Are South Africa's disability laws truly making a difference?

BESIDES some of the most progressive laws aimed at advancing the interests of the people living with disabilities, South Africa is still lagging when it comes to implementing some of these legislative frameworks.

- SIYABONGA SITHOLE

According to Statistics South Africa, persons with severe disabilities experience difficulty in accessing education and employment opportunities, while households headed by persons with disabilities were found to have less access to basic services compared to households headed by persons without disabilities.

The statistics also reveal that there are disparities in terms of access to assistive devices across population groups and geography.

At the recent C20 South Africa Launch, which has mobilised 14 working groups to generate actionable policy considerations ahead of the G20 Summit, Sikelelwa Alex Msitshana, founder of the Deaf Empowerment Firm and chairperson of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), highlighted ongoing challenges.

"We have come together to try and make sure the voice of people with disabilities is heard. People living with disabilities are still lacking in many respects, even though South Africa is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.