Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu to meet with disability veterans in Milpark – Gauteng Province
The struggle for emancipation of persons with disabilities can be traced back from apartheid era where the rights of persons with disabilities were not recognised. In South Africa, some of the veterans who fought for the rights of persons with disabilities is the late Friday Mavuso, a paraplegic and founder of Self-Help Association of Paraplegics (Shap), a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) in Soweto, established with the aim of providing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The year 2015 saw approval of the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (WPRPD) by Cabinet. The White Paper commits duty bearers to realising the rights of persons with disabilities and recognise the need to accelerate the implementation of existing legislation that advocate equality for persons with disabilities in all areas of life.
This year, Disability Rights Awareness Month is commemorated under the theme, “Strengthening Self-Representation: Young People Building on the Legacy of OR Tambo and Friday Mavuso towards an Inclusive 2010.”
The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mrs Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, will on Thursday, November 30, meet with veterans from within the disability sector in Parktown, Johannesburg. The meeting seeks to afford the veterans an opportunity to reflect, share their own experiences and roles played to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities.
The Deputy Minister will later today deliver a position paper on disability during a debate on Disability Inclusive Development. The debate will reflect on the NDP’s call for accelerated efforts to ensure the mainstreaming of disability considerations into all facets of planning, service delivery and development interventions aimed at fighting poverty, unemployment and inequality.
Members of the media are invited to attend both events planned as follows:
Programme - Disability Veterans Meeting
Date: Thursday, November 30, 2017
Time: 12h30
Venue: Sunnyside Park Hotel, Princess of Wales Terrace & Carse O'Gowrie Rd, Parktown, Johannesburg
Programme - OR Tambo Debate on Disability Inclusive Development
Date: Thursday, November 30, 2017
Time: 18h00
Venue: Wits School of Law at Chalsty Auditorium, Braamfontein West Campus – Johannesburg
Media can RSVP by contacting
Mr Jaconia Kobue on 063 249 5120 / JaconiaK@dsd.gov.za or
Mr Justice Malapane on 079 4977 426 / JusticeD@dsd.gov.za
Media inquiries may be forwarded to:
Ms Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
Email: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
