Department is willing to break barriers for an inclusive public service
The North West Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs recently held its second annual round table discussion on employees with disabilities where it was resolved that the department needs to realign some of its policies, specifically those that deal with disability issues.
Accompanied by the Head of Department and other Executive Managers, MEC Manketsi Tlhape said that the session was one of the many platforms established by the department to ensure that special groups within her department are afforded an opportunity to raise issues and also to seek amicable solutions which will suit all parties involved.
“It is only through one on one engagements such as this that we will understand issues regarding employees with disability in this department and begin to seek solutions immediately. This is the platform where as a department wants to illustrate how serious we are about issues of disability, employment equity and adhere to prescriptions of human rights. This engagement is a rare platform where we need to be solidified in addressing issues of persons with disability. We have to create that enabling environment for people with disabilities,' she said.
The Head of Department, Monnapula Motlogelwa said that although the department is on the right track in terms of the 2% employment quota of persons with disability, a lot still needs to be done to deal with disability issues in the department.
‘We have annual dedicated engagement session with people living with disability in our department. This will enable us to register and deal with requirements expected from us as the employer and also get an opportunity to reflect on the necessary frameworks which address issues of persons with disabilities in a workplace. I have interacted with some of our colleagues with disabilities and they have shared their concerns such as lack of facilities and the manner in which they are subjected to hostile working environment. We have taken this into cognisance and it has been elevated to the Departmental Management Committee (DMC) to seek solutions on issues which are in our control,' he said.
Enquiries:
Dineo Lolokwane
Cell: 072 542 8444
