One hundred and three persons with disabilities graduate with ICT Qualifications in KwaZulu-Natal
The country is currently commemorating Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) under the theme “Persons with Disabilities as Contributors to the Economic Growth of South Africa”.
In meeting its mandate as stipulated in the National Disability Rights Policy and in line with the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (WPRPD) as approved by cabinet in 2015, the Department of Social Development, spearheaded by Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, partnered with the MTN SA Foundation to take Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to persons with disabilities throughout South Africa. Pillar 6 on the WPRPD is promoting and supporting empowerment of persons with disabilities. Part of the outcomes from the implementation of the WPRPD are for persons with disabilities to have equitable access to life-long learning, training and capacity building and to be enabled to learn through technology-aided systems other than the traditional method of learning.
Through the partnership, 41 specialised computer centres have been launched in special schools and disability centres and 103 persons with disabilities from Impumelelo of the Disabled Rural Community Projects, a KwaZulu-Natal based centre in which a specialised computer laboratory was unveiled in December 2014, will be graduating with certificates in ICT on Friday 23 November.
“Technology is essential in addressing the skills gap in the economy - especially to people with disabilities. Impumelelo of the Disabled Rural Community Projects, as part of celebrating the Mandela and Mama Albertina Sisulu Centenary and Mandela Friday, will host Mandela-Sisulu Friday Disability ICT Graduation Ceremony as a response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the graduation ceremony arranged as follows:
Date: 23 November
Time: 10am
Venue: Impumelelo of the Disabled Rural Community Projects, 01 Inkululeko Yabantu Road, Langalibalele Village – Inanda, KZN
Media can RSVP by contacting Mr Jaconia Kobue on 063 249 5120 / JaconiaK@dsd.gov.za or Ms Nomfundo Xulu-Lentsoane on 081 829 0983 / NomfundoLe@dsd.gov.za
Media inquiries may be directed to
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
Email: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
