Question NW3863 to the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
04 January 2024 - NW3863
Herron, Mr BN to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
Given the seriousness of the case about the inhumane treatment of learners with disabilities at the Ikhwezi Lokusa Special School where disabled children were disregarded and placed in unregulated facilities, what (a) course of action has her Office taken in relation to its investigation into those responsible and (b) are the relevant details of the plans that her Office, in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, has put in place to develop the facility and make it conducive for learners with disabilities?
Reply:
The management of schools for children with special needs is vested with the Departments of Education and Social Development. The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) provides policy direction on all matters relating to persons with disabilities in the Republic.
a) Consequently, when this issue was brought to the attention of the DWYPD, we engaged the Office of the Director-General in the Eastern Cape Provincial Government on 24 November 2023. This engagement was organised to ascertain the course of action by the Eastern Cape Provincial Government toward ensuring that the situation at the school is improved and to ensure that the infringements of the rights of children with disabilities at Ikhwezi Lokusa Special School are decisively dealt with.
b) Following the above referenced engagement, the Eastern Cape Provincial Government undertook to facilitate a response to the challenges. Meetings will be coordinated in due course to provide an update thereto.