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Shifting perspective: Multotec’s Bheka Majola’s day in a wheelchair
In a bold and eye-opening exercise to promote inclusion and awareness, Bheka Majola, Managing Director - South Africa at Multotec, took part in the annual Little Eden CEO Wheelchair Campaign, gaining firsthand insight into disability challenges. The Little Eden’s annual CEO wheelchair challenge is a fundraising and awareness campaign where business leaders are encouraged to spend a workday in a wheelchair to raise awareness for the challenges faced by people with disabilities, particularly those at Little Eden Society.
Each year, a different member of the executive team participates in the challenge. This year was Majola’s turn, following in the footsteps of colleagues who had taken part before. "We do it to better understand what still needs to be improved in our work environment—not just physically, but also in terms of our diversity and inclusion aspirations,” he explained. His biggest revelation? Just how difficult and uncomfortable even basic movement can become when using a wheelchair. Sharing his experience he said, “You start to notice all the small things you usually take for granted—stairs, steep ramps, inaccessible bathrooms. Even something like getting into a lift becomes a challenge.”
While Multotec does not currently employ any wheelchair users, it does have employees with various disabilities. Since 2016, Multotec has run an annual learnership programme for people living with disabilities, successfully absorbing 21 participants into permanent employment to date. The experience underscored how much still needs to be done to make the workplace more accessible. “We’ve made progress in some areas, but it’s clear we still have a long way to go,” Majola noted, especially considering the company’s industrial and factory layout, which presents additional challenges for mobility.
Beyond physical accessibility, Majola said the initiative sparked deeper reflection on how people with various disabilities are perceived and treated in the workplace. “There’s often a tendency to over-accommodate or to treat people differently in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. We forget they’re just people—sometimes needing certain accommodations, but not special treatment,” he highlighted.
He emphasised the importance of creating opportunities for genuine understanding. “One of our colleagues once invited a friend who uses a wheelchair to speak with our team about their lived experiences. That kind of engagement sticks with you—it makes you stop and think.”
Majola’s advice to other leaders and companies is to get involved. “Experience it firsthand if you can. Talk to people with disabilities. And most importantly, treat them with the respect and normalcy you'd offer any colleague. With better understanding, we can build a workplace that’s not just diverse, but truly inclusive,” he concluded.
Credit: Mining Review Africa