Government supports disabled people

The MEC for social development, Sisi Ntombela, has allocated a total of R200 000 to the forum assisting disabled people in the province.

“My disability motivates me to work harder. I was born different from other children. Instead of dwelling on my disability, I regard it as an inspiration to double my efforts to achieve as much as normal people.”

These are the words of Kamohelo Rodney Teele, a partially blind albino who addressed an event for people with disabilities in Kestell on Wednesday. Teele highlighted some of the challenges that disabled people are faced with, especially discrimination and marginalisation.

The provincial manager of the Disabled People of South Africa (DPSA), Mokati Moledi, echoed Teele’s sentiments and pointed out that disabled people are still underrepresented in the labour market.

Hosted under the theme: ‘Break Barriers, Open Doors: For an Inclusive Society and Development for All’, the event formed part of the global United Nations (UN) International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is celebrated annually on December 3.

“We have people with degrees among us who qualify to be managers and directors, yet our representation in the labour market is still very low. According to the country’s policies it was agreed that at least five percent of people with disabilities must be employed. But quota this is far from being reached. Our employment rate still hovers at 0.6 percent.”

Moledi, however, lauded the department of social development for delivering on its promise of assisting disabled people to establish a disability forum, which aims to fast track service delivery to disabled persons.

“Our MEC promised to form a forum to coordinate service delivery to people with disability making sure that their needs are met. The forum comprises members from social development as well people with disability who are in senior positions.

We will be able to engage with the department and be able to have an influence on the budget. We want to contribute to the development of this province’s economy.”

He said the forum will influence parents of children of disability to come forward and stop feeling so ashamed of their children that they end up hiding them.

The MEC for social development, Sisi Ntombela, promised to assist as many disabled persons study in tertiary institutions and find employment. She said she will recommend people with disabilities who have degrees to departments that have advertised senior positions, provided that they apply for those positions.

Ntombela allocated R100 000 to the provincial disabled entrepreneurs forum to run its programmes. A further R100 000 was donated to the Tshedisehang Day Care Centre in Bultfontein; while another R100 000 was handed to the sports academy for people with disabilities.

According to the UN, over 15 percent of the world’s population live with some form of disability. The global organisation also pointed out that persons with disabilities face physical, social, economic and attitudinal barriers that exclude them from participating fully and effectively as equal members of society.

The UN further asserts that when barriers to their inclusion are removed and persons with disabilities are empowered to participate fully in societal life, their entire community benefits.