Programme Director,
Honourable Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities - Lulu Xingwana
Honourable Deputy Minister of Transport - Sindiswe Chikunga
MECs Present
Executive Mayors present
Managing Director of Airports Company South Africa - Mr Bongani Maseko
Special Rapporteur to UN on Disability - Mr Shuaib Chalklen
Chairperson of South African Disability Alliance and Gauteng Disability Rights Alliance
Representatives of organisations of people with disabilities
People of Gauteng with and without disabilities
When the United Nations passed a resolution to observe the third day of December of every year as the International Day of Disabled Persons, I believe delegates were inspired by a desire to challenge our moral consciousness to reconsider or redefine our perceptions on persons with disabilities.
This was undoubtedly an impermeable decision whose primary objective was to declare and protect the rights of people that may have endured hostile and inhumane treatment simply because their physicality appeared different or to put it bluntly; “unusual” before the eyes of many.
It was against such prejudices that the sitting in 1992 saw it befitting to institutionalise the manner in which such “unusual” persons would be helped, to find peace and acceptance throughout their coexistence with many that perceived themselves as physically abled, healthy or well.
With the advent of South Africa’s Democracy as anchored by a constitution that contains a Bill of Rights, we have evolved as a nation to overcome our prejudice by commemorating this day with the launch of the Integrated National Disability Strategy in 1997.
It is therefore for such reason that the Gauteng Provincial Government joins the world in recognising and embracing this month as important for people with disabilities and those that live amongst them. We therefore join hands and thoughts to endorse the United Nations Theme “Breaking barriers, open doors: For an Inclusive Society for All”. In our context in Gauteng, the Disability Month and 3 December International Day for People with Disabilities 2013 the theme is paraphrased as our rallying call; “Kuyasheshwa: Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all in Gauteng.”
I am honoured to open this ninth Airports Company South Africa Disability Trade and Lifestyle Expo and Conference.
This UN and conference’s theme of “Break barriers, open doors: for an inclusive society for all” is not just a slogan but a loud call to all people of Gauteng to champion and promote the meaningful and active participation of people with disabilities in all our work and productive activities.
The Gauteng Provincial Government is proud to be a partner to the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and organisations of people with disabilities in this event for the second consecutive year and look forward to doing so for years to come.
Last year we used this Trade and Lifestyle Expo & Conference to introduce the long-term plan for the future of the province called ‘Gauteng 2055’ to the disability sector. The Gauteng Planning Commission received good feedback in making this plan comprehensive with the inclusion of the interests of people with disabilities.
We are as a society about to celebrate 20 years of democracy and the achievements made towards a better life for all. One of those achievements has been to create a society that has begun to include delivery on the rights of people with disabilities. This events slogan, “Break barriers, open doors: for an inclusive society for all” also describes our struggle for freedom from the barriers of apartheid to the creation of a nation free of racial exclusion, oppression and prejudice based on the fundamental values of equality, freedom and justice for all.
The EXPO part of this event is an extensive public showcase of products, therapies and services specifically focused on the better lifestyles for people with disabilities. It benefits not only people with disabilities, but their families, siblings, spouses, friends and colleagues too. It has also assisted to show my MEC for Transport Mr Ismail Vadi, who addressed you last year, the extent of independence of people with disabilities and their needs for accessible transport and infrastructure.
On close scrutiny, the theme literally speaks to one of our key strategic priorities that point to the importance of creating a conducive environment of coexistence in which the aspirations of all are guarded and nurtured towards the development of a cohesive and progressive Gauteng society.
Of course with Gauteng being confirmed by Census 2011 as the most populated and the economic heartbeat of our country and Sub Saharan Africa, our Human Resource capital including people with disabilities, is central to our sustainability and the carrying out of the province’s socio-economic and political mandate of transforming our country.
In this event, we wish to also examine and appreciate the results emanating from efforts of humanity and diverse institutions that have been working together to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are not just contained in volumes of theory and rhetoric, but have been practically given life and meaning through various generous and measurable means.
May I therefore take this opportunity to welcome and appreciate your presence by assuring you that Gauteng’s obligation to care for its residents is offered unreservedly without prejudice to all that live in it.
I particularly appreciate the presence of members of our iconic SA Paralympic team and Mr Lucas Sithole, the winner of the British Open and the USA Open, whom I met in April at the ACSA International tennis tournament and his words to me “Nothing is impossible that’s why I try” serve as stirring inspiration for all of us. Lucas has made us a proud sporting nation.
I thank the innovation and hard work of all officials and commend you for assembling a plethora of fun and educative activities that consolidate all our efforts around people with disabilities.
May I also hasten to remind you that this occasion still forms a greater part of our Sixteen Days of Non-Violence and Abuse of Women and Children; yet another campaign that highlights the devastations of domestic violence in our communities. We have to remain vigilant and united in a fight against this sickness.
In addition, our activities follow another important day, the International Day of People Living with AIDS. I want to believe that at some point, our people with disabilities are or have been impacted by these two very unfortunate social ills and it would thus be naïve or tragic not to throw caution or a word in the context of this occasion.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Gauteng Provincial Government has made a significant contribution to South Africa’s country report on our implementation of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). We are implementing our obligations in terms of this convention which was signed by our government and ratified by our parliament.
Similarly, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), who are with us here today, and the Department of Social Development (DSD) have a partnership to break barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating in community development programmes. The partnership has yielded a Toyota Quantum vehicle, equipped with non-slip floors, hoist and anchoring devices for wheelchair users to each province.
On education, implementing the Inclusive Education Policy for Learners with Special Educational Needs has improved the quality of learning and teaching. The St Vincent’s School for the Deaf has a Deaf Principal, eight Deaf teachers and seven hearing teachers that can teach in South African Sign Language. One result of this has been a 75% rating for learners in Grade 1 on the national tests for English Language Learning.
In addition, the Gauteng Department of Education will formulate a new strategy to increase numbers of persons with disabilities benefiting from the skills development programmes and learner ships to meet the National Skills Strategy of 4% of all beneficiaries being people with disabilities.
On health, the Department of Health embarked on a process to implement Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) for children under three years old. The aim of ECI is to prevent disabilities from occurring, to pick up disabilities at an early age and to provide intervention to children as early as possible. We have also screened 200,000 learners from Grades 1 to 7 for barriers to learning and provided 641 learners with spectacles and 72 with hearing aids. The department continues to provide free health care to patients with disabilities who cannot afford it. Campaigns to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities including people with mental disabilities in the health system are underway.
Commemoration of the Albinism Month and the first Albinism conference took place at Birchwood on 25 to 27 October where over 600 people and children with albinism from all 9 provinces raised their concerns and came up with resolutions to take forward for the advancement of their rights. We also procured priority and biological packs during the Albinism Month.
An awareness programme targeting parents of children with disabilities was also conducted in partnership with SASSA, Health Department, various NPOs, Disabled Children Action Group and Mental Health. This campaign has thus far reached 600 parents of children with disabilities.
On safety, a programme called Dialogue in the Dark held for visually impaired people to interact with the MEC to address their safety needs and challenges was instituted. In addition, 30 Education and Awareness campaigns on the prevention of sexual assault and domestic violence against women with disabilities provided people with disabilities with tips and information on issues relating to their safety.
Disability Help Desks are also established at some of the police stations wherein blind rape survivors from the JHB Society for the Blind and retired professionals volunteer their services to assist disabled people with swift service. The desks are established to ensure that people with disabilities have access to services.
On inclusive economic growth, A partnership with the GEP,MODE, Disabled People South Africa and the Office of the Premier will result in 100 persons with disabilities being trained for one year in small business ventures. The Office of the Premier has facilitated the national launch of the “Disability Business Chamber” in which a database of all companies owned by entrepreneurs with disabilities registered with the Gauteng Department of Finance. Disabled entrepreneurs have GPG vendor numbers to do business with government. The Department set a target of 5% of all procurement spend to be allocated to business owned by people with disabilities.
Let me applaud organisers of this event for ensuring that all services delivered here today have been sourced from entrepreneurs with disabilities.
The Department of Roads and Transport has awarded work to erect bicycle racks for “Shova Kalula” bicycle programme to five companies owned by people with disabilities and has a partnerships with the Department Of Labour to have another such company to provide construction outfits and gear to the department
The Department of Local Government and Housing trained 20 people with disabilities (emerging contractors) from the Gauteng Province in the Business Development Training Programme (NQF Level 2). The training focused on bricklaying, plastering, project management and health safety in working areas
On rural communities and food security, the promotion of food security has created access to food security programmes and food gardening service for people with disabilities. Today, farmers with disabilities can access cooperative and other support services which are aimed at empowering them. For example, Ms Sindisiwe Sabela who was awarded Agri-Business Woman of the Year in Crops for Informal Markets last year has been to many countries for business opportunities.
On human settlements, The Gauteng Department of Local Government and Housing in partnership with Standard Bank handed over 10 newly built houses to people with special needs in Etwatwa, Daveyton. The bank donated 10 houses to beneficiaries who include a blind person, child headed household, pensioner and beneficiaries with other disabilities.
As government we would like to renew our commitment that 3 out of 10 houses that the Gauteng government builds must be accessible for and allocated to people with disabilities. These houses will be as close to all amenities as possible.
The MEC for Roads and Transport, Mr Ismail Vadi has promised to include the input of the South African Disability Rights Alliance (SADRA) into the five year and 25 year Integrated Transport Master Plan for Gauteng.
SADRA in collaboration with the National Department of Transport has put forward demands for the full inclusion of the needs of all people with disabilities, to enforceable national standards, into these transport plans.
In the Local Government sphere the needs of people with disabilities are part and parcel of Municipal Integrated Development Plan. Gauteng has ensured that 10 out of 3 614 Ward Committee members are people with disabilities.
The strategy to meet our target of 2% of all our staff being employees with disabilities includes the following;
- the coordination with the GDE and the GDF by the Office of the Premier to develop databases of school leavers with special needs for the purposes of facilitating the granting of bursaries, internships and learner ships.
- implementation of the Employment Equity Act and its Code of Good Practice by all departments as well as the Technical Assistance Guidelines on the Employment of People with Disabilities under the supervision of The Office of the Premier.
Funding of non-governmental organisations as partners of the government is provided to strengthen service delivery provided by the department to persons with disabilities in line with policies and legislation. During the 2013/14 financial year (1st Quarter) 107 NPOs for persons with disabilities were funded. We also recorded improved services to persons to persons with disabilities. As a result 5 850 persons with disabilities were reached through, advocacy, life and development skills rendered by NPOs. Commemoration of the Epilepsy Day on the 26th of June 2013 reached 220 persons at Ekurhuleni Region. Some departments distribute their annual reports in Braille to organisations advocating for the rights of blind people.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are proud to celebrate such recorded achievements as demonstration of our commitment to ensuring that the rights of people with disabilities are implemented and protected.
We do so with a thorough understanding that none of these could have been achieved were it not for the dedication and commitment of selfless people who have internalised the challenge of reaching out and making a difference in the lives of the deserving.
I therefore challenge all of us to collectively place the interest of others before our own so that our success is not measured by the pride that comes with office stratification, but by the volume of lives we shall have impacted in the course of executing our duties.
In closing, the great strides towards changing and improving the conditions of people with disabilities can be made if collaboration and forging of strategic partnerships with various role-players in society is promoted. So I would like to urge all of you from organisations of people with disabilities, professionals, and business persons to unite and work with us in government for equality and justice for the community of people with disabilities.
I wish you strength and progress in your deliberations. Enjoy this day and mark it in your calendar as one that reminds our consciousness to care, love, protect and create equal opportunities for all.
Dankie. Ngiyabonga.
