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South African Disability Alliance Portfolio Committee Presentation

Explore the key issues and critiques in the Disability Sector Strategic Plan, including employment, transportation, legislation, housing, education, and health, presented by Muzi Nkosi, SADA Chairperson in this insightful document.

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South African Disability Alliance Portfolio Committee Presentation

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  1. SOUTH AFRICAN DISABILITY ALLIANCE [SADA] PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE DWCPD PRESENTATION 17 APRIL 2012 DISABILITY SECTOR INPUTS ON THE DWCPD STRATEGIC PLAN DOCUMENT BY MUZI NKOSI SADA CHAIRPERSON

  2. INTRODUCTION • The majority of people with disabilities [pwds], in South Africa, have been excluded from the mainstream of society and have been prevented from accessing fundamental social, political and economical rights.

  3. DISABILITY KEY ISSUES • DWCPD • Mainstreaming [labour, public works, Soc dev, housing, DPSA, Education] • Employment • Transport • Universal access • Legislation / UNCRDP

  4. KEY ISSUES • DWCPD relationship with sector • Budget

  5. DWCPD ESTABLISHMENT • In the pronouncement of the establishment of a Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, the President emphasized the need for equity and access to development opportunities for the vulnerable groups in our society.

  6. DWCPD ROLE • To monitor other government departments to ensure the mainstreaming of gender, children's rights, and disability considerations into all programmes of government and other sectors. This will help government to respond to issues of these targeted groups in an integrated and coherent manner”.

  7. MAINSTREAMING • Despite institutional mechanisms that includes disability focal persons in most national departments and provinces, mainstreaming of disability considerations into government priorities and programmes remains a challenge

  8. CRITIQUE • Definition Challenge • Education /Awareness raising • Sensitization programmes that will • Lead to inclusivity • DWCDP need to focus on their role of monitoring / evaluation to enhance their performance

  9. EMPLOYMENT • In 2005, Cabinet reviewed and maintained the minimum 2% employment equity target for people with disabilities within the Public Service, to be achieved by 31 March 2010.

  10. CRITIQUE • Government is far from reaching the target • Currently the target is 0,9 according to EE Report • How does the DWCDP make sure that the Departments comply with this target • Creative Recruitment Strategy to advance & retain PwDs & give them a headstart

  11. TRANSPORT • A fully inclusive Transport infrastructure is not yet in place for people with physical disabilities • What are plans to ensure that government is indeed serious about this issue • A guide to transport for PwDs and health issues is a priority

  12. UNIVERSAL ACCESS • In 2010/2011, National Government prioritized 75 buildings to ensure that they comply to accessibility standards for people with disabilities. There are discussions between the Department of Public Works and National Treasury to increase this fiscal allocation in the future, to ensure the urgent remodeling of buildings where services are offered to the public, for example, buildings of the Departments of Health, Education, Social Development and SASSA.

  13. CRITIQUE • How this should be addressed? • This leads to serious exclusion of people with disabilities • Government meeting its employment target • Strategy being employed by the DWCPD

  14. LEGISLATION • The South African legislative framework across sectors in the main give effect to the political and socio-economic rights of people with disabilities as enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution.  • UNCRDP • Draft disability policy

  15. CRITIQUE • Lack of implementation of policies • Audit of current legislations as necessary condition for Disability Act • DWCPD – What are they doing to fast track implementation • Do they have teeth/enforceable mechanism over sister departments

  16. HOUSING • The Housing Act (107 of 1997, as amended) provides special subsidies for people with disabilities, and includes a clause that looks at physical access for people with disabilities. People with disabilities with an income less than R3500 per month are eligible for Government housing subsidies

  17. CRITIQUE • Working with the disability sector • Data base of house seekers – challenge of the waiting list • Accessible housing model that the sector have inputs on it / agreed • Enforceable mechanism / punitive measures

  18. EDUCATION • Education White Paper 6 on Special Needs Education: Building an Inclusive Education and Training System (2001) outlines government’s strategy to transform the current education system to make it more efficient, equitable and just. Once the current education system is transformed, it will be recognizing the right of all learners to attend their local neighbourhood school and to receive the necessary support.

  19. CRITIQUE • Implementation of white paper 6 • Sensitization of disabled/ non disabled • Model / pilot schools – measure progress • Graduates with disabilities contacted - data base

  20. HEALTH • While policies are intended to support access to services for people with disabilities, acknowledges that people with disabilities experience difficulties accessing health care due to systemic problems. Again, there are socio-economic problems often falling outside the health sector for example, accessible and affordable transport.

  21. CRITIQUE • Health issues remain a big problem for pwds • Complains are not listened to by the department • Creation of an accessible complaint system • No monitoring of service delivery by the DWCPD • DWCPD need to work closely with the sector for effective monitoring

  22. DWCDP RELATION WITH US • Lack of consultation • Disability summit • International day of people with disability • Awareness raising / road shows

  23. BUDGET • Objective - Advocacy and mainstreaming to promote the rights of people with disabilities • INDS • Draft National Disability Policy • UNCRPD ratified = R 250 000 • Disability Awareness Month and International Day of Disabled Persons celebrated annually • National Accessibility Campaign launched in Nov • R 1.4 M

  24. BUDGET • Objective - Advocacy and mainstreaming to promote the rights of people with disabilities • 97% of mainstream schools not physically accessible (2006 NEIMS audit) • Audit of accessibility in health facilities • R 1 M • 467000 children with disabilities out of school • DBE Audit reports • 11 Higher Education Institutions with disability units • 2011 wheelchair backlog of • 26 777 (100% increase from 2010) and hearing aid backlog of 32 039 (50% increase from 2010) reported by Dept of Health • R 100 000

  25. BUDGET • Objective - Monitor, evaluate and report on the status of the equalisation of opportunities for people with disabilities = R 1.3 M • Objective –Institutional support and capacity development for equal access and opportunities for people with disabilities = R 450 000

  26. CRITIQUE • Who/What is ‘Institutional Support’? Whose capacity will be developed by the R450 000 budget? • Unpack details of institutional support and capacity development. • Relationship/engagement with DPOs?

  27. THANK YOU

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