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ê7. Adv T M Masutha (ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:
What measures (a) has he taken and (b) does he intend taking to expedite the full implementation of the policies that had been adopted by the Government after 1994 for (i) advancing the rights of people with disabilities and (ii) ensuring their full social and economic participation in society? NO1536E
REPLY:
Honourable Member,
Government is guided by the Constitution of the Republic which makes provision for the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.
To expedite the implementation of the transformative policies adopted after 1994, South Africa signed both the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol in 2007 and ratified the Convention in 2008.
The convention covers a number of key areas such as accessibility, rehabilitation, participation in political life, equality and non-discrimination.
In order to ensure the proper implementation of the covenant, the government is developing a National Disability Policy and its Implementation Guidelines.
Work is also under way to develop a Disability Act which will deal with the enforcement, non-compliance and implementation of the convention as well as all disability related policies of the land.
We will also continue to promote the inclusion of persons with disability in the mainstream economy through instruments such as the Employment Equity Act and the Black Economic Empowerment Act amongst others.
The recent Employment Equity Commission report indicated dismal figures with regards to the representation of persons with disability at top and senior management levels in the workplace. This was put at 0.8%, together with that of African women.
Solutions to this challenge that we are looking at includes the proposed amendments to the Employment Equity Act to incorporate proposals such as increasing the fines imposed on employers to deter them from not complying with the Act.
The amendment also seeks to amend the definition of designated groups, to limit the meaning of black people, women and persons with disabilities to South African citizens and to those who have become citizens through naturalization.
This will mean that the employment of persons who are foreign nationals or became citizens after April 1994 will not assist employers to meet their affirmative action targets.
Other special initiatives with regards to job opportunities include the Department of Labour's initiative of funding and managing Sheltered Employment Factories for persons with disabilities.
There are 12 such factories currently and discussions are at an advanced stage for them to be increased and transformed.
At a practical level, among great strides that have been made to deliver services to persons with disability is the access to social assistance.
To date, a total of 981 331 persons with disability obtain the disability grant from government, while a total of 122 153 children with disabilities receive the care dependency grant to assist their care givers to look after them.
In addition, 248 589 persons with temporary disability receive the temporary disability grant.
These grants contribute immensely to the alleviation of poverty.
We welcome the participation of civil society, in particular organizations representing the interests of people with disabilities, in monitoring the measures that government has taken and is working to expedite implementation of post 1994 policies.
I thank you.
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