Date: 06/04/2004
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Launch of Nawe Zifunze Disability Project
SPEECH BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA, AT THE LAUNCH THE NAWE ZIFUNZE DISABILITY PROJECT, 6 April 2004
The Provincial Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Councillors
Ms Dudu Myeni
Persons with Disabilities
Representatives of ABSA and Richards Bay Mineral
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is an honour and privilege for me to be with you today to celebrate the establishment of Nawe Zifunze Disabled Co-operative Project in this community.
It gives me great pleasure to launch a project of this nature, as it shows that government and business continues to work together in pursuit of a better life for all.
Most importantly, this project is directed at providing assistance to citizens with disabilities, a sector that is among those that have been prioritised by our government for intervention programmes, due to its marginalisation historically.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this occasion also offers us an opportunity to reflect on the past 10 years of freedom and also look forward at challenges that lie ahead of us, especially with regard to challenges that face people with disabilities.
As government, we believe that although there is a lot more to be done, we can say we have gone a long way towards ensuring that people with disabilities are treated as equal citizens of our country as guaranteed in the Constitution of our country.
South Africa has an internationally acclaimed policy on dealing with issues of disability. Our Integrated National Disability Strategy ranks amongst the best in the world for its progressive outlook and nature. South Africa today is used as a major yardstick by many developing countries when it comes to dealing with people with disabilities.
The past decade has seen government moving from policy formulation towards implementation phase of those policies.
Some of the key policy interventions include the Employment Equity Act and the Labour Relations Act, which are landmark acts when it comes to promoting equal access to opportunities.
These laws also ensures that all companies employ people who live with disabilities, and those companies that do not comply with the regulations as laid down by government run the risk of being expose and paying heavy fines.
Once people with disabilities are employed it is also the responsibility of those companies to ensure that their working conditions are conducive, in terms of ensuring that buildings and infrastructure is available for easy access.
I must emphasise that some of these achievements have been scored due to active participation of people with disabilities in the policymaking process, informing government thinking and processes.
Also important to mention, is the promotion of entrepreneurship through preferential procurement, where public sector tenders gives preference to businesses owned by or with the involvement of people with disabilities.
While these achievements exist we are also aware that there are some challenges, which remain that, should be tackled. Key among these is the challenge of changing attitudes of our society when it comes to people with disabilities. While we have achieved a lot when it comes to putting policies and structures in place, we now have to deal with the issue of ensuring that the implementation of these policies is accelerated.
We also cannot be happy that there are more people with disabilities who receive state grants; therefore it is imperative that we progressively move towards ensuring the creation of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, to enable people to be independent.
Let me take this opportunity to also thank the role that business plays in partnership with government in improving quality of life of people with disabilities. The role that ABSA and Richards Bay Minerals have played in supporting this launch deserves a special mention. The role Dudu Myeni, the CEO of Skills Dynamics, in facilitating the Nawe Zifunze Disabled Co-operative Project, was also crucial in the success of this project.
The provision of skills provided by this project contributes enormously to the goal of making our people able to assist themselves, which is what the majority seeks.
As we approach the second decade of our freedom we must as business and government, continue to work together to ensure that we achieve all our goals.
The Richards Bay has been exemplary in this regard, in many respects and we hope we will continue to work together as we build our country.
I wish all stakeholders well in this project, and trust that it will grow from strength to strength and make a visible impact in the lives of participants and the community at large.
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
6 April 2004
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Launch of Nawe Zifunze Disability Project
SPEECH BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA, AT THE LAUNCH THE NAWE ZIFUNZE DISABILITY PROJECT, 6 April 2004
The Provincial Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Councillors
Ms Dudu Myeni
Persons with Disabilities
Representatives of ABSA and Richards Bay Mineral
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is an honour and privilege for me to be with you today to celebrate the establishment of Nawe Zifunze Disabled Co-operative Project in this community.
It gives me great pleasure to launch a project of this nature, as it shows that government and business continues to work together in pursuit of a better life for all.
Most importantly, this project is directed at providing assistance to citizens with disabilities, a sector that is among those that have been prioritised by our government for intervention programmes, due to its marginalisation historically.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this occasion also offers us an opportunity to reflect on the past 10 years of freedom and also look forward at challenges that lie ahead of us, especially with regard to challenges that face people with disabilities.
As government, we believe that although there is a lot more to be done, we can say we have gone a long way towards ensuring that people with disabilities are treated as equal citizens of our country as guaranteed in the Constitution of our country.
South Africa has an internationally acclaimed policy on dealing with issues of disability. Our Integrated National Disability Strategy ranks amongst the best in the world for its progressive outlook and nature. South Africa today is used as a major yardstick by many developing countries when it comes to dealing with people with disabilities.
The past decade has seen government moving from policy formulation towards implementation phase of those policies.
Some of the key policy interventions include the Employment Equity Act and the Labour Relations Act, which are landmark acts when it comes to promoting equal access to opportunities.
These laws also ensures that all companies employ people who live with disabilities, and those companies that do not comply with the regulations as laid down by government run the risk of being expose and paying heavy fines.
Once people with disabilities are employed it is also the responsibility of those companies to ensure that their working conditions are conducive, in terms of ensuring that buildings and infrastructure is available for easy access.
I must emphasise that some of these achievements have been scored due to active participation of people with disabilities in the policymaking process, informing government thinking and processes.
Also important to mention, is the promotion of entrepreneurship through preferential procurement, where public sector tenders gives preference to businesses owned by or with the involvement of people with disabilities.
While these achievements exist we are also aware that there are some challenges, which remain that, should be tackled. Key among these is the challenge of changing attitudes of our society when it comes to people with disabilities. While we have achieved a lot when it comes to putting policies and structures in place, we now have to deal with the issue of ensuring that the implementation of these policies is accelerated.
We also cannot be happy that there are more people with disabilities who receive state grants; therefore it is imperative that we progressively move towards ensuring the creation of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, to enable people to be independent.
Let me take this opportunity to also thank the role that business plays in partnership with government in improving quality of life of people with disabilities. The role that ABSA and Richards Bay Minerals have played in supporting this launch deserves a special mention. The role Dudu Myeni, the CEO of Skills Dynamics, in facilitating the Nawe Zifunze Disabled Co-operative Project, was also crucial in the success of this project.
The provision of skills provided by this project contributes enormously to the goal of making our people able to assist themselves, which is what the majority seeks.
As we approach the second decade of our freedom we must as business and government, continue to work together to ensure that we achieve all our goals.
The Richards Bay has been exemplary in this regard, in many respects and we hope we will continue to work together as we build our country.
I wish all stakeholders well in this project, and trust that it will grow from strength to strength and make a visible impact in the lives of participants and the community at large.
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
6 April 2004
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