Twenty years of freedom brought enormous changes to the lives of all South Africans. Among the most significant is the right to life without discrimination and to be treated as an equal citizen. This was a major shift especially for people with disabilities who were previously discriminated against, neglected and marginalised.
Since the dawn of freedom, government has implemented a number policies and initiatives towards creating an inclusive society where people with disabilities can realise their full civil, political, economic, social, cultural their development rights and potential.
In support of our relentless drive to ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities, Deputy Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu last week handed over a computer centre adapted to meet the needs of students with intellectual disabilities at the Temogo Special School. It was one of many handovers that have taken place over the past year.
Speaking at a similar launch last month at the Bartimea School for the Blind and Deaf in Thaba-Nchu in the Free State, Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu urged learners to use their computer centre to empower themselves. “We are giving you a computer lab to include you in the global world. [This lab] makes you connected to the rest of the world,” she said.
Government strongly believes that education is the most effective way to fight poverty and has dedicated substantial resources to strengthening schools for learners with disabilities, ensuring that they become centres of excellence. We have also increased the number of public special schools from 375 in 2002 to 423 in 2011. Enrolment of 7 to 15 year-old children with disabilities increased from 73 per cent in 2002 to 94 per cent in 2010.
Another important milestone is that from next year all Deaf learners will be taught in South African Sign Language at home language level.
Government is also producing more material in Braille. The National Senior Certificate (NSC) is now available in Braille to all blind and visually impaired South Africans. In addition, the new smart ID card has braille features so that people who are visually impaired can correctly identify their ID card. Furthermore a universal ballot paper template used during the 2014 General Elections allowed visually impaired voters to cast their vote without assistance.
To further improve access to Braille material, South Africa is now enforcing the Marrakesh Treaty which was signed by 51 countries in June last year. It allows for copyrighted books to be reproduced in Braille and the import and export of such material.
Although much has been accomplished, the Commission for Employment Equity 2013 – 2014 Annual Report shows that people with disabilities only accounted for 0.9 per cent of our total workforce in 2013. Figures were at 1.5 per cent for top management and 1.2 per cent at senior level.
To create a more equal work environment, government will finalise the National Disability Rights Policy this year. It will put measures in place to address the factors that prevent job-seekers with disabilities from getting jobs in both the public and private sector. To ensure the policy’s success, it includes a national monitoring and evaluation system to track progress.
From the public service side, government is currently implementing measures to reach a target of 2 per cent of public servants with disabilities by 2015. Government has also introduced a number of programmes including the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and Community Work Programme to create employment especially for vulnerable groups.
One such EPWP project is the award-winning South African Active Disabled People's Association (Saadpa) in Thulamahashe near Bushbuckridge, which has created over 500 jobs for disabled people. Members of the project are armed with skills in beadwork, pottery, sewing, weaving, carpentry and farming.
John Nxumalo, the association's chairman, emphasised the importance of projects like Saadpa, saying it proves that people living with disabilities can contribute positively towards the economy. However, the current reality is that many adults with disabilities are still struggling to find employment and live in poverty. Government has therefore introduced a disability grant to assist these individuals. Currently, 1.1 million South Africans are benefitting from this grant.
Another area which government is focussing on is public transport since most people with disabilities depend on it to access education and work opportunities. To improve this public service the Department of Transport has now institutionalised a universal design for the BRT programmes at municipal level to ensure it is user friendly for commuters with disabilities.
As a country we have come a long way over the past twenty years in creating a more just society for those with disabilities. Going forward all sectors need to work together to strengthen efforts in line with the National Development Plan’s call to integrate issues of disability into all facets of society. Let us work together to move the country forward and ensure freedom becomes a reality for all our people.
Phumla Williams is Acting CEO of the Government Communications and Information System (GCIS)
