The North West Provincial Government will make a special effort to offer bursaries to qualifying people with disabilities who wish to further their studies in future. This was announced today, Friday 03 December, by Premier of the North West Province Kaobaka Bushy Maape while addressing the Provincial Disability Rights Summit in Haartbeespoort, Madibeng Local Municipality. The Premier who was accompanied by the MEC for department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Lenah Miga, also committed to ensuring that the provincial government develops a special COVID-19 vaccination programme targeting people with disabilities.
The two-day summit was held in recognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities which is commemorated annually on 03 December, as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly.
Commemorated under the theme “Leadership and participation of Persons with Disabilities towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19”, the summit deliberated on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the sector, in particular the implementation of the COVID-19 protocols; how women and children with disabilities can be protected against gender based violence and femicide; creating opportunities for education, skill development and learnership as well as the need for socio-economic empowerment of people with disabilities.
“As part of our effort to empower people with disabilities, we will dedicate a portion of the provincial bursary scheme to funding education and skills development for the sector. We have a responsibility to ensuring that young people with disabilities get the necessary attention and support, this to enable them to be educated, employed and become independent”, said Premier Maape who encouraged the qualifying students to apply when the provincial government issues a call for application.
Urging organised business to take a lead in opening doors for people with disabilities to actively participate in the province’s economy, Premier Maape said “Working together with the North West Business Chamber, we need to conduct an audit of how many people with disabilities are involved in business, and this must include the training needs of those interested in business”, said Premier Maape who insisted that practical interventions aimed at addressing all identified needs must be prioritised and progress reported on, this as part of the Provincial Disability Rights Agenda for 2022.
Premier committed to ensure the implementation of the Summit resolutions and that progress report will be tabled at the next Summit in December 2022. Premier will work with the Provincial Disability Forum to facilitate the realisation of the 2022 Priorities and regular meetings will be convened.
The Chairperson for the Provincial Disability Rights Forum, Thabapelo Lehloo urged the provincial government to focus on delivering services that address infrastructural and communication barriers, such as the provision of houses with sectoral needs and ensuring that access to health facilities is in line with the needs for people with disabilities. “The provincial planning must always be aligned with our motto - Nothing about us without us”, said Lehloo.
The Provincial Disability Rights Summit was attended by amongst others, Provincial and Local Disability Forum members, Departmental Disability Co-ordinators, as well as representatives from the Independent Electoral Commission, faith based organisations, organised labour, organised business who all offered their messages of support for the agenda on disability rights.
Media enquiries:
Sello Tatai
Spokesperson to the Premier
North West Provincial Government
Cell: 064 756 2510 & 082 450 7842
E-mail: statai38@gmail.com
Or
Brian Setswambung
Provincial Head of Communication
Office of the Premier
North West Provincial Government
Cell: 076 012 4501
E-mail: BSetswambung@nwpg.gov.za
