Govt To Increase Funds For People With Disabilities, Says Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the government will be increasing funds for people with disabilities.

During a meeting of the Presidential Working Group on Disability at the Union Buildings held on Tuesday morning, the president shared that the funds for disability-related programs and services will be increased, noting that it will include funds for education, training, employment and health care services.

Ramaphosa acknowledged that the government also needs to "strengthen disability-related policies and legislation to ensure that they are effectively implemented," SA News reported.

He continued, "We will work with disability organizations and other stakeholders to develop and implement disability-inclusive policies and programs that promote the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities."

The president also aims to increase public awareness and understanding of people related to disability issues via public awareness campaigns and community outreach programs.

Aside from that the government will also "create accessible and inclusive environments for persons with disabilities, ensuring that public facilities and services are accessible and promoting universal design principles in the built environment."

Ramaphosa further shared that the government will also include persons with disabilities in decision-making processes in order to make their voices heard in all aspects of public life.

He acknowledged the transport problem faced by people with disabilities on daily basis, noting that trains are often not accessible for wheelchair users and there is a general lack of assistance for passengers with disabilities.

While the minibus taxi industry is the main mode of transport for many passengers, people with disabilities aren't able to use them with ease.

The president admitted that even on global level people with disabilities "face exclusion from the labor market," however, in South Africa, the unemployment rates are even higher for persons with disabilities, despite the government promoting inclusion policies.

He noted that a black person with disabilities feels it more severely and a black woman feels it even more in the country.

Ramaphosa noted that the commitment government made to promote "the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities is unwavering," adding that the African Union Protocol on Rights of Persons with Disabilities has undergone the necessary parliamentary processes.

"It is now in the final phases with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to be deposited with the AU," he added. "International benchmarking indicates that South Africa has made progress in policy implementation on health care, education, and economic opportunities."

However, the president noted that the government has "not made enough progress in implementing disability-related policies and legislation." Moreover, the funding is not adequate for disability-related programs.

Now, Ramaphosa ensured that disability will become mainstream when it comes to making government plans and programs alongside budgets.

The president concluded by saying "the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation will continue to assess progress on the implementation of priority programs for persons with disabilities."