People with disabilities still face enormous barriers to equality in South Africa
Frances Kinghorn
More than 200 delegates representing about 150 affiliates of the South African Disabled People’s Organisation will converge on Potgietersrus, Northern Province, over the weekend to review policy relating to the needs of people with physical, hearing, sight and other disabilities.
The theme of the Disabled People South Africa’s (DPSA) biennial congress “forcing open the doors to equity and delivery” will see a critical appraisal of the government’s univeral-access policy in relation to education, training and employment opportunities, as well as public transport, telecommunications and physical environments.
The congress could shake some ministers and MECs who have not delivered on the Integrated National Disability Strategy as delegates push for the recognition of their constitutional rights and a major improvement in the quality of their lives.
Their demands revolve around developing, resourcing and implementing appropriate policies and legislation, in consultation with their representative organisations. The DPSA says it will be formulating various campaigns to this end as disabled people continue to face discrimination and inequitable access to resources and amenities despite South Africa’s anti-discriminatory and human rights legislation.
The DPSA secretary general, Mzolisi ka Toni, says with a development policy environment now in place, the organisation aims to secure effective and inclusive delivery.
The DPSA recently castigated the Eastern Cape MEC for social development after the province’s unsuccessful appeal against a Supreme Court ruling to reinstate thousands of disabled people illegally removed from the social-grant system. This was South Africa’s first class-action suit and the landmark case is estimated to be worth more than R1-billion.
The DPSA wants the government to stick to its promise of a better life for all. It is currently monitoring regulatory provisions for people with disabilities in the communications sector as developed by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. In line with its motto “nothing about us without us”, the DPSA believes any standard telecommunications design needs to be researched and implemented with representatives from the disability sector.
“Telecommunications and information technology have the potential to effectively enable people with disabilities to seek mainstream employment,” says Ka Toni. “The use of technology in the education system and workplace would assist in delivering the same benefits to disabled people as non-disabled people.”
At a macro level, he says, economic empowerment of the disability sector must be considered in the issuing of licences and awarding of contracts, and for telecommunications companies to market their products and services to people with disabilities and cater for their specific needs.
With regard to the new policy and legislative environment for employment equity, South African employers are now actively seeking to employ people with disabilities. Unprecedented job opportunities have been created but, in reality, disabled people still face enormous barriers to equality in the workplace.
Ka Toni says the disability sector has an excellent framework within which to plan real employment equity. However, the vast majority of South Africans with disabilities still face procedural and attitudinal barriers. “Disabled people should enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as any other citizen. Every disabled person should understand and demand employment equity. Every employer should identify and eliminate discriminatory systems, policies and practices. We need to act as partners in recognising business and employment needs both parties can benefit from addressing disability issues.”
However, the grim realities of a discriminatory public transport service forces people with disabilities to become welfare recipients.
Ka Toni says the Transport User Group’s advocacy campaign, called “A si gibeleni Let’s all travel”, has made “slow and painful” progress. The initiative demands an end to discrimination against disabled people in the allocation of transport and transport subsidies. It also calls for disabled people’s organisations to be part of the consultative process to develop all aspects of accessible transport.
Accessible transport pilot projects in major metropolitan areas have met with mixed success, says Ka Toni. Key to meeting objectives are terms of reference, the consultative process and accountability.
He says the Department of Transport continues to ignore policies of the Integrated National Disability Strategy as far as planning and consultation are concerned, and warns that this could lead to existing transport contracts being declared null and void in terms of the Promotion of Equality Act. Sectors to be monitored by the campaign include air services, main line rail, commuter rail, long-haul buses, commuter buses, taxis and service transport.
At national level, the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons (OSDP) in the Presidency has been included in the evaluation team for the awarding of tenders for new taxi vehicles by the departments of transport and trade and industry. OSDP representatives will guide the process to ensure provisions for persons with disabilities.
The White Paper on special needs and inclusive education, launched by Minister of Education Kader Asmal in July, marked a victory for persons with disabilities, says Ka Toni. “We must now develop and implement an advocacy programme for the implementation of this policy. All structures must be mobilised into action to sensitise the public, particularly parents of children with disabilities and educators.
“Until education of the highest standard possible is accessible to persons with disabilities, transformation of our society will remain stunted.”