Title: OCR Document
Author: Readiris
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Company: I.R.I.S.

PARLIAMENT: RESEARCH UNIT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

23.05.07

Briefing by the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons on 2008/09 Strategic plan and budget

1. Introduction

This reactive report has been compiled for the Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons (hereafter referred to as the JMC) in preparation for the briefing by the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons (OSDP). The questions have been formulated based on a prior briefing to the JMC that covered the OSDP's previous strategic plan and budget as it related to the 2008 State of the Nation Address (presented 5 March 2008). Each section commences with a brief outline of the key issues followed by some questions for consideration. It was also important to bring to the attention of the JMC the relevance of the 2008 Budget speech where

According to the OSDP's presentation in June 2007, it had identified 17 foci areas which were to be revised in 2008.

Disability Policy

1.	Finalising the National Disability Policy Framework

The OSDP has set out to finalise the Draft National Policy Framework and alongside it develop a draft implementation plan. Hereafter it was to be sent off for approval before implementing. Part of the implementation process involved the following:

•	Developing training manuals by SAMDI & budget, brief clusters on process and contents

•	Letter of commitments from Director Generals

•	Policy Framework and Implementation Plan to be taken to Cabinet for approval by July 2008

Questions for consideration

•	What is the current status of the National Policy Framework and Implementation Plan?

•	How does this link to the review of the Integrated Disability Strategy? What is the current status of the INDS?

•	Have the training manuals been developed?

•	Have clusters been brief and have Director Generals committed? Provide detail to this end

2.	Finalising the 15 Year Review Workshop on 11 March

The OSDP intended to utilise the report of the workshop to compile a Hand-over Manual for next government.

Questions for consideration

•	What was the outcome of the workshop?

•	Has the manual been completed and what was the cost incurred? How has it been disseminated?

Co-ordinating structures

3.	Establish and/or participate in appropriate Disability Coordination structure to policies:

The DSDP intended to develop a programme of action for the National Disability Machinery (NDM) with a calendar of meetings and establish a mini task team from the NDM to serve as the African Decade Secretariat.

Questions for consideration

•	How does the NDM intend to report back to the JMC? 

•	What is the role of the African Decade Secretariat?

4.	Government Co-ordinating Structure

The DSDP has planned to consolidate the IDCCD and IPF into one structure. To this end terms of reference for the new structure had to be developed, also providing clarity on the authority of National DSDP over provincial DSDP offices.

Questions for consideration

•	What is the relation between the NDM and a Government co-ordinating structure?

•	How many provinces actually have similar structures to that of DSDP at provincial level?

•	What are the lines of accountability for provincial DSDPs? How are their budgets allocated?

•	What is the relationship between the National and Provincial DSDPs in delivering on its core mandate? How is this ensured?

5.	Local Government Co-ordinating Structure

The DSDP intended to hold meetings with municipalities to establish and strengthen co-ordinating structures at a local level.

Questions for consideration

•	What is nature of these structures? What is its role and function? How is this structure funded? . How many municipalities have such a structure?

•	How do these structures link with provincial and nationals DSDP structures?

Reporting to Parliament

6. JMC

It was suggested that the Disability Parliament be hosted in 2008. The DSDP intended to brief the JMC on areas of strategic intervention with other Departments where relevant. In addition, it was proposed that the JMC be part of the NDM. Furthermore, the JMC wanted to follow up on Employment Equity targets in the public service and spending patterns on Disability (e.g. budget for DSDP).

Questions for consideration

•	What is the current status of the Employment Equity targets in the public service and spending 	patterns on Disability?

•	What has been the outcome post the Public Service Commission of Inquiry that reported on 2% target that was not reached? What is the contingency plan?

International Treaties

7.	Delivering on South Africa's obligations In respect of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The DSDP had intended to undertake an awareness campaign on the UN Convention. To this end it was suppose to develop an awareness raising strategy on the contents of the UN Convention and the obligations of the member countries alongside an implementation the strategy.

Questions for consideration

•	What is the role of DSDP in raising awareness about the UN Disability Convention? How does this differ with that of the South African Human Rights Commission and their road show as far as the Convention is concerned?

•	How will South Africa implement this UN Convention within legislation and policy? What has been proposed in this regard?

•	When is the first report due to the UN?

8.	Alignment to National Policy and Legislation

This focus area involved finalising the Draft National Policy Framework and developing a draft implementation plan which had to be submitted to political principals for approval before implementing.

Questions for consideration

•	How does this focus area differ to the first one above?

•	How does the National Disability Policy Framework take into consideration the provisions within the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?

•	When is the first report due the UN?

9.	Monitoring & Evaluation

This focus area referred specifically to the monitoring and evaluation as it pertains to the UN Convention. To this end the DSDP had set out to ensure that indicators and measurements from the UN Convention are incorporated into PCAS government-wide monitoring and evaluation. The DSDP intended to develop and submit reports on the implementation of the UN Convention to the Department of Foreign Affairs for submission to the UN as per prescribed deadlines. Reference was also made to establishing a pilot project in the Eastern Cape Province in a rural and less resourced municipality around implementing the UN Convention.

Questions for consideration

•	How does this focus area differ to the first one above?

•	How does the National Disability Policy Framework take into consideration the provisions within the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?

•	When is the first report due the UN?

APEX priorities

10. Inclusion of disability Issues where appropriate in APEX priority

The DSDP had identified the following activities in relation to the 8 thematic APEX areas identified within the 2008 State of the Nation Address namely;

•	What specifically has been done by the OSDP to deal with the appalling conditions of Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN) schools?

12. Pilot Commercialisation of Workshops

The OSDP was set to manage and participate in the implementation of commercialisation of protective workshops, provide advice, report back to the donor and monitor and evaluate the implementation process. The following fieldwork initiatives were identified to this end namely;

•	Transform Free State workshop

•	Transform Tembalethu Board and Management

•	Establish Tembalethu Web presence

•	Increase skills of learners at Tembalethu

•	Create partnerships with workshop and learners

•	Monitor and evaluate Cape Craft Design Institute's transformation at Tembalethu (best practice model)

•	Monitor and evaluate MODE's economic transformation initiative at JOCOD.

•	Monitor and evaluate Ngoepe's economic transformation initiative at Dilokong Protective Workshop.

•	Develop Best Practice Document and exchange initiative between four workshops.

Questions for consideration

•	What is the status of the commercialisation of protective workshops nationally? What has been the outcome of the pilot project?

•	What is the status of the aforementioned fieldwork? How much has been spent in this regard?

In addition, the OSDP had also identified the need to increase the capacity of placements of people with disabilities in formal employment through a partnership with E-Deaf and via the establishment of an incubator recruitment company. Other initiatives included the establishment of a database of professionals for the open labour market and a partnership between the Department of Public Services and Administration (DPSA). This partnership entailed raising awareness of the website jobaccess.co.za among persons with disabilities and prospective employers. This would ultimately increase the capacity of jobaccess.co.za through a document management system and partnership with Disabled Peoples Organisations.

Questions for consideration

•	How is the effectiveness of the partnerships measured?

•	How many people have actually logged onto the job access website?

•	Are persons with disabilities utilizing the website? How many have been able to access and secure employment opportunities?

The OSDP was due to undergo an audit of 2004-2007 and the internal audit report was to deal with the backlogs. In addition, the OSDP had to coordinate the financial external audits of the Danish funded project for 2008/09.

Questions for consideration

•	What are the internal audit control mechanisms in place for the DSDP?

•	How are the backlogs being dealt with?

•	What is the status of the current audits?

The DSDP, as part of an exchange program with a Danish partner, was to embark upon a project for the transfer of skills. These included a study tour to Denmark with representatives from protective workshops projects and site visits with Danish representatives. The purpose of this exchange was also to develop best practice strategies for protective workshops in South Africa.

Finally the DSDP had to develop an exit strategy for March 2009.

Questions for consideration

How sustainable was the Danish initiative? What have been the outcomes? . How far is the exit strategy and when will this be presented to the JMC?

Disability awareness

13. Ensuring that people with disabilities and their families are aware of existing government programmes for people with disabilities

Key activities in fulfilling this focus area included the commemoration of International Day of Disabled Persons. Secondly, the DSDP intended to contribute to the Government Communication Information System's (GCIS) communication strategy by providing relevant information. GCIS with support from DSDP and line departments would be responsible for the implementation of the strategy and resolve queries. Thirdly, an action plan and brochure had to be developed. Fourthly, in terms of the imbizo, the DSDP was to participate in the planning and the event itself as a means of mainstreaming disability. To this end, all queries, concerns and commitments had to be recorded and analysed.

Questions for consideration

•	How much has been allocated for awareness-raising?

•	What progress has been made as far as the communication strategy is concerned? How will the effectiveness and efficiency be determined? How many persons with disabilities have actually been able to access relevant information?

•	Has the imbizo taken place? What were the outcomes and how will these issues be taken forward?

Can the report be accessed?

14. Training of Public Servants on mainstreaming disability in partnership with SAMDI

The DSDP has set out to continuously assess the training content developed by SAMDI and advise SAMDI on possible participants for the training courses, also including civil servants.

Questions for consideration

•	How sustainable is this initiative? What is the cost incurred?

•	What was the process for determining which civil servants at which level of government? How are the provincial DSDPs linked and involved?

16. Reporting and accounting to strategic and political structures to promote Good Governance

The OSDP has intended to participate in strategic sessions, compiling reports, attend standing communication meetings, participate in cluster communication meetings, compile weekly reports and Director's weekly schedule to Chief Director and monthly OSDP reports for Gender Disability Cluster meeting.

Questions for consideration

•	How do the OSDP and ORC work together around children with Disability?

HIV and AIDS

17. SANAC Programme

The OSDP planned to audit ARV sites (R = time, flights and accommodation for 4 people) and be engaged with open days at places of congregation in an organized form. They would also play an ongoing role in monitoring and evaluation, as well as facilitation & co-ordination. A representative from the OSDP was also set to capture M & E data. Furthermore the OSDP had an ongoing role in research and in terms of Education Information and Communication (EIC), making research documents available.

Questions for consideration

What exactly is the OSDP's role in terms of monitoring and evaluation, facilitation & co-ordination?

What data was captured?

What research was undertaken? Have the findings been published?

Prepared by: Kashifa Abrahams: Researcher Information Services Section: Research Unit