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International dey of Disabled persons
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Premier's Office

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EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

SPEECH BY MEC FOR SPORTS, ARTS & CULTURE ON BEHALF OF

THE PREMIER, REV MA STOFIILE

AT  THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS

3 DECEMBER 1999

It is an honour and a privilege for me to represent the Premier of the Province on this important occasion. The Premier is here in spirit 
because he had committed to this date early in November but due to unexpected circumstances, he had to be absent therefore I humbly 
apologise for him.

We are here today to celebrate International Day of Disabled persons 3rd December, an event celebrated every year therefore all officials 
here present should diarise the date for the year 2000. In order for us as government to commit to Reconstruction and Development, we must 
start by attending these important events and not always delegate to junior officials who will not be able to make decisions on some of the 
issues.

The President Thabo Mbeki, in his first speech as President in Parliament on 25 June 1999, recommitted the Government to the building of a 
caring society that will guarantee the dignity of every citizen.

Disability has been with us for some time but was not given any significance. Previously government provided a service through the Health 
and Welfare Departments which did not assist disabled people that much but instead encouraged disabled people to be dependant on charity 
and handouts.

The birth of a new government heralded many developments amongst them the inclusion of the equality clause in the constitution, the 
adoption of the White Paper on an INTEGRATED NATIONAL DISABILITY STRATEGY, and people with disabilities representing themselves in various 
structures and even in Parliament which confirms the slogan.

" NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US . Even the Eastern Cape has a representative

The emergence of organisations of disabled people has played a major role in advancing the cause of disability. It therefore is very 
important that these organisations should monitor government and also advocate for the needs of people with disabilities.

The International Day of 1999 marks a very important milestone in the history of the Eastern Cape. It is during this year that the Office 
on the Status of Disabled Persons ( OSDP ) was established i.e. on 01 April 1999.

The establishment of this office is as a result of recommendations in the White Paper. Government realised that there needs to be a 
paradigm shift in terms of government delivery, that disability should be looked at holistically.

The Office on the Status of Disabled Persons has been established to achieve the objectives of the Integrated National Disability Strategy 
which are the following :

1.  the facilitation of the integration of disability issues into government developmental strategies, planning and programmes :
2.  the development of an integrated management system for the co-ordination of disability planning, implementation and monitoring in the 
various line functions at all spheres of government :
3.  the development of capacity building strategies that will enhance Governments ability at all levels to implement recommendations 
contained in the Integrated National Disability Strategy.
4.  a programme of public education and awareness raising aimed at changing fundamental prejudices in South African society.

These objectives clearly indicate the role of the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons ( OSDP ) but the OSDP cannot do this alone, 
commitment from the various departments to prioritise disability would play a major role, working hand in hand with Disabled Peoples 
Organisations ( DPOs ) wherein they inform government and also direct the delivery so that it clearly benefits the lives of the people 
with disabled.

The OSDP is not a delivery tool but can do so through the other departments. It has been located in the Office of the Premier for a 
specific purpose, to emphasise the development and human rights aspect of disability and the fact that disability cuts across all 
departments.

The various departments might be asking, if the OSDP is co-ordinating, managing and monitoring the intergration why are they supposed to 
establish Special Programmes Units.

To give clarity and explanation, various departments are providing a specific service to disabled persons e.g. Welfare in terms of 
disability grants, Health  provision of medicines and assistive devices, Education-provision of special needs in education through the 
special schools to name but a few. Some departments may even say they are not part of this process because they do not deal with disability 
but because disability is a human rights and development issue each and every department has a role to play.

If as government we hope to deliver and develop disabled peoples lives through integration we need to look to look at our departmental 
budgets, programs, policies, legislation and strategies and ask ourselves are whether our department can be able to address the integration 
and the issues and the issues related to disability. In order for the departments to reflect governments thinking each and every section of 
the department should examine the linkage through the whole department to see whether at the end of the day a disabled persons life could 
be changed if not what is the problem.

A designed person to deal with disability in each department and also to Lisa with the OSDP in the Premiers Office is therefore 
imperative. Departments have not even started implementing the establishment of the Special Programs Units only the Department of Welfare 
has employed an official to be responsible for the three areas i.e. Disability, Gender and Youth.

Challenges facing the province are immense, firstly, the issue of budgetary constraints is the major one because when departments are faced 
with budgets cuts the first area to be affected is the one related to disability. The province inherited an environment which did and still 
does not accommodate disabled people e.g. government buildings, in terms of schools, offices, magistrates offices etc. The provision of 
sign language interpretation and braille is still non-existent in government. Furthermore there is still confusion around certain issues 
e.g. the fact that when the name disability is mentioned or seen in a piece of paper, immediately officials of government think about what 
their departments have in terms of programs whether it is special schools, disability grants, wheelchair provision etc.

Although the province is faced with these challenges it dies not mean that we must despair, but this is an indication that the province 
needs to work together for the betterment of disabled peoples lives.

In conclusion I want to urge departments to commit to prioritise disability by establishing their Special Programs Units, make provision 
for the integration of disability in terms of budgets, programs and ordination of the line functions within and by working closely and co-
operatively with the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons.

With these few remarks I officially launch the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons which was formerly known as the Disability Desk and 
wish to commit the Provincial government to working together for service delivery.

Thank you

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