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28 August 2008

Programme director
Honourable Mayor of Polokwane Councillor Thabo Makunyane
Kgosi George Maila
SANABP President, S.W Makgato
Adv. Michael Masutha, Member of Parliament and former president of SANABP
Pastor BD Mabelane
Mr Lesibana Movundlela, SANABP development co-ordinator
Mrs F Sebola, Thobela FM Programme Manager
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you very much for inviting us to this auspicious function which celebrates the 22nd anniversary of your organisation. I am proud to be in your company and also happy to wish all of you a joyous night of festivities. People with disability, like anyone else are full human beings. They have got the right to access housing, health, education, transport and employment.

They further have the right to participate in politics, and in the economy, like any other person. They have the right to skills development, right to use assistive technology like Braille and other communication devices. Overall, government commits itself to do everything possible to ensure that these rights are respected and protected.

According to World Health Organization's (WHO), there are 600 million disabled people all over the world, a figure which constitute about 10% of the world's population. Of this number, it is estimated that about 80% of all disabled people worldwide live in developing countries like South Africa.

It is said that, only one in five people who are disabled is economically active, and only one in a hundred people with severe disabilities has a job in the labour market. The rest and the vast majority of disabled persons depend on social grants and family support for a living, rather than earned income. Indeed, we must find it regrettable that we still have a situation like this, in a well endowed country, such as ours.

Programme director
However, we want to thank your organisation for the tireless work it has done in bringing about awareness and education on the subject of disability. As a result of the struggles that you have waged, our society is gradually becoming aware that disability is not merely a health and welfare concern, but an issue of human rights and a development challenge.

Some of you may well know that, in the past, disability was classified more as a problem of the individual, who was seen as helpless, and as a result had to be cued by medical experts through treatment and rehabilitation. As years progressed, the disabled people themselves challenged and rebutted this view which sought to shame and degrade them, as full human beings and equal members of society.

The blind and partially sighted persons in particular, have now reclaimed their rights and are fast breaking the political, social and economic barriers which discriminate them. After 22 years of hard work, we can now claim to have a powerful movement on our side which is solid and ready to defend and articulate your rights.

Being blind is no longer a curse, as we have many role models in society to look up to, such as your past President Mr Michael Masutha, who is a member of Parliament and others too many to mention.

Since 1994, government has established offices on the status of disabled people in the Presidency and in the Premier's offices so as to ensure that the needs of this sector of our community are placed higher on our agenda. We have passed a number of supportive legislations and set of policies because we understand that integrating people with disabilities into the mainstream of society is paramount to the work of government.

We have gone a long way in implementing the Employment Equity Act, especially in the public service, although much more work still needs to be done in the private sector.

Our government will continue to make available the assistive devices which our blind people need in order to function well in society. These include the improvement of rehabilitation services for blind persons, the provision of white canes, low vision devices and training of blind persons in orientation and mobility services.

Programme director
We all agree that, access to buildings and information is still a major challenge for disabled persons in general. However, whilst most government departments have done their best to make sure that their buildings are accessible by installing lifts, ramps, handrails and wheelchair toilets, it is regrettable that some private sector buildings are still highly inaccessible.

Notwithstanding this, we are pleased to note that there are a number of government institutions that have started printing their documents in Braille to be accessed by blind readers. The challenge however, is to standardise the printing of these important reading materials in all departments and municipalities.

We have recognised as government that one of the challenges that is hindering the economic empowerment of disabled people is that documents such as tender forms for instance, are not available in Braille or Audio tapes, which make it difficult for blind and partially sighted people to use them.

Notwithstanding all the challenges, we can say with confidence that things have indeed become different, when one assesses the level of improvement of quality of life of disabled persons in general since the ANC government took over.

Everybody can see that government has indeed done a lot to develop and improve the livelihood of the disabled in the most fundamental way. However, we still believe that the vision of a better life for all will not materialise for the disability sector, until all role players play their part. non-governmental organisations and the private sector must also play their part in ensuring that this sector of our population enjoys the fruits of freedom, which they too, also took part in realising.

This is a challenge not only for government, but for all sectors in society. Business like government also has to employ people with disabilities and include them in their learnership and internship programmes. Bursaries and scholarships also have to be extended to this sector of our population, if we are to maximize skills amongst them.

Our belief is that education is the only key that can get people out of poverty, including people with disabilities. People with disabilities should therefore take advantage of Adult Based Education and Training (ABET), Further Education and Training (FET) colleges, learnerships and internship programmes in order to develop themselves.

Nothing can stop you from becoming a technician, engineer, journalist, lawyer, politician, accountant, businessperson or a doctor that you have always wanted to be. No dream is too far to reach. Your attitude towards life will always determine your altitude.

Programme director
We would like to congratulate the South African National Association of Blind and Partially Sighted Persons for having sustained its existence for 22 years. We all know too well that the environment since 1994 has become very hostile for non-governmental organisations (NGO's) to survive. Therefore, for you to come this far as one, is indeed a milestone. Many organisations died soon after they were born because of not only lack of funding but also due to poor leadership.

As a province, we are indeed grateful that you are alive and well after 22 years of existence. We are also grateful that despite the fact that you are operating nationally and have links with international organisations, your organisation was born and raised in this province.

This therefore makes you an important part of Limpopo heritage. We also pride ourselves to have produced great leaders from the blindness sector from this province such as Mr Selaelo Makgato (SANBP President), Ms Ngwanakopi Ramushu (Deputy President and co-ordinator of SADC Women's Programme of African Union of the Blind) and Adv. Michael Masutha (Member of Parliament in the National Assembly) as I have already mentioned.

Programme director
However, we should not lose sight of challenges that still have to be overcome in equalising opportunities for blind people and other categories of persons with disabilities.

As government, we pledge to support SANABP and other organisations of disabled people to improve the quality of life of the disability sector. As government, we hope to continue consulting with this Association to increasingly create a better life for the disability sector.

We urge the business community and other sectors, e.g. the religious sector, human rights activists, etc. to continue supporting SANABP in cash and in kind, because, without such support it will not survive.

Together we must continue to invest in programmes which seek to change the mindset of our society towards people with disabilities.

We are proud of the achievements made by disabled people in this province, and believe that each one of us has what it takes to realise our dreams. Disability is never a punishment from God and can be overcome. I wish you good luck in all your endeavours.

May SANABP live longer, prosper and increasingly be strong to achieve its vision.

Thank you for your attention!

Issued by: Limpopo Provincial Government
28 August 2008