PREMIER'S ADDRESS
Thank You.
Madam Chair, Mamsy Mashaba
Chairperson of the Provincial Council of the Blind Mr Eliot Mashaba
Members of the Provincial Council for the Blind
Dr Karrim and officials from the Department of Health
Ladies and gentlemen.
I feel truly humbled to have been invited to this gathering today. A gathering that is a milestone in many ways.
Today we witness the positive efforts of men and women in the province who vowed that they would strive for equal access to services.
It is also important for me and the entire Provincial government that we meet at this gathering on the eve of Human Rights Day next Tuesday March 21. Activities have been planned for this day at Eerstehoek District. We would appreciate your attendance.
Human Rights are for al of us including people with disabilities. We gather here today at a time when people in the province, the country and the region are reeling from the devastation of the floods.
Lives were lost.
Properties were destroyed.
Have we ever stopped to ask how people with disabilities coped with all that misery, pain and destruction? The people who suffered most from this destruction are the poorest of the poor. But then the poorest of the poor – those with disabilities - those who on a daily basis are subjected to misery, hunger and starvation most probably came off the worst.
Where people who suffered most from this destruction are the poorest of the poor. Seek sanctuary in trees. How many people with disabilities could manage to escape?
Maybe some were left to die because we consider people with disabilities as lesser humans than us. Negative attitudes by some of us towards people with disabilities are contributing to the disempowerment of people we consider lesser than us.
On its own this selfish and unnecessary attitude contributes to the lowering of the self-esteem of some of the people with disabilities.The result is withdrawal from functions they are constitutionally and physically capable of doing. It is no wonder that there is withdrawal of an exclusion of people with disabilities from the areas like education, employment etc.
May I announce that we will soon release an integrated Public Awareness and Education Strategy aimed at informing and eradication stigma attached to people with disabilities. This will enable us to systematically deal with and defuse all myths around disabilities. But we have gone some way in addressing these myths.
We are mindful that the journey to where we are today has not been easy. But all of us persevered because we knew that what we had set out on was the right road.
The respect and recognition of people with disabilities require more than fine-sounding declarations in a constitution or in speeches. They should reside in our hearts and the awarding of certificates today is one vivid expression of that.
As government we have accepted and acknowledged that tackling the issue of disability is something we should all be involved in. Disability cuts across all organs of civil government and civil society. That is why the Office of the Status of People with Disabilities was created. It was created to fulfill a need mandate that cuts across all organs and departments of government.
In line with the recommendation of the White Paper on an Integrated National Disability Strategy, we will continue with the support of the OSDP to find solutions that will mostly address the issues of people with disabilities.
Madam Chair, in my address at the Legislature on March 9, I indicated that January 2000 to December 20009 is the Africa Decade for Persons with Disabilities.
I have also emphasised the need for departments and other structures of civil society to start putting together programmes aimed at advancing the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities.
In my opinion these plans should include interventions in areas of employment, education, housing, transport, independence, health care and others. I also committed the Office of the Premier to the facilitation of the Affirmative Action Policy and the Employment Equity Act.
Madam chair I also committed my office to a partnership governance. We believe that in so doing we would be able to bring in people with disabilities into the process of policy formulation and delivery of service.
As I indicated earlier next Tuesday is Human Rights Day. I hope the envisaged Status Report on Disability will be presented. This would enable us to plan ahead more effectively. We will revise MAP 2000 within the framework of the Africa Decade in order to ensure that there is better and faster delivery.
Madam Chair, we are also interested in the facilitation the reform of the education system to cater for the 80 percent children with disabilities who are currently out of school. I am pleased to see and listen to empowered individuals with disabilities here today.
I am delighted to realise that there is an ever-growing partnership with the Department of Health. This has led to better access for people who are blind.
The three Orientation and Mobility instructors appointed will be able to reach out to the communities in the province and render this specialised service. This will enable our brothers and sisters to participate in social life.
We are aware that such community services might be he first type of initiative in the entire country and would really congratulate all those involved.
We know that for the partnership to be sustained and have impact there will be differences of opinion. Differences of opinion and healthy debate are the cornerstone of democracy.
Made chair, I have at the beginning indicated that disability is not only an issue for an individual. It is for all of us. I therefore wish to challenge the private sector to make a contribution. Not as charities but rather in amore meaningful and sustainable way.
This could be through employing people with disabilities, providing for their training. A major challenge that faces each and everyone one of us is the escalating HIV/AIDS epidemic. It is imperative that we plead with all of us here to follow the ABC of preventing and halting the spread of this epidemic.
A means we have to A BSTAIN from sexual
activities. This is the best way of prevention.
But then if we can't we need to B E faithful and not sleep
around.
If that fails let us C ONDOMISE.
In conclusion, during my presentation at the Legislature I indicated that my report was available in Braille. Let me take this opportunity to present chairperson of the Provincial Council for the Blind with a copy of the report.
I thank you.