NO EMBARGO
25th March 2025
PRESS RELEASE
DEPUTY MINISTER HENDRICKS TO HANDOVER REPORT OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON DRAFT POLICY ON SERVICES TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN KWAZULU-NATAL
The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mr Ganief Hendricks on Tuesday, 25 March officially handed over the provincial report to KwaZulu-Natal MEC of Social Development, Ms Mbali Shinga.
The report highlights province-specific inputs that were received during the public consultations into the development of the Draft Policy on Social Development Services to Persons with Disabilities, which was approved by Cabinet in 2023. The public hearing inputs have been distilled into a high-level action against which all provincial governments are required to provide progress reports.
The report advocates, strongly for government to invest in educational, capacity building, skills development, employment, and funding opportunities for persons with disabilities. It further calls for the provision of assistive devices, including, wheelchairs and hearing aids, amongst others.
According to 2022 census data, around 3,3 million people identified as persons with disabilities, the majority of which is females at 8, 3% compared to males at 6,5%. The handover forms part of the Department’s activities for the commemoration of the Human Rights Month under the theme: “Deepening a culture of social justice and human rights”; which seeks to advance the rights of all South Africans, including persons with disabilities.
The commemoration of the Human Rights Month presents an opportune moment to reflect on how we have come in prompting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities in South Africa. The Bill of Rights, found in Chapter 2 of the South African Constitution, is a human rights charter that guarantees all people in South Africa social, political, and socio-economic rights. These rights include equality, human dignity, freedom of movement and residence, language and culture, amongst others.
The Constitution places the obligation on the state to respect, promote, protect and fulfil the rights in the Bill of Rights, including the rights of persons with disabilities. It does so through the legal framework which creates primary responsibilities on key government departments to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, thus giving effect to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, of which South Africa is a signatory.
Social Development is one of the lead government departments that render prevention and early intervention, including residential /alternative care and support services to persons with disabilities. The official handover of the report will be followed by interaction with organisations representing persons with disabilities.
Recently, the Department of Social Development in collaboration with the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities convened a two-day consultative session on the Disability Rights Bill. The first for South Africa, the Disability Rights Bill seeks to advance and safeguard the rights of all persons with disabilities, promote equality, dignity, effective inclusion, as well as address discrimination.
THE HANDOVER OF THE PROVINICIAL PUBLIC HEARINGS REPORT TOOK PLACE AS FOLLOWS:
Date: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Time: 07h00
Venue: Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel, 329 uMhlanga Rocks Drive, uMhlanga Ridge, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province
HANDOVER REPORT OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON DRAFT POLICY TO STAKEHOLDERS:
Date: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Time: 09h00
Venue: Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel, 329 uMhlanga Rocks Drive, uMhlanga Ridge, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province
FOR INTERVIEWS CONTACT:
NISA HENDRICKS
082 6131917