Briefing by the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons on the International Day of Disabled Persons

Meeting report

JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
18 September 2002
BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE ON THE STATUS OF DISABLED PERSONS

Chairperson: Ms Bogopane (ANC)

Documents Handed out:
Report by the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons

SUMMARY
The Committee's main concerns were the lack of media coverage on the International Day of Disabled Persons and the fact that there was still no theme for the International Day. The Committee felt that the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons has had no impact so far on raising pertinent issues regarding disabilities and that there was a lack of co-operation between the Office and other government Departments.

MINUTES
Briefing by the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons (OSDP)
Ms Matsebula: representing the OSDP explained that the aim of the Office was to improve the quality of life of disabled persons. The Office was housed within the Presidency. Its projects and activities called for inter-departmental collaboration and support, but unfortunately this was almost non-existent.

Ms Matsebula stated that the different Departments that made up the Committee for disabled persons selected junior staff to attend the various pertinent meetings and some even failed to attend. There was therefore no effectiveness in the meetings and the projects undertaken.

She explained that the International Day of Disabled Persons was celebrated at two levels within the country: nationally and provincially. On a national level, the event was celebrated in a different province every year. This year, it would be celebrated in Kimberley. The role of the OSDP was to come up with the cultural programme and organise media and publicity. The committee in Kimberley would take care of the logistical arrangements and entertainment.
The respective committee in Kimberley would travel to Cape Town to meet with the national Office and plan for the event. On a provincial level, each province was to organise its own events.

She underlined the fact that the IDDP was an international day and that it was up to the UN to come up with a theme for that particular day. Her Office had unsuccessfully been trying to get in touch with the UN Offices to get a theme in order to prepare for the event. Ms Matsebula pointed out that that the OSDP was too small a component and had a capacity problem. There were only four people at management level, three at middle management level and three as administrative staff. Furthermore, they survived on donor funds.
There was thus not enough machinery to properly publicise the work done.

Discussion
Ms Ghandi (ANC) asked what the nature of OSDP participation was at the World Summit On Sustainable Development, its impact and the response raised.

Ms Matsebula stated that the OSDP had put up an exhibition on art work done by disabled persons, and had participated in a festival, all meant to promote disability and portray it in a positive way.

Mr Gore (DP) asked why there was a capacity problem within the OSDP. He also enquired about access of disabled persons to courts in South Africa.

Ms Matsebula explained that the OSDP was a structure within the Presidency. If the problem of capacity was to be solved, more funds were required.
On the question of restructuring the courts to meet the needs of disabled persons, Ms Matsebula stated that it was a concern to her Office but the funds were just not available.

Ms Roopnarain (IFP) asked whether the OSDP could not intervene and seek a solution concerning the lack of support at inter-departmental level and the issue of junior staff in the committee for disabled persons. She also felt that the OSDP should come up with its own theme and not wait indefinitely for the UN.

Ms Matsebula said that her Office had no power to interfere in the administrative matters of government Departments. It had no say in whom the Departments sent to the committee.
With respect to the theme, she noted that there would be a meeting the following day in Cape Town between UN officials and the OSDP and they would brainstorm for a theme on the IDDP.

Ms Ghandi commented that South Africa had the best strategies for disabled people in Africa.
She wanted to know whether OSDP interacted with other African countries on disability issues and how they did so.

Ms Matsebula confirmed that there was a programme for regional co-ordination between her Office and other Offices in other African countries. They had conference calls, exchange of documents, telephone conversations. The interaction was amongst SADC countries in particular.

Ms Bogopane felt that since IDDP was to be celebrated on a national level in Kimberley, all the planning should take place in Kimberley and not Cape Town. Most Members agreed with this. She also asked what the relationship was between the national office of the OSDP and the different Offices in the provinces.

Ms Matsebula explained that each provincial Office had a premier and the structuring as well as restructuring of the Office was left to the premier. The national office only played an advisory role to the provincial offices. It also played a part in intensive training, in monitoring and evaluating staff but it could not give orders to a Premier.

In concluding the meeting Ms Bogopane still felt that the OSDP was to pull up its socks, meet deadlines and comply with handing over reports to the Committee. More media build-up was required as well as more interaction between the OSDP and civil society.

The meeting was adjourned.