UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Implementation: Departments of Public Works & Arts and Culture responses to issues arising from public hearings submissions

Meeting report

Department of Public Works (DPW) presentation
In her presentation, Ms Mandisa Fatyela-Lindie, DPW Acting Director-General,said that the Department had developed its own Disability Policy Guidelines which had been adopted in 2010 in compliance with theConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). These guidelines did not, however, provide technical specifications to be used in making building accessible. Instead, it committed the Department to providing access for access for persons with disabilities to address the challenges of lack of access to service delivery and social infrastructure in the provision of services by the Departments of Health, Home Affairs, Justice and Constitutional Development, Social Development, as well as Sport and Recreation. The Department launched the Accessibility Project as an Apex Programme in 2008, the objective of which was to address non-compliance of state-owned buildings to access by persons with disabilities. The requirements being addressed included signage, parking, external and internal circulation, doors, doorways and handles, ramps, lifts, warning signs as well as other measures informed by the requirements per building.

For the 2012/13 financial year, of the 184 buildings planned, 29 were completed, 132 were in the planning stage, and none were currently in the construction phase. These buildings included those utilised by the Departments of Justice and Constitutional Development, Police, Home Affairs, and Correctional Services. Of the R28 million allocated for this, R1.34 million had been spent by the end of August. This under-expenditure was largely due to delays caused by non-responsive bids and poor performance by contractors, the lack of an adequate budget planning mechanism and the lack of proper coordination with the Department on the implementation of its Disability Policy Guidelines.

The Department had, together with the Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy (PALAMA), designed a Disabilities Management Training programme, which commenced in January 2012 and saw the participation of 117 officials to date.

The Department also ran annual awareness campaigns such as Deaf Awareness Week, World Sight Week and International Day for Persons with Disabilities. It had also, as part of its awareness-raising programme, purchased equipment which could be utilised by persons with disabilities. 

The Department noted that, at 1 August 2012, 1.12% of its employees were persons with disabilities.

Discussion
The Chairperson asked how much of its budget was set aside for all matters related to persons with disabilities. At what levels were those of its employees with disabilities? What were the barriers to retaining persons with disabilities in its employ? Why was no mention made of accessibility work on health facilities?

The Department answered that the budget set aside for this purpose was spread across different programmes and was not one specific amount ring-fenced for this purpose. Most employees with disabilities were found at lower levels of employ. The private sector had more attractive packages for persons with disabilities which made it harder for the Department to retain such persons. A review of its Human Resources plan would, however, look into the development of an effective retention plan and would also assist the Department in being able to meet the 2% target here.

Mr D Kekana (ANC) asked whether the Department had completed its asset register. What was being around the training of young engineers?

Ms Fatyela-Lindie answered that the Department was currently collating data around all of its assets in order to have a credible assets register. This register would be updated on a regular and consistent basis.

Mr Mfezeko Gwazube, DPW Acting Chief Operating Officer, added that the Department was implementing a skills development programme in conjunction with the relevant Councils, though this would need time to effectively gauge its success. It was also looking into effective ways of securing the necessary on-site training for these young engineers.

Ms I Ditshetelo (UCDP) asked whether there were any figures around how many persons with disabilities were awarded any of its contracts. How many of the 117 people trained were persons with disabilities? Were those items purchased by the Department for its own internal use?

The Department answered that a detailed breakdown of all relevant information here could be provided to the Committee in writing. Some of these 117 people were persons with disabilities. These items were purchased for internal use.

Ms H Lamoela (DA) asked what was being done to ensure that people, especially those in rural areas were made aware of work the Department was doing. In which provinces were the outreach centres located? What were the challenges around the criteria for contractors that led to their poor performance? Were all the facilities, such as ramps and lifts, found in State buildings in rural areas?

Ms Fatyela-Lindi answered that the Department worked on this through its hosting of information-sharing sessions with organisations such as DeafSA and BlindSA.

Mr Gwazube added that although the Department consulted a contractor register, there was, in the register, no classification for contractors that specifically worked on state buildings. The Department was currently looking into developing policies around an intervention plan, which, amongst others, looked at technical assessments of contractors. There was currently no active rural or urban policy, though such a policy could be looked into. Projects were currently undertaken on a needs basis.

The Department added that most of the buildings being utilised by the different departments did not belong to the state. Only recently had it been specified that prospective tenders would be given preference if they took easier access for persons with disabilities into consideration.

Ms L van der Merwe (IFP) asked why there were no buildings due for construction in 2013. Had the buildings earmarked for being worked on in 2012 been completed? Of the 132 buildings noted, how many were to be found in rural areas? Why had there been such a significant under-expenditure considering the amount of work which needed to be done? Could it provide more detail on its innovative recruitment strategy?

Mr Gwazube added that under-expenditure was mainly as a result of capacity constraints within the Department, which suffered from a notable lack of skilled staff in key positions. In recognition of this challenge, and as part of its turnaround strategy, funds earmarked for the filling of these vacancies had recently been made available.

Ms M Mabuza (ANC), Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works, said that the Department faced many problems and was in a very poor state. The turnaround strategy it was implementing was, however, looking at addressing its challenges effectively. The Committee should bear with the Department and support it as it implemented this strategy.   

Ms Van der Merwe asked what plans were in place to address the under-expenditure.

Mr Gwazube answered that the filling of the vacant posts would go towards addressing this challenge. Although this would not wholly deal with the problem, it was a viable means by which to stabilise under-expenditure over the short-term.

The Department added that the Disability Policy Guideline currently stated the need for the prioritisation of service points. The Department hoped that the implementation of this policy would ultimately address many of the questions posed by the Members.

Ms Lamoela asked whether the Committee could be provided with a copy of the Department’s Disability Policy Guidelines.

The Department replied that copies hereof could be made available to Members.

Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) presentation
Dr Mbulelo Jokweni, DAC Acting Deputy Director General: Arts, Culture, Promotional Development, and Cultural Development and International Relations, said that the Department's infrastructure section had been working on creating access for persons with disabilities at its institutions. This included suitable wheelchair access to theatres, museums and administration buildings, the installation of handrails, and the provision of Braille labels. The Pan South African Languages Board (PanSALB) had been allocated R69 million for the promotion of Sign Language, among others. Other programmes included the DeafTV Zwakala Festival, the Heritage Showcase by Deaf People of Tshwane (done in conjunction with the Tshwane Deaf Association) and the Look at Me photographic exhibition which celebrated the beauty of women with disabilities (done in collaboration with the British Council).

The inclusion of Sign Language in the Constitution had allowed for the creation of a space for the deaf to participate in the development of the country and had afforded linguistic rights to the 412 421 deaf and 1 237 264 extremely hard-of-hearing people living in the country. These figures were taken from the 2001 Census, and numbers had significantly increased subsequently.

Challenges remained, however, in the fact that there were presently very few qualified Sign Language teachers and a scarcity of accredited interpreters.

A sample of current programmes undertaken had revealed that there were no persons with disabilities employed within government departments in the Northern Cape, that there no known accredited Sign Language interpreters in the North West province and that, in the Western Cape, there was still a high unemployment rate amongst – and significant discrimination towards – deaf people.

The Department would continue to work together with the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities to ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities were met.

Discussion
The Chairperson asked how far the process of having sign language declared as the twelfth official language was. How much of the noted R69 million was earmarked for issues related to sign language?

Dr Jokweni answered that, as this was a Constitutional matter, it should be finalised with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. The Department would look into this matter by consulting the task team appointed and provide the Committee with its findings in writing. This was a valid question and that, as such, it would be better for PanSALB itself to present such information to the Committee.

Ms Van der Merwe asked how many facilities there were and across which provinces. How many Braille libraries were there across the country? What programmes, other than those of PanSALB, was the Department undertaking? Had the Department reached the mandated 2% employment target? What was being done to ensure that persons with disabilities could access basic services?

Mr Moleleki Ledimo, DAC Director: Arts and Youth Development, answered that one of its focus areas was to make theatres more accessible to persons with disabilities. Theatres included the State Theatre, Artscape and the Playhouse Theatre. Handrails had not been standardised as yet, though the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) had been brought on board to fast-track this matter. Although the presentation focussed mainly on theatres, there was also a number of museums being focussed on. Information around these museums could be provided to the Committee in writing.

Ms Matsie Ratsaka-Mothokoa, Director: Arts and Social Development, DAC, added that the Department was working towards ensuring that it met the necessary 2% target and would definitely do so.

Ms E More (DA) asked how those in rural areas benefitted from and/or accessed programmes. What interventions had the Department put in place to address the challenges noted in North West province? What policies were in place to ensure that persons with disabilities within the Department were reasonably accommodated? How many youths with disabilities across how many provinces currently benefitted from its programmes?

Mr Ledimo answered that the Department had recently signed an agreement with the National Youth Development Agency, part of which focussed on providing youths in rural areas with more opportunities in those areas. This also sought to better bridge the urban-rural divide.

Ms G Tseke (ANC) asked whether the Committee could be provided with up-to-date information as some of the information presented was outdated. Could the Department compile a report on the different organisations dealing with persons with disabilities it had funded in previous years?

Dr Jokweni answered that this was regrettable and apologised for this. The information was, however, provided by PanSALB and was out of the control of the Department.

Ms Van der Merwe responded that this was of concern as it brought into question the relationship the Department had with PanSALB. The Department should work towards ensuring stronger relationships with this entity.

Dr Jokweni replied that the relationship it had with PanSALB was improving and was enjoying greater cooperation. PanSALB should be requested to compile a comprehensive report for the Committee on what it had done around the promotion of sign language as well as how funds related to this were being spent.

The meeting was adjourned.