Address by the Premier of Limpopo, Mr Chupu Mathabatha on the occasion of the celebration of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities held at Mopani South East College, Phalaborwa
Programme Director;
Mme Joyce Mashamba;
Mong-mabu, Kgoshi Malatji;
Executive Mayor for Mopani District Municipality: Cllr,Nkakareng Rakgoale;
Mayor of Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality: Cllr: Sono;
Members of the Standing Committee on the Status and quality of Life of people with Disabilities;
Representatives of the Commission for Human Rights;
Representatives of organisations for people living with disabilities;
Ladies and gentlemen:
Today is yet another important reminder that our freedom as a nation is incomplete without the freedom of our fellow compatriots with disabilities.
This day is not only a big day in South Africa; it is without doubt a very big day in the calendar of the global community as a whole.
Limpopo proudly joins the rest of the international community, to observe and commemorate this day as the International Day for Persons Living with Disabilities.
We are celebrating this year’s edition of the International Disability Day under the theme that says:
“Celebrating 60 years of the Freedom Charter South Africa – a free and just society inclusive of all persons with disabilities as equal citizens”
We have indeed in the past 21 years, worked very hard to ensure that everyone, without regard to his or her disabilities, is free and enjoys equal opportunities as invesiged by the Freedom Charter.
This has not always been a simple task given our long history of rejection and discrimination against people with disabilities.
It was this government that introduced the understanding that said ‘we are all differently able; no one is without his or her abilities and disabilities’
It is therefore unfortunate for anyone to look down or discriminate against a person merely on account of his or her disabilities.
An example of our differentiated abilities is what we saw this morning.
We saw and received a man Mr. Thabo Simon Mogale, who has walked over 200 KMs on crutches from Polokwane to this venue.
Mr. Mogale who was accompanied by two of his companions; Mr. Ronald Legodi and Mr. Kholofelo Ramolotsa have sent out a very important message about disabilities.
They have raised an important awareness that people with disabilities have other strong abilities than those of us who are considered to be without disabilities.
I know that very few of you can even walk from here to Makhushane.
These types of walks are not only important to raise awareness about matters of disability, they are also important to keep us healthy and fit.
A healthy nation will reduce the burden on our health care system and allow us to channel resources to other demanding areas such as education and job creation initiatives.
Once again we salute Mr. Thabo Simon Mogale and his companions for their important disability awareness walk.
Programme Director;
As the theme of our celebration suggest, our work cannot be complete for as long as there are barriers that still prohibit people living with disabilities to realise opportunities that can better their lives.
We are mandated by both legislation and our own humanity as a people to ensure that the doors to an inclusive society are wide open for our citizens with disabilities.
This is not an act of charity. I have already demonstrated that most of our compatriots with disabilities are more talented than most of us who are considered to be without disabilities.
Programme Director;
We must also use this day to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
We must continue our work guided by the clarion call from the disability community that ‘nothing about us without us’.
In everything we do, either in government or private sector, the words, ‘nothing about us without us’ must always ring in our ears.
We must never believe that we are so anointed so much so that we can even think on behalf of people with disabilities.
It is them who know what their needs are; ours is simply to work with them in order like we work with the rest of other sectors in order to assist them to realise their needs.
Programme Director;
Our government has placed the issues involving the rights and interests of people living with disabilities high on its agenda.
In the words of President Jacob Zuma: ‘we will continue to advance and improve the lives of people with disabilities over the next five years.
We will work with the Disability sector to identify key areas in which we should fulfill South Africa’s role as signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.”
We are indeed at work creating opportunities and fighting against discrimination of people with disabilities.
Nine of provincial government departments have maintained their 2% employment of people with disabilities at Senior Management level.
The two remaining departments have maintained a similar target at a general level.
We have issued very clear instructions to the few remaining departments that are not doing well on this equity target. Our message has been and remain that Limpopo has to be a home of opportunities for people with disabilities.
We are also happy to announce that students with disabilities are also beginning to access TVET colleges. At the moment, all seven TVET colleges have students with mild to moderate disabilities. With technical support from Office of The Premier, our TVET colleges will start to be accessible to students with severe disabilities.
Department of Social Development is funding 92 NPOs of people with disabilities classified as follows: 24 stimulation centers, 52 protective workshops, 14 community based rehabilitation centers and two homes for people with disabilities.
Office of The Premier has created a database of entrepreneurs with disabilities, which is circulated to all departments and institutions. Department of agriculture and rural development has a tailored programme to support farmers with disabilities.
The government will continue the partnership with the disability community to fight against exploitation and all abusive and degrading practices against persons living with disabilities.
Programme Director;
In conclusion, allow me to take this opportunity to wish you the best of this day.
Working together we can realise a dream of a free and just society inclusive of all persons with disabilities as equal citizens.
We can indeed ensure that people living with disability reclaim a voice of their own.
As we advance to the t festivities of both the Christmas day and the dawn of the New Year, I wish to urge all of you to celebrate in a responsible manner.
Those who drive must always remember our golden rule of the road; that is ‘don’t drink and drive, and arrive alive’.
I thank you!
