M Tshabalala-Msimang on National Disability Machinery quarterly
meeting

20 April 2009

The Minister in the Presidency Dr Mantombazana Tshabalala-Msimang has today,
20 April 2009 launched the “South African implementation of the convention on
the rights of persons with disabilities” at the National Disability Machinery
(NDM) meeting convened by the Office on the Status of Persons with Disability
(OSDP). The meeting was held at OR Tambo Garden Court, Southern Sun in Kempton
Park.
The purpose of the meeting was to celebrate progress and achievements in the
disability sector over the last 15 years.

The NDM meeting focused on the following critical issues The South African
Disability Alliance meeting. The launch of the United Nations Convention on the
rights of persons with disabilities handover of the 15 Year Review Report,
interaction with business forum on disability, show casing of the economic
empowerment project in partnership with the Danish Government, the Second
African Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2010 to 2020.

The National Disability Machinery (NDM) was established in November 2007 and
meets twice a year. Of critical importance is the role that the NDM is
continuing to play in aligning the disability work between government and civil
society. The role of the machinery is to:
* identify and make recommendations on new initiatives that can be undertaken
by government
* review and make recommendations on progress reports tabled by OSDP on behalf
of the National Disability Machinery.

“This meeting gave us an opportunity to reflect on progress made in the
implementation of policies, programmes and legislation that seek to improve the
quality of life for persons with disabilities over the past fourteen years by
government,” said Benny Palime Director in the office of the Status of persons
with disability in The Presidency.
“We also discussed gaps, challenges and priorities as reflected in the 15 Year
Review Report. The meeting also placed stakeholders in a better position to
plan a way forward to address remaining inequalities,” continued Mr Palime

Enquiries:
Benny Palime
Cell: 076 677 7005

Issued by: The Presidency
20 April 2009
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/)