Lizeka Mda
If there were still “Whites Only” signs in South Africa, most people would be outraged. Yet practically the whole physical environment in the country says “Able-bodied only” as it deliberately shuts out a fair percentage of the population.
Disabled South Africans are denied a full life because they have minimal access to education, employment, housing, political life and involvement in the community. Research estimates the numbers of severely disabled people at 5% of the population, about two million people. Moderately disabled people increase this figure to 12%.
That is why the White Paper on an Integrated National Disability Strategy has been greeted with such jubilation. It aims to break socioeconomic, political and attitudinal barriers people with disabilities face.
Masebina Kgabale may not understand the intricacies of the paper, but she “just knows” it is going to make a world of difference to her life.
Kgabale currently works as a switchboard operator at the Self Help Association for Physically Disabled People (Shap) in Soweto. Shap employs 130 people who manufacture the bright clothes worn by traffic officers, make cleaning detergents, and repair electrical goods. They also package industrial goods and service mailing contracts for institutions.
When Kgabale started at Shap in October 1994, it was the first-ever job for the then 39-year-old. She loves her it, and treasures the years she has spent at Shap.
“I have learnt so much here,” she says. “I have grown as a person. When I arrived I was very reserved and kept to myself. Bro Friday [Mavuso, the late chair of Shap] taught me to go for what I want, and to see past disabilities. Now I’m the kind of person who starts conversations with strangers at the busstop.”
Even public transport is denied to disabled people. Taxi drivers habitually refuse to stop for disabled people in wheelchairs. They cannot tolerate the slight delay that loading the person entails. Some drivers charge disabled people double because of the wheelchair.
Car manufacturers disregard disabled drivers completely, and cars for disabled drivers have to be adapted at extra cost.
Kgabale left her home in Kroonstad in search of work opportunities in Johannesburg. Even though she enjoys her work at Shap, it’s not what she would like to do for the rest of her life. She thinks her secretarial qualifications should be opening doors for her, but in the past those doors have been shut, just because she is wheelchair-bound after a bout of polio.
But Kgabale considers herself one of the lucky few. She not only works in an environment that is friendly to disabled persons, she lives in one too.
Home for Kgabale is the Soweto Cheshire Home for disabled people in Moroka. All residents contribute 75% of their government disability grant of R470 towards running the home. The home’s management committee is made up of volunteers from the Soweto community, members of the South African National Civic Organisation and residents.
Her chances of finding a better job should improve with the recommendations in the White Paper. It is suggested that the government should reserve at least 2% of its positions for disabled people, and that labour legislation should make provisions for disability. The paper also recommends that R3-million be allocated each year to public awareness and anti-bias training programmes.
Because disabled people live largely isolated lives, there is general ignorance about their issues, and this feeds negative attitudes.
Disabled South Africans are particularly pleased with the White Paper because it was drawn up with their participation. Its chief architect is Shuaib Chalken, himself a paraplegic, who works as the director of the office on the status of disabled persons, in the office of the deputy president.
“The thing that makes us live in hope,” says Tsietsi Louw, Shap’s chair, “is that at last we have a government that is committed to the human rights of all. We have representatives in Parliament, and space is created in every forum for our participation.”
Louw is a part-time youth commissioner and Shap has a representative in the Telecommunications Task Team.
“Telkom has been putting up phone booths all over the township, yet none are accessible to disabled people.”
But Louw is upbeat because the government’s very public support for an integrated holistic approach – Thabo Mbeki is the official patron of Disabled People South Africa -seems to be contagious.
“Putco is willing to make buses accessible. So are the metropolitan councils. We are in discussions with Metro for the train service to be accessible too.”
As for all those who continue to exclude disabled people, he can’t wait for the Act to be passed.
“We’ll take them to court!”