disability
17 March 2009
Tailored to create and avail resources aimed at removing barriers and
establishing appropriate structures for the mainstreaming of disability issues
in South Africa, the disability friendly service delivery booklet will be
launched by the Minister for Provincial and Local Government, Sicelo Shiceka,
on Tuesday 17th March. With the frameworkâs mandate extracted from the national
disability framework that was led by the Presidency, the Minister in the
Presidency, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang will take a lead in outlining the issues
raised at the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with
disabilities and what is expected from the South African government in relation
to disability mainstreaming.
The launch follows after months of consultative processes and research by
the Department of Provincial and Local Government in partnership with the South
African Local Government Association (SALGA).
As part of the consultative processes, in 2008 provinces of the Western
Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Kwazulu Natal and the Northern Cape embarked on an
awareness campaign to profile and raise awareness on disability issues. Plans
are now in place for the 2009/10 financial budget to include funding aimed at
addressing challenges faced by other Provinces with systems and capacity to aid
the disabled.
âEngagements and consultative processes with the disabled will continue to
form part of the departmentâs strategy in dealing with this issue. We cannot
serve the disabled if we do not know what they need from government. The
disabled therefore, will also need to play a leadership role in these processes
so that government can fully appreciate the slogan of the disabled particularly
in this context: ânothing about us without us,â says Minister Shiceka.
The disability framework places a responsibility on all role players in the
local government sector to act decisively in their respective functions to
advance the cause of disability mainstreaming to promote the rights of the
disabled.
âSo far the response from provincial government and municipalities has been
quite positive with some of the municipalities even seeking guidance from
organisations representing the disabled for sensitising staff and participating
in publicity campaigns on disability. One such campaign is âBring a disabled
person to work,â says the Minister.
The framework follows on the development of the national disability
framework done by the Presidency which provides broad guidelines adapted to
provide role players within the Local sphere of government with a context
specifically aimed at mainstreaming issues of disability.
While the launch is a summation of a number of projects that government has
been involved in such as the United Nations convention on the rights of
disabled persons, it also paves the way to develop and implement targeted
interventions that would benefit the disabled.
As a signatory to the convention, South Africa is obliged to adopt
legislation and policy measures that will eliminate discrimination against
people with disabilities, while simultaneously promoting their rights. The
framework sets a four percent target for the representation of people with
disabilities within the municipal workforce.
The launch will take place at the Velmor Hotel in Pretoria, and as part of
the programme for the day, a disability aids expo aimed at showcasing
disability aids and an exhibition of products made by people with
disabilities.
To get more information or request interviews with the Minister, please
contact:
Ms Vuyelwa Qinga Vika
Media Liaison Officer: Minister for Provincial and Local Government
Cell: 082 877 3898
Lorato Gomolemo
Cell: 072 217 4259
Tel: 012 334 0995
E-mail: VuyelwaQ@dplg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Provincial and Local Government
17 March 2009
Source: Department of Provincial and Local Government (http://www.dplg.gov.za)
