South Africa Social Development Minister Calls for End to Discrimination
By Kay Schriner (kays@uark.edu)
In an address commemorating the International Day of Disabled Persons on December 3, Dr. Zola Skweyiya, South Africa's Social Development Minister called on South Africa to end discrimination against people with disabilities.
Skweyiya also called for a comprehensive national effort that would include improving access to services and promoting social, economic, and political opportunities for people with disabilities.
Skweyiya said that "On this international day and indeed every day of our lives we should lend a hand to ensure that people with disabilities have adequate access to services like social grants, job opportunities and make sure that the stigma and prejudice that still exists regarding disabilities are removed."
Registering disabled children and adults for social grants is a critical part of the overall strategy for improving the lives of people with disabilities. Thus far about 880,000 adults and 52,000 children have applied for the grants, said Skweyiya.
The minister made a point to relate the status of disabled persons to the strength of South African democracy. "Our democracy will only have meaning if it takes care of the most vulnerable, including people with disabilities."
Information and quotations for this story were taken from allafrica.com.
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