Disabled to stage protest march to EC premier’s office

Disabled People South Africa (DPSA) says it will join other disability organisations in a march to the Eastern Cape premier’s office on Thursday to demand more rights for the disabled.

“At the heart of our demands are‚ amongst others‚ meeting of employment equity targets by departments‚ our access to justice‚ the accessibility of government buildings‚ accessible and affordable public transport‚” DPSA said.

It added that the disability sector in the province had sent a memorandum to the premier in September giving him 14 days within which to respond‚ but had received no reply.

“We are tired because we have in so many meetings; parliamentary sessions and summits engaged the state and agreed on what needs to be done only to be disappointed. We can longer afford to explain to our constituencies that our agreements in these summits are but exercises to assist officials with the Performance Appraisals and therefore annual bonuses. We are tired to explaining to our constituency’s politicians to make agreements with us only to be able to smile on television‚” DPSA said.

It said the period November 3 to December 3 was being commemorated international as Disability Month‚ as declared by the United Nations.

“This is the month that both government and the private sector would make all manner of promises that they know they will never deliver. Departmental officials will literally be going around collecting people with disabilities for box-ticking exercises and to have their horns blown. We are tired of this!” the organisation asserted.