Question NW3846 to the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
04 January 2024 - NW3846
Sharif, Ms NK to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
In light of the Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) which started on 3 November through to 3 December 2023 and considering her statement that Cabinet had approved the sixth annual report on the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and urged other departments to implement an action plan to recruit persons with disabilities, (a) what plans has her department put in place for DRAM and (b) how does she intend to hold other departments accountable for their lack of inclusion of persons with disabilities?
Reply:
a) The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) launched the Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) by releasing a statement on 3 November 2023 to highlight the country’s commitment to uplift and empower persons with disabilities.
A national DRAM calendar was developed and circulated widely to ensure that events and activities conducted to commemorate DRAM in all provinces throughout the country were supported and attended by relevant stakeholders. The DRAM calendar of activities is attached as Annexure A.
The DRAM activities covered discussions on challenges and responses around persons with albinism, promoting implementation of South African Sign Language (SASL), sensitizing officials on disability rights and service delivery issues, access to transport, employment equity, the impact of climate change has on persons with disabilities, and access to sport, among many other areas. The objective was to increase awareness in the country on disability inclusion, equity and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in all sectors of society.
b) In line with the performance reporting template on the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, all government departments are expected to provide reports to the DWYPD on employment equity targets on a quarterly basis and include challenges experienced by departments to recruit, support and retain persons with disabilities in the workplace.
The DWYPD holds two meetings a year to provide technical support to all national government departments and offices of the premier to provide them with technical support and to create a platform for departments to share best practices and challenges. Organisations for and of persons with disabilities are also invited to attend and participate in these bi-annual meetings.
All employment equity data collected from government departments is analysed and included in the Annual Progress Report on the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (WPRPD) which is processed to Cabinet for consideration.