South African Disability Alliance (Sada) members burnt tyres at Safa House, south of Johannesburg, on Thursday in protest against the lack of accessibility of 2010 World Cup stadiums to people with disabilities.
“We burnt tyres because they are our mobility, but they cannot get us into stadia,” said Sada executive Ari Seirlis.
Security guards extinguished three burning wheelchair tyres, while protesters chanted and waved placards.
“LOC [local organising committee] let us down,” read one placard. Another read: “Stadia not accessible for disabled, no legacy for us.”
Seirlis said the alliance was not burning tyres because it was fashionable, but because it showed the pain of the disabled at not being able to attend any of the 2010 World Cup matches.
“We want to be there. We want to be part of the action, but the stadia are not ready to accommodate us,” he said.
About 100 members of Sada sang liberation songs as they rolled their wheelchairs from the parking bays opposite Safa House to the entrance, where a memorandum of demands was handed over to LOC CEO Danny Jordaan.
‘We care about you’
Accepting the memorandum, Jordaan said he would meet with the leadership of Sada on March 31 to discuss issues raised in the memorandum.
Jordaan said only three stadia were not accessible to the disabled, and that while people in wheelchairs had to buy tickets, the people pushing the wheelchairs did not.
“We care about you,” said Jordaan, explaining that there was a memorandum of understanding signed between Sada and the LOC.
“If there are issues, we need to sit down and talk them out … we still have to meet to discuss,” Jordaan said.
Sada has demanded that the LOC ensure a safe and equitable environment for all spectators with disabilities, including at fan park facilities.
It also wants an accessible transport plan approved and implemented by all host cities.
Sada chairperson Musi Nkosi said that during the Confederation Cup, transport from park and ride sites was not accessible to people with disabilities, with no facilities for deaf spectators and no communication services.
“Visually impaired persons are also not fully accommodated, are not allowed to bring a guide free of charge. They have to find someone who can afford to buy a ticket to accompany them.”
Nkosi hoped the meeting next week would be fruitful and not turn into another talk shop.
“We do not want to disrupt the World Cup events. It might be the first and last for Africa in our lifetime. We want to be part of it. I hope from this protest something will be done for people with disability.”
Before leaving, the protesters eyed Soccer City stadium, designed in the form of a calabash, which will host the opening march of the tournament between Bafana Bafana and Mexico on June 11. — Sapa