DISABILITY SECTOR CALLS FOR CHANGE AS MPUMALANGA RECEIVES POLICY REPORT

Precious Mupenzi

• The Mpumalanga report, part of a national initiative by the Department of Social Development, sheds light on the systemic challenges faced by persons with disabilities, including inaccessible infrastructure, limited independence, and exclusion from decision-making.
• Disability advocate Ms Bongiwe Malope emphasised the urgent need for a societal shift toward inclusivity, urging the integration of sign language, accessible infrastructure, and equitable opportunities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
• With the provincial report handed over to Mpumalanga’s MEC for Social Development, the government has pledged to implement actionable solutions, aligning with national and international frameworks for disability rights.

As part of Disability Rights Awareness Month, the Department of Social Development (DSD) continues its nationwide handover of provincial reports on the 2023 Public Hearings and Gazetting Process for the Policy on Social Development Services to Persons with Disabilities. These consultations, held across the country last year, sought to capture the voices and needs of persons with disabilities. Today, Mpumalanga became the fifth province to receive its report during a gathering in Nelspruit attended by various stakeholders.

The event marked a significant milestone, providing a platform to address the persistent challenges faced by persons with disabilities. Ms Bongiwe Malope, National Chairperson of Disabled Women South Africa, delivered a powerful speech, sharing her personal journey as a person with a disability while calling for greater inclusivity and accessibility in government services.

Ms Malope, a former nurse and mother of a ten-year-old child, became disabled 17 years ago. She painted a sobering picture of the realities faced by persons with disabilities, lamenting the sector’s stagnation in achieving South Africa’s vision of an inclusive society.

“When you look at the Sustainable Development Goals, they speak of leaving no one behind. Yet the disability sector continues to be excluded,” she said. “We are far from achieving equality in the quality of life for persons with disabilities. Thirty years into democracy, society still hasn’t shifted. We are still raising awareness about the same issues we spoke of decades ago.”

Ms Malope highlighted systemic barriers that perpetuate the marginalisation of persons with disabilities, including inaccessible infrastructure, the lack of sign language integration, and limited opportunities for independent living. She also cited the absence of basic resources, such as wheelchair-accessible driving schools.

“Even after 30 years of democracy, we are still talking about the same issues,” she remarked. “If everyone relied on wheelchairs, our infrastructure would naturally be accessible. But because accessibility is seen as optional, many are excluded.”

Ms Malope called for greater recognition and integration of sign language. “If everyone were deaf, sign language would already be a standard. We need to stop treating inclusion as a favour and start making it the norm,” she asserted.

Reflecting on her own experience, Ms Malope said: “When I was non-disabled, the world seemed full of possibilities. But when I became disabled, everything changed. The environment became a constant barrier. We need to shift from a medical model to a social model of disability. Inclusivity must extend beyond awareness months to permeate every aspect of life.”

She challenged society to rethink its priorities: “How is it that, after all these years, we still lack accessible driving schools for persons with disabilities? How are we supposed to thrive when the basic tools for independence are unavailable? Society must shift its mind-set and design systems that accommodate everyone—not just the able-bodied majority.”

The Mpumalanga report consolidates findings from three public hearings held in the province, reflecting widespread frustrations with service delivery and the exclusion of persons with disabilities from decision-making processes.

The report was officially handed over to Mpumalanga MEC for Social Development, Ms Khethiwe Moeketsi, who committed to integrating a high-level action plan into the provincial department’s annual performance plans to address the challenges identified.

“This report is not just a document; it is a roadmap for change,” said MEC Moeketsi. “We must act decisively to implement the recommendations and ensure that no one is left behind.”

The Mpumalanga handover is part of a larger national effort, with 28 consultations conducted across all provinces last year. Of these, three were held in Mpumalanga. The next handover is scheduled for the North West on 28 November 2024.

The DSD’s commitment to inclusivity represents a crucial step toward fulfilling the vision of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.