “Ek het baie mense op my Facebook blad wat kanker het,” het Jeanine gesê, “daar is ‘n paar waarby ek betrokke was en dit het my oortuig om weer my hare af te sny.”
“Ek het een more opgestaan en besluit ek wou iets anders doen met my hare,” het ‘n emosionele Elzaan du Plessis gesê, “ek het besluit om van my hare aan kanker te skenk mits hulle dit vir ‘n dogtertjie gebruik.”
Dit is die tweede keer dat Jeanine en Elzaan hulle hare afsny en aan Cansa skenk.
Monika Bekker het ook ‘n nou band met kanker aangesien sy haar ouma, wat baie na aan haar was, aan kanker afgestaan het. “Ek het by Jeanine gehoor hoe die proses werk en besluit ek wil deel word daarvan.”
Jeanine het aan die werk gespring, Cansa gekontak en al die reelings daar getref. Daar is ook ‘n paar ander mense wat alreeds hulle hare afgesny het wat dit dan nou aan Jeanine stuur om saam met hulle hare na Nelspruit te versend.
Jeanine het ‘n paar mense gekontak en gevra of hulle ook betrokke wil raak en hulle het dadelik ja gesê.
Jeanine Maré
Elzaan van Smack Professional Make-up, Chantel van Liefling Photography, Debbie van Design No5 Hairsalon en Adele van Turn Style My Style het ingespring om die dag spesiaal te maak.
Adele het aan die Bulletin gesê dat sy normaalweg mense geen geld vra om die hare af te sny as hulle hulle hare wil skenk aan Cansa nie. Sy kan ook advies gee en die pruike stileer.
Elzaan du Plessis
Nadat Elzaan van Smack hulle grimering gedoen het was dit tyd vir fotos neem my Liefling Fotografie.
Monika Bekker
Die Bulletin het weer by Jeanine en Elzaan aangesluit waar Adele hulle hare gesny het. Jeanine het ongeveer 42 cm afgesny en Elzaan 30 cm. Monika se hare word eersdaags gesny.
Die reaksie van Jeanine en Elzaan op die hare wat afgesny was het gewissel van opgewondendheid, ongeloof en emosie.
‘N voordeel van pruike (in teenstelling met ander hoofdeksels) is hoe ‘n pruik ons laat loop deur die lewe te voel as’ normaal ‘. As jy ‘n pruik dra (en wenkbroue op verf), kan jy die simpatieke voorkoms vermy.
Beide sintetiese en menslike hare word gebruik om pruike te maak. Menslike hare pruike lyk en voel meer natuurlik, maar is ook moeiliker om te sorg en baie duurder.
Vereistes vir haarskenking
Die vereistes vir haarskenking kan wissel, maar in die algemeen:
Hare moet skoon en droog wees en in ‘n braid of poniestert geplaas word voordat dit gesny word.
Net jou natuurlike hare word aanvaar; geen hare uitbreidings, dreadlocks, of pruike.
Jou poniestert of braid moet ‘n sekere lengte wees om aanvaar te word. Krullerige hare kan reguit getrek word om die meting te maak.
Sommige organisasies aanvaar grys hare, en sommige doen nie.
Gebleikte hare, selfs al is dit net hoogtepunte, mag nie geskenk word nie
Sommige organisasies aanvaar hare wat geplaas is, terwyl ander nie.
Vir privaatheidsdoeleindes is donateurs nie gekoppel aan ontvangers nie.
Die meeste organisasies laat jou toe om jou hare by jou gereelde stilis te sny en dan na hul plek te stuur.
Baie van hierdie organisasies sal jou ‘n sertifikaat gee om jou hare te skenk.
Hare skenkings is net een metode waardeur mense wat met kanker kan lewe, kan ondersteun. As jy op soek is na ‘n broodnodige en waardige rede, is bewustheid en befondsing vir longkanker ver agter dié van sommige ander kankers
PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER WELCOMES TRIPLE LIFE SENTENCE PLUS 53 YEARS HANDED DOWN TO RAPIST AND MURDERER
Nelspruit: 22 October 2021 – The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has welcomed a hefty sentence handed down to a rapist and murderer. Mfanasibili Cornelius Mnisi, aged 29 was sentenced by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Mbombela yesterday, 21 October 2021.
Mfanasibili Cornelius Mnisi (29)
The court was satisfied with the evidence that was brought by the state against Mnisi, who terrorised defenceless women between December 2011 and November 2015. The court then took the decision to remove him from society for a very long time so that women would walk freely, knowing that one of the perpetrators of Gender-Based-Violence is behind bars.
The court heard how in December 2011, the accused took advantage of an 18-year-old woman after she lost contact with her friends at a certain tavern in Matsulu. Mnisi offered to take her home but detoured along the way and drove to his house with her and upon arrival, held her hostage using a knife then raped her.
Mnisi went on to prey on another woman, aged 29 in October 2014. The woman was on her way to catch a bus to work in the morning. The accused offered to take her to the bus stop. He instead took her to a secluded area where he raped her upon arrival and strangled her to death.
The accused then dumped her body in a river thereafter. Her body was later recovered by a member of the public who alerted the police and a case was opened accordingly with an investigation instituted where a manhunt was launched for the suspect.
In November 2015, the accused preyed on a 20-year-old woman where he invited her to visit him at Matsulu. Mnisi introduced the victim to one of his family members but later took her to a secluded area at night where he raped and strangled her until she was unconscious.
The accused thought that the woman was dead and as a result, he dumped her at the Kruger National Park. She later regained consciousness and found an opening in the fence where she got help from people at the houses nearby. Police were informed as well about the incident where a case was opened accordingly.
A team of Detectives from FCS at Kanyamazane worked tirelessly to locate and arrest the suspect. A breakthrough was made when they cornered Mnisi at Matsulu in November 2015. He was charged accordingly and the state successfully opposed his bail which implied that he went on trial whilst remanded in custody until he was convicted on 15 October 2021 hence his sentence as follows:
The accused was given three life sentences on two counts of rape and on one count of murder. Mnisi was also sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for another separate count of rape. He was further slapped with 15 years imprisonment for robbery plus an extra 15 years for another separate robbery. For defeating the ends of justice, The accused was sentenced to three years imprisonment. Meanwhile, he received 10 years imprisonment for a count of attempted murder.
The accused was also found to be unfit to possess a firearm and his name will be entered into the register of sexual offenders. The Provincial Commissioner further indicated that the police are elated with the collaborative effort made by the investigating team, the Prosecution and the Judiciary. The sentence will definitely serve as a deterrence to others who might think of emulating the actions of the accused.
The Friends of the Thistle Grove Library hosted their second Spelling Bee on Wednesday.
Spelling Bee! What is it?
A spelling bee is a competition in which contestants are asked to spell a broad selection of words, usually with a varying degree of difficulty.
The origin story of just why it is called a spelling ‘bee’ is actually fairly unique. The ‘bee’ in ‘spelling bee’ is an alteration of a word that meant ‘the voluntary help given by neighbours toward the accomplishment of a particular task’. This descends from the Middle-English word of ‘bene’. Before we had the term ‘spelling bee’ we had a few other terms that sounded much more competitive such as ‘trials in spelling’, ‘spelling combat’ and ‘spell down’.
The spelling bee and its name has come to us from America and first appeared in print in 1875 – that makes it a pretty old tradition! The name spelling bee is said to have originated from the Middle English word ‘bene’, which means ‘a prayer’ or ‘a favour’. In England, this has developed into a dialect form of this word – ‘been’. This refers to the voluntary help given by neighbours toward the accomplishment of a particular task.
This word, like many others, has developed and changed a lot over time. By the late 1700s, the word ‘bee’ was used to describe a group gathering together to accomplish a task – words such as ‘spinning bee’, ‘quilting bee’ and ‘husking bee’ were fairly common.
Enough of the background! Let’s get to the important stuff.
The Spelling Bee, hosted by Friends of the Thistle Grove Library, was held at the Kinross Sasol Club in Thistle Grove.
Pupils from several schools around Kinross participated.
Highveld Muslim School
Osizweni Primary School
Sasolia Primary School
Thistle Grove Combined School
Emdibini Primary School
Kinross Primary School
Highveld Muslim School took first place in the school’s competition with Sasolia Primary second and Thistle Grove Combined school third.
Yolanda Motloung, Sasolia Primary, took overall first place with Nyambi Thembelihle from Kinross Primary school in second and Zinhle Promise Koto from Thistle Grove Combined School in third place
Strict time-keeping protocols were in place and the pupils had to concentrate hard to spell the words correctly. The disappointment on their faces was difficult to hide when they made a mistake and misspelt a certain word.
Adv Tracy Keen, Louise Saunders, Kasegle Moodley, Zika Makama and Nosipho Hlogwane acted as the judges and made sure that every spelling was correctly captured and judged. Thank you to all the judges for your dedication.
Witney Rasaka spoke to the Bulletin about the Friends of the Thistle Grove Library and the Spelling Bee, “we wanted to give the kids a set of words that they can take through school that they may not have learned in the class.”
Witney can be contacted on 0794532752 if you would like to know more or get involved
The students were very enthusiastic about the spelling and took it quite seriously. Preparing for a spelling bee is just like preparing for any other kind of spelling test or competition. The key is to simply practice, practice, practice! It also helps to read a lot.
Libraries are the perfect place to practice as there are a lot of books to read. These books vary in topic, writing style and language. The bottom line is to read and to read a lot
30 pupils took part in the Spelling Bee
There are other programs promoting the Spelling Bee’s. One such program is from the Department of Basic Education. They wrote on their website: “As part of the Read to Lead Campaign, the DBE hosts the DBE Spelling Bee South Africa (National spelling bee championship) and promotes the love of reading through the promotion of reading clubs in schools, annually.”
Spelling is one of the fundamentals of a language and as Witney said, “we are losing our identity if we cannot spell.”
Please support the Friends of the Thistle Grove library in the excellent work that they are doing in getting the community together and educating the young children.
Thank you to the following sponsors for making this day possible:
A SECURITY GUARD AND TWO SUSPECTS DUE TO APPEAR BEFORE COURT ON CHARGES RELATED TO ROBBERY
Nelspruit: 21 October 2021 – A security guard, aged 36 together with two other suspects aged 40 and 28 respectively are due to appear before the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court today, Thursday, 21 October 2021 on allegations related to a robbery that occurred on Saturday, 09 October 2021 in the Witbank CBD.
According to information, on the said day, two security guards were on duty, assigned to collect cash from various businesses in Witbank. After midday, one of the guards was accosted by two armed suspects who held him hostage. The suspects then robbed him of cash as well as a firearm with ammunition before they fled the scene in a white VW Polo.
Police at Witbank were informed about the incident and a case was opened whereby an investigation began with a launch of the manhunt for the suspects. However, during the tour of their probe, members realised that something was not adding up in the trail of information provided by one of the guards. It then surfaced that he (security official) was a suspect in the case and he was arrested. Further investigation led police to Vosman, outside Witbank where they arrested two more suspects. During their arrest, police recovered two firearms in their possession hence their court appearance.
The three were charged accordingly and the security guard is facing a charge of conspiracy to commit an armed robbery as well as defeating the ends of justice. Meanwhile, the ones that were arrested in Vosman are facing charges related to being in possession of firearms and ammunition. One of the recovered firearms is believed to have been taken from the security guard during the robbery. The firearms will form part of the investigation and police cannot rule out the possibility of linking the men to other crimes committed elsewhere.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has praised members for the arrest as well as recovery of the firearms.
PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER WELCOMES ARREST OF SUSPECT PREVIOUSLY SOUGHT FOR SERIOUS CASES
Nelspruit: 21 October 2021 – The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has welcomed the arrest of a 35-year-old male suspect that was previously sought by police in connection with serious cases, including murder, rape, pointing a person with a firearm, business robbery, hijacking and kidnapping, amongst others.
According to the report, on Friday, 15 October 2021, SAPS members from Mpumalanga’s Murder and Robbery and Taxi Violence Unit in collaboration with Detectives from Dennilton Police Station in Limpopo Province, conducted an intelligence-driven operation seeking the said suspect. The suspect was wanted on cases that were registered in both Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province.
He was then arrested at Motetema (Limpopo) and police reportedly found him in possession of a firearm which records show was taken during a robbery at Vaalbank in February 2021. He was also reportedly found in possession of ammunition as well as a Ford Ranger Double Cab bakkie which was hijacked at Secunda in May 2020.
The man was also linked to other crimes committed in Limpopo and hence he was charged accordingly where he is expected to appear before various courts across the said province (Limpopo) and he is due to appear before the Secunda Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 26 October 2021 in connection with a murder case that reportedly occurred in May 2020 at Secunda. He will then attend various courts in the province on a number of charges.
Your pets need more than just food and water! Animals are sentient beings and if we want the privilege to share our lives with them, we need to make sure that all their needs are met, including behavioural enrichment which ALL animals need! If you consider your pet to be “naughty”, then you are not meeting their needs! Dogs for example will dig holes, bark, roll in stuff and more and although it is considered natural behaviour, when done excessively, it can be an indication of boredom and their needs not being met.
WHAT IS ENRICHMENT?
Behavioural enrichment is an animal husbandry principle that seeks to enhance the quality of captive animal care by identifying and providing the environmental stimuli necessary for optimal psychological and physiological well-being.
WHY IS ENRICHMENT IMPORTANT?
Enrichment allows animals to demonstrate their species-typical behaviour, gives them opportunity to exercise control or choice over their environment and enhances their well-being.
Photo by The Paw Company
TYPES OF ENRICHMENT
FOOD based enrichment is the most widely used method of enrichment as all animals require food to survive and the animals are also more inclined to interact. The aim of food-based enrichment is to prolong feeding times. The easiest way to do this is by dividing the animal’s daily diet into three or four separate feeds.
The PHYSICAL HABITAT of the animal plays an important role in its welfare, meeting its physical requirements and providing a positive environment for them to live in.
SOCIAL enrichment involves housing animals of different species with others that they would naturally associate with or encounter in the wild.
COGNITIVE enrichment includes novel objects that occupy the animal’s time in a captive setting. The sort of objects that you may see used in this way include Boomer balls, Kong toys, tyres, cardboard tubes and fireman’s hoses.
SENSORY enrichment can encompass any of the five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. The most common form of sensory enrichment used is olfactory enrichment, which uses sense of smell. Items such as safe plants, herbs and spices, catnip for the cats and more, can be put around the enclosure.
When deciding what environmental and behavioural enrichment is required, you might want to consider the WHAT-WHY-WHEN approach. This is a simple rule of thumb to help you develop an enrichment program.
WHAT does this species spend time and energy on in the wild or in their natural setting? The more time and energy spent on a behaviour can indicate how motivated that animal is to carry out the behaviour, and conversely how frustrated it will become if it cannot carry out the behaviour.
WHY does it carry out this behaviour? This helps prioritise the behaviours, as not all behaviours are equal. If the behaviour is a result of physiological evolution that supports the species and individual survival, it is probably important. Combine this with how much time and energy is spent on the behaviour in their natural setting, and it can provide guidance on what behaviours to encourage in captivity for positive experiences.
WHEN do species need to express certain behaviours? Animals will have different behavioural needs at different times of the day, season and life cycle. For example, nocturnal animals will need to be more stimulated at night, while pregnant or nursing mothers will require appropriate refuge and young animals will need appropriate social interactions and environmental stimulation for learning.
See some enrichment ideas below! 30 minutes a day is only 2% of your week! It is not much to ask, for a pet you choose to have and be responsible for.
Photo Frances McCormack
TIPS ABOUT ENRICHMENT (from The Mobile Vet Nurse)
Supervise
When introducing new forms of environmental enrichment for a cat or dog or any animal, they should always be supervised initially. Monitor for safety and enjoyment!
They’re all individual
Enrichment is not one size fits all. My idea of a fun hobby may not be the same as yours and the same is true for our pets. Try different things and see what your pet enjoys! Even within the same breed or specie, their likes and dislikes might differ.
Get Creative.
There is not an all-inclusive list of enrichment ideas. Read articles about enrichment. Talk to rehabilitation facilities, rescues and other pet owners about what they do. Would your pet like that?
Have fun!
Enrichment for your cat or dog or other pets is also an opportunity for you to improve the bond you have and have fun together! At the end of the day – we are different species who don’t speak the same language able to co-habitate and enjoy each other’s company. That’s pretty amazing!
Review
Enrichment isn’t a box to tick and move on! You need to keep it fresh and ensure your pet is still enjoying what’s on offer. The same thing gets boring after a while and as our pets age, their needs change too.
Photo by Dr. Karen Becker
YOUR GARDEN & YOUR DOG (by Dr. Karen Becker)
Don’t give up on your dream of having a great yard if you have a pet. Dogs and lush, non-toxic outdoor spaces can coexist!
Dads Charity visit the Sasol N17 Plaza today and donated to Marietjie school
It was time again for the yearly visit by cycling enthusiasts with great hearts.
Dads Charity visited the Sasol N17 Plaza today as they have been doing for the past few years. Last year, COVID played havoc with their plans but this year things are nearly back to normal.
“We would like to give to this community also, said Nadia from Dads Charity, “we will be donating R5000 to Marietjie school for learners with special education needs.”
DADS Charity is short for Dedicated Ambassadors Delivering Support to children in need (DADS)
Founded in 2005 with a very humble beginning, DADS Charity is a growing community making a difference. Born in cycling, their core mission is about doing what they love and using the resources available to them to make a difference to the people they support.
The focus is children and education through the four main charities they are connected to.
People don’t always support WHAT you do… they tend to connect more with WHY you do it. Our aim is to then always connect beyond that by highlighting the WHO.
By connecting our community with WHY we do what we do and for WHO – we are able to connect directly with the part of the brain that controls behaviour.
This is what being part of DADS is all about and we share a common purpose.
Founded in 2005 with a very humble beginning, DADS Charity is a growing brand & community making a difference. Born in cycling, our core mission is about doing what we love and using the resources available to us to make a difference in the lives of the people we support.
Our vision is in our name, being Dedicated Ambassadors Delivering Support to children in need.
The focus of our support is children and education through the 4 main charities we are currently connected to:
CHOC – Childhood Cancer Foundation of South Africa
TDSAG – The Down Syndrome Association of Gauteng
Kids Haven
Fulton School for the Deaf
The DADS community is connected through our WhatsApp group, Facebook page, Newsletters and various events. We raise support through time, money and things – connecting those who have to those who need it.
Not everyone has a budget to spend, but everyone is able to offer a skill, resource or a bit of their time to make a difference.
WHAT we do connects us, WHY we do it defines us and WHO we do it for inspires us to keep doing it. Anyone can be part of DADS Charity – get in touch with us today.
It is absolutely great that people such as those supporting the DADS Charity would invest in children with special needs.
So often society neglects these children.
Kids Haven
Kids Haven is in Benoni, in the Ekurhuleni Metro in Gauteng. The Organization has two sites in Benoni.
The center accommodates older boys age 12+ and is next door to our administration building and community preschool in Cranbourne Avenue in Benoni town.
We have six houses sharing a common garden in the nearby suburb of Mackenzie Park North. Our younger children and older girls live here.
Fulton School for the Deaf
Fulton School for the Deaf is an establishment devoted to the education of profoundly deaf and hearing-impaired children and offers them quality Pre-Primary, Primary and High School education. It is over 50 years old, founded in 1959, and has a proud history of achievement in its specialised educational field.
The school is situated at 8 Roosevelt Road, Gillitts (near Hillcrest, outside the city of Durban), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and is driven strongly by its Vision of “Excellence in Deaf Education” and lives by its motto “Intellego et Procedo (I Understand and I Advance)”. The school offers boarding facilities (Monday to Friday) to those children whose families live far afield. The school provides a daily bus service to Pinetown and surrounding areas for day scholars.
Fulton School for the Deaf is assisted financially by the Department of Education but relies heavily on private funding.
CHOC – Childhood Cancer Foundation of South Africa
CHOC is a non-profit organisation made up of caring, committed and passionate people who stand up for and support the well-being of children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer or life-threatening blood disorders and their families.
CHOC aims to save lives through early detection and making the journey of those who are affected by childhood cancer, less burdensome through the comprehensive support programmes we offer.
The Down Syndrome Association
In South Africa, Down syndrome is the largest single cause of intellectual disabilities, affecting 1 in every 500 children born each year.
Down syndrome is not a disease and is not contagious. It is a chromosomal disorder arising at conception. It is no one’s “fault”. It cannot be cured.
Down syndrome causes delays in intellectual development, and also affects physical and cognitive development.
