Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya condemns the treatment Jeanette Meyer, a visually impaired resident from Pretoria, received at two different shopping centres in Pretoria yesterday.
According to Meyer, who is being aided by a registered guide-dog, she was refused entry at both the Kollonnade shopping centre in Montana and Menlyn mall yesterday because according to officials at these centres, "no animals were allowed".
She was subsequently subjected to further humiliation when made to sit for hours outside the entrances while this matter is being solved by the management of both centres. She was turned away from the Kollonnade and while she was after nearly two hours permitted to shop at Menlyn mall, she decided not to.
"What Ms Meyer experienced yesterday at these shopping centres is the story faced by many other persons who use guide-dogs," said Minister Mayende-Sibiya.
"This case clearly illustrates the struggle persons with disabilities have to confront every day. They are being discriminated against because move around with a guide-dog while those on wheelchairs struggle with inaccessible buildings. This is restriction of people’s freedoms of movement."
Minister Mayende-Sibiya calls on owners and administrators of all public places to support the efforts to ensure greater access, mobility and freedoms to persons with disabilities and not to restrict their development and movement in any way.
Minister condemns ill-treatment of persons with disabilities
