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We are all concerned that despite these various instruments and undertakings by our government, persons with disabilities continue to be marginalised and face barriers in their participation as equal members of society, writes Hlengiwe Mkhize.
It does not matter whether one is "abled", or not, what race they are, gender or a choice in sexuality, all persons have the inherent right to quality of life.
Persons with disabilities and their families should be considered from a principle of equality within a vision of a society for all.
Social integration as well as the multi-faceted nature of disability, requires that different departments and spheres of government work together to plan for and address the rights and needs of persons with disabilities.
Let us pause to evaluate the path we have been on, and whether persons with disabilities have been incorporated at our workplaces, public transport and in strategic decision making processes ahead of the re-opening of more companies under coronavirus alert level 3.
The white paper on the rights of persons with disabilities provide clear policy directives and implementation methods and guidelines, for government to implement programmes and projects to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.
The white paper places emphasis on consultation with the disability sector on all matters that affect it thereby ensuring effective and efficient state machinery, that includes persons with disabilities within its operation plans, administrative procedures, funding allocations and any other services related to persons with disabilities.
The United Nations' convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and its optional protocol, which South Africa has ratified in 2007, recognises further the diversity of persons with disabilities, and seeks to promote and protect the human rights of all persons, including those who require more intensive care.
We are all concerned that despite these various instruments and undertakings by our government, persons with disabilities continue to be marginalised and face barriers in their participation as equal members of society.
Article 11 of the United Nations convention alludes that States Parties shall take, in accordance with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including situations of armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and the occurrence of natural disasters.
We remain in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, during which our brothers, sisters, wives and husbands from our communities are getting infected on a daily basis.
While some are recovering, others are sadly dying.
This virus has sharply brought to the fore inequities in society, abject poverty and unacceptable levels of unemployment.
I need to reiterate that we have one of the most progressive constitutions in the world which entrenches the equality clause.
Our White Paper on Persons with Disability, compels us to build a disability inclusive SA, and also to ensure that we leave no one behind by adopting a universal access and design approach.
Our 6th Administration was given a clear mandate during the State of the National Address in June 2019, when our President said: "If we are to successfully address the challenge of poverty across society, we need to provide skills and create economic opportunities for persons with disabilities, ensure inclusion in the education system, hence the coordination of disability was moved to the centre of government."
A lifetime opportunity to come up with a sustainable inclusive programme for persons with disability is beginning to emerge within the District Development Model, whereby all spheres of government, including different departments and NGOs, now have an opportunity to entrench an ideal inclusive Rights Programme.
We have an opportunity to mainstream disability issues and also to monitor through accurate aggregated data progress on different aspects of a person's life.
Once we have accurate data we could, for instance, ensure that our education system has completely opened the doors of learning, each and every child is at school at the right age of entry, teachers are equipped to manage and support each learner, the learner has the right assistive gadgets.
At the same time, if entry to the building is an issue or school transport, then we need to isolate what is a stumbling block.
The International Labour Office (ILO) in 2009 estimated that South Africa has +7% loss of GDP due to the exclusion of persons with disabilities, from the workplace.
In 2013 figures translated to a loss of R318 billion to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product.
In conclusion allow me to share with you the best articulation of accessibility, as a challenge by Eddie Ndopu.
To mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Eddie wrote an opinion piece, for Time, whereby he invites us all to re-imagine accessibility beyond the logic of compliance.
Eddie is a wheelchair-user "in perpetual pursuit of barrier-free life".
In his own words, he believes that when "activists like himself talk about accessibility, they are calling for transformation in its totality, and not merely ticking one box".
He emphatically says that "... a conception of accessibility that centres, on the bureaucratic administration of disabled bodies ... is not a conception of accessibility that advances our liberation, on the contrary, it is one that forecloses it".
- Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize is the Deputy Minister in the Presidency, for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.
