PREMIER'S SPEECH
Programme Directors
Honourable Members of the Executive Council
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Heads of Department
Commissioners
Representatives from the Disability sector
Representatives from the Private Sector
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen.
On the 31 st July 2001 I officially launched the Mpumalanga Premier' Disability Achiever Awards at an august occasion held in Nelspruit. When we all gathered together to launch this exciting project I personally indicated to all that it is my believe and Government's opinion that we need to demystify disability and that this will only happen if we as a collective implement well planned and orderly thought processes and activities.
As we approach the 03 of December that was declared the International Day of Disabled Persons we are glad as a province to be contributing to this international agenda on the emancipation of persons with disabilities.
We need to acknowledge the fact that seven years in our democracy Government at national and provincial level has managed to put into place mechanisms for the empowerment and upliftment of persons with disabilities. This has resulted in disability being located at the epi-centre of our agenda for development and social transformation.
We have put together and are currently implementing the best pieces of legislations, from which we see people with disabilities afforded equal opportunities and resulting in their participation in various structures of Governance and administration.
However, we need to acknowledge that the vast majority of citizens who are disabled still live in conditions characterised of poverty, hunger and starvation, are vulnerable to abuse and disease, massive illiteracy, and many others associated with under-development.
In his Foreword to the White Paper on an Integrated National Disability Strategy President Mbeki then Deputy President says:
“Among the yardsticks by which to measure a society's respect for human rights, to evaluate the level of its maturity and its generosity of spirit is by looking at the status that it accords to those members of society who are most vulnerable, (the) disabled people, (the) senior citizens and (its) children.
The concept of a caring society is strengthened and deepened when we recognise that (the) disabled people enjoy the same right as we do and that we have a responsibility towards the promotion of their quality of life.
We must stop seeing disabled people as objects of pity but as capable individuals who are contributing immensely to the development of society.”
Within the above framework as provided by the President, the Mpumalanga Premier' Disability Achiever Awards is implemented with its objectives intended at recognising that disabled people have capabilities, skills and potentials. Our way of thinking is that we need to create space in which people with disabilities can proudly demonstrate to the entire society what they are capable of doing.
Programme Directors, it is a matter of controlling one's own destiny.
In our view the dignity of disabled persons can only be secured if they themselves are in position of influence and to the extent where they can be directly involved in determining their own future.
It is therefore within this context that we have at provincial level in line with national government created the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons. That we are continuing to strategically ensure representation of persons with disabilities in various formations of Governance.
Much work has still to be done in raising the level of awareness of the human rights of disabled persons. We do of course engage various structures and we are thankful to the fact that organisations of disabled persons are playing a pivotal and a leading role in this regard.
We fully subscribe to the slogan “Nothing about us without us”.
Programme Director, truly without the direct and active participation of persons with disabilities and their organisations who are we to change society's thinking towards persons with disabilities. Who are we to erode the myths, stereotypes and negative attitudes towards them. It is within this particular focus that we say surely as Government we need to develop, maintain and strengthen our partnerships with organised civil society and in this instance with organisations of disabled persons and the private sector.
For these reasons we therefore want to acknowledge the role the private sector partners are fulfilling in making the Mpumalanga Province a better place for ALL of us.
We are of the opinion that the private sector still has a huge role and an obligation towards persons with disabilities and can fulfil such role without necessary taking over the responsibility from persons with disabilities and Government. It is therefore our interest to see the private sector coming more and more to the centre in assuming specific responsibilities.
Surely, we can never look at Mpumalanga and South Africa in isolation from the rest of the world. Therefore the key battle in the world is to fight to overcome poverty and under-development of the vast majority of its people. As we continue in this war we need to continuously think of people with disability, women and children because they are the most suffering from these conditions.
Our agenda for the Millennium Africa Recovery Plan (MAP) led by his Excellency President T.M. Mbeki is one programme that will directly support organisations of persons with disabilities in South Africa and in the Continent in their call for peace, stability, democracy, eradication of poverty, disease, and many other circumstances and conditions, which causes disability.
The implementation of the Africa Decade for Persons with Disabilities directly links to the MAP and therefore we need to continue raising awareness and granting it the necessary profile it deserves.
It is against this background that we need to acknowledge that political conflict in Africa causes tremendous and an escalation of disabilities. Within the same view the foregoing terrorism and conflict in the United States of America and Afghanistan continuously increases the numbers of persons with disabilities and therefore will ultimately result in major challenges which we all in one way or another will have to deal with.
Programme Directors, it is our commitment to continue with the implementation of the Mpumalanga Premier' Disability Achiever Awards and therefore would like to furthermore challenge our private sector partners to do the same.
Once more a challenge to all of us in this gathering. What is it that we have done to facilitate the creation of equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in our respective spheres of employment and in the communities in which we live.
This further qualifies the fact that it is not just an individual with a disability's responsibility to ensure a conducive environment but rather society (meaning me and you) has to change in order to progressively accommodate persons with disabilities.
We say people with disabilities are not sick and they are not patients so there is no need to treat them as sick people. Shall we re-inculcate the spirit to “serve” amongst public servants?
Programme Directors, our project intends to rebuild the morals, confidence and the desire to “serve” and the interest to “work” for a better Mpumalanga amongst professionals. It is therefore that we have selected specific areas of service, which are also important for persons with disabilities and their empowerment and are using to generate and re-build a new cadre for the public service.
Therefore, today we will also witness and see that cadre that has “served' with compassion, love and respect recognised.
Programme Directors, the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS is a challenge for all of us. This disease knows no colour, race, religion and disability. This simply implies that even if you are disabled if you do not use proper preventative measures you will definitely get it.
As we approach the AIDS well day on the 1 st December 2001, lets bear in mind those that are directly affected and infected. Lets give them strength and courage. Let us not despise nor discriminate them.
In conclusion, I feel delighted and honoured to spend this time with you at this august gathering. Shall we continue with our celebrations in support to the restoration of human dignity.
I thank you!