South Africans Celebrate International Disability Day, Knowing Exclusion is Still Dominant Experience
By Frances Klinghorn (efk@iafrica.com)
The rights of people with disabilities were in the spotlight on December 3 when millions of people throughout the world commemorated the International Day of Disabled Persons. The aim of the annual occasion is to promote the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and participation in society by persons with disabilities. In South Africa this year the focus was on a "disability renaissance š from poverty to social, economic and political empowerment of people with disabilities."
Various events around the country served to raise awareness of disability issues as a means to combat discrimination against people with disabilities and break down the barriers they experience to equality and delivery. A memorandum on disability grants was presented to Deputy President Jacob Zuma at an event in Port Elizabeth. (See separate story by Kay Schriner)
In August, the country's first class action suit under the new constitution highlighted the fact that day-to-day survival is a reality for the majority of South Africans with disabilities. The landmark case reinstated thousands of disabled people illegally removed from the social grant system in the Eastern Cape and set a precedent for similar suits nationwide.
"The South African disability sector celebrates its victories this year, knowing fully well that people with disabilities are still being excluded from society š often to the point of starvation," says Bernard Kwaaiman, provincial development coordinator for Disabled People South Africa in the Eastern Cape.
"Poor people with disabilities are caught in a vicious cycle of poverty and disability, each being both a cause and a consequence of the other, reinforcing vulnerability and exclusion. Much more could be done to effectively use public resources in alleviating the poverty and marginalisation of people with disabilities.
"We believe the social grant system and the delivery of public services to disabled people must be transformed at every level, in terms of administration and distribution, and within a wider poverty-eradication and integrated disability empowerment strategy," Kwaaiman says.
Issued by: Frances Kinghorn and Sean Blake
Tel/fax: 011 325-5388
Cell: 083 625 1110 (Frances) or 083 334 9938 (Sean)
Email: efk@iafrica.com or seanblake@iafrica.com
On behalf of:
The South African Federal Council on Disability
Tel: 021 685-4216
Fax: 021 685-4215
E-mail: safcd@ability.org.za
Disabled People South Africa, Eastern Cape Office
Tel: 043 743-1579
Fax: 043 722-9470
E-mail: dpsa-el@global.co.za
The following people may be contacted for further comment on Disability Grants:
The South African Federal Council on Disability
Phillip Thompson - Executive Director, 021 685-4216 or 083 777 3672
Siphokazi Gcaza - Coordinator, 021 685-4216 or 083 785 4216
Petronella Linders - Coordinator, 021 685-4216 or 083 785 4218
Disabled People South Africa (DPSA is a member organisation of SAFCD)
Mzolisi ka Toni - Secretary General, 021 465-0900 or 082 202-0188
Bernard Kwaaiman - Provincial Development Co-ordinator Eastern Cape, 043 743-1579 or 082 202-0186
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