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The DA in Limpopo calls on Premier Stanly Mathabatha to address the on-going failure to reach targets and lack of reporting by departments on programmes for persons with disabilities.

The latest Quarterly reports for the standing committee on Quality of Life, Status of Women, Children, Youth, Older Persons and People with Disabilities highlights government’s lack of commitment to persons with disabilities in the province.

No progress has been made on the upgrades of identified special schools and the longstanding backlog of appointing 228 professionals, therapists and support staff in schools have yet to be addressed.

Due to lapsed grants, 2 123 less people could access their disability grants.

The people affected are some of the poorest and most vulnerable members of our community and they cannot go a month without grant payments. Action must be taken by government to ensure continued payment of these grants.

Whilst the Constitution guarantees a society for all where persons with disabilities enjoy the same rights as their fellow citizens, there is a 39.8% backlog of persons to receive assistive devices such as wheelchairs, spectacles, hearing aids and crutches.

It is unacceptable that this backlog persists despite an underspending on this programme.

The 4 087 persons on the prolonged waiting list for such devices are hamstrung to participate in any economic activities and their quality of life is also severely affected by the lack of devices which can assist them to access opportunities.

Only 3 provincial departments employ persons with disabilities in line with the meagre 2% equity target.

The preferential procurement target to economically empower persons with disability is 7%; yet in the latest quarter only 0.19% of this target was met.

It is clear that this ANC government is failing vulnerable persons living with disabilities and that this committee is merely paying lip service to the lack of implementation of programmes.

We call on Premier Mathabatha to insist that all targets are met and backlogs cleared so that persons with disabilities in our province can enjoy an enhanced quality of life.

Issued by Katlego Suzan Phala MPL - DA Provincial Spokesperson on Quality of Life and Status of Women, Children and Persons with disabilities