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Awards function for the Eastern Cape Sports Federation for the deaf
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Sports, Arts Culture

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EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
SPEECH BY THE MEC FOR SPORTS, RECREATION ARTS AND CULTURE

AT THE EASTERN CAPE SPORTS FEDERATION FOR THE DEAF – AWARDS FUNCTION

ON 20 NOVEMBER 1999

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.It is indeed an honour and privilege to address you this morning.  As a nation, South 
Africans are generally viewed as loving and caring people, yet people with disabilities have always remained at the periphery of 
society.They are excluded from the mainstream of society and experience difficulty in accessing fundamental rights.Yet , the rights of 
people with disabilities are protected by the Constitution of South Africa

The Integrated National Disability Strategy which was spearheaded by our then Deputy President and currently our President, Thabo Mbeki 
clearly outlines strategies that are to be adopted by various government departments. It is therefore now incumbent upon us all to focus on 
integrating people with disabilities into all our projects and programmes to enable each and every one of you to live your lives in an 
integrated society where no discrimination takes place because of your disability

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has been involved , especially in sport programmes with disabled people in the past few years, 
but we have made people with disabilities a priority within our strategic focus for 1999 to 2004. We intend integrating people with 
disabilities into our projects and programmes over the next five years by focusing on accessibility to sport facilities, museums and other 
public buildings, assisting the two major umbrella bodies (NAPCOSA) and Special Olympics South Africa with co-ordination, develop coaches 
and trainers in aspects relevant to the coaching of athletes with disabilities and by having awareness programmes for the public at large 
(especially those living in rural areas).

Despite all the adverse conditions facing disabled sportsmen and women, it is heartening to note that many of you excel. At the recently 
held Presidential Sports Awards, many disabled sportsmen and women who have excelled in the 1998/1999 sports year were honoured by the 
President.George Slattery(swimming) and Jane Mandean (athletics) received Gold Awards for their achievements in the International sports 
arena while Krige Schabort and Ntomizanele Situ(athletics) received Silver Awards

These sportsmen and women should be used by you as role models.They have achieved our country’s highest sporting honour

Today, many of you will be receiving awards for your sporting achievements and excellence.I will be paying careful attention to your names 
and faces because I expect to see you in the near future receiving our country’s highest sporting honour from our President.Remember, this 
can only be achieved through hard work, perseverance and dedication to your sport

Thank You

NAPCOSA ( National Paralympic Committee of South Africa)



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