General Notice

Notice 299 of 1996

Ministry in the Office of the President

Integrated National Disability Strategy of the Government of National Unity

Pretoria, 14 February 1996

This document is also available in text format

The Integrated National Disability Strategy of The Government of National Unity is hereby published by The Ministry in the Office of the President as a discussion document for public comment. On the basis of Public comment government intends to publish a White Paper on The Integrated National Disability Strategy.

Comments should be submitted to:

The deadline for submission of comments is 31 May 1996.

Contents

Integrated National Disability Strategy

Discussion Paper

Ministry in the Office of the President

Approximately ten per cent of all South Africans have a disability and encounter discrimination and marginalisation daily because of their disabilities.

Disabled people are also amongst the poorest of the poor and prevailing services to disabled people are hopelessly inadequate.

The government of National Unity in consultation with the National Coordination Committee on Disability and Disabled People South Africa are calling for a paradigm shift from welfare to development.

The Interim Constitution recognises the equal rights of disabled people.

Giving effect to constitutional principles requires a commitment from government and civil society, to redressing the imbalances and creating an enabling environment for people with disabilities.

The Integrated National Disability Strategy of the Government of National Unity must be influenced by the collective wisdom of our people and unite our efforts for development. This is therefore a discussion document which requires your comment. We call an individuals and organisations of and for disabled people across the country to consider the issues and recommendations laid out in this document, and to make comment and contributions which will improve this document.

The RDP Office will collate these comments, which should be submitted before the end of May 1996. On the basis of these inputs Government will publish a White Paper on disability.

We hope that you seize this opportunity and make your contribution to implementing the Reconstruction and Development Programme.

Jay Naidoo, MP
Minister in the Office of the President

Abbreviations

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Executive summary

Integrated National Disability Strategy

Office of the Minister without Portfolio

There are very few reliable statistics on the prevalence and nature of disability in South Africa. The Department of Health has estimated that approximately 13 percent of the South African population is disabled.

Research suggests that approximately 5 percent of the population is severely disabled. Whatever the reliability and accuracy of the estimates, disability affects numbers far greater than these, in that it affects not only the person with the disability but also that person's family and community.

In the past disability was regarded primarily as a health and welfare issue. Since April 1994, however, a fundamental principle of our society is that of equal rights, where each individual is of equal importance, should have equal opportunity to participate fully in society and equal obligations and responsibilities towards that society. This implies a shift in how we look at disability to a developmental, rather than a welfare, approach.

The Government of National Unity (GNU) has accepted the responsibility of giving effect to such a developmental approach. This undertaking includes:

Discrimination affects all disabled people, irrespective of the nature of the disability. However, people with different disabilities have different needs and concerns. This means that measures adopted by the Government to eradicate the inequalities and promote equal opportunities need to reflect this in both their design and their implementation.

The four preconditions for disabled people to participate in society are: raising the awareness of the public, medical care, rehabilitation and support services. The draft framework on disability has recommended steps to be taken in respect of each of these, and has also suggested stakeholders who need to be involved.

The document also discusses priority areas that should be targeted in a disability programme. The identified targets are environmental accessibility, education and training, employment, income maintenance and social security, housing and especially sensitive groups among the disabled. These priority areas illustrate the wide-ranging nature of an effective disability programme.

The first of these priority areas is a specific concern of disabled people. The next four are all functions, but point out the special need of disabled people within the overall programmes of the departments concerned. In the last category, the sensitive groups are specified as women with disabilities, children with disabilities, elderly people with disabilities and disabled people living in rural areas. Each of these - women, children, the elderly and rural dwellers - itself cuts across line functions.

The wide-ranging and multi-sectoral nature of the initiative will require a permanent office within the RDP to ensure ongoing monitoring and supervision of progress at all levels.

The document proposes an initial lead-in period covering 1996/97, followed by a medium-term national plan for the period. The next international review of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons is planned for 2002, and this would provide South Africa with an opportunity to draw on its own experience in the intervening years, as well as that of the international community, in devising a plan for the following five years.

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Foreword

Purpose of this draft strategy document

The Government of National Unity (GNU) is committed to redressing the desperate situation the majority of disabled people in South Africa face by ensuring that the equality promised in the 1993 Constitution becomes a reality. The Government acknowledges that disability is a human rights and development issue which cuts across the responsibilities of a wide range of government departments and institutions in society. It requires policy interventions in the spheres of constitutional development, economics, education, housing, environmental planning, employment, legal reform, health, welfare, gender, language, culture, social security, science and technology, sport and recreation, transport and others.

The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), as a programme designed to finally eradicate the results of apartheid, recognises the particularly severe and complex ways in which this unequal social, economic and political system has affected disabled people.

The purpose of this document is to provide a framework from which integrated and coherent policy can be developed to inform the objectives in the RDP to meet the needs of disabled people in our country. It is therefore only by understanding and recognising the ways in which disabled people have been disempowered and marginalised that an effective and sustainable programme for change can be developed. It is the aim of this document to provide a background for developing this understanding that will facilitate the integration of effective programmes of action within the RDP.

The integrated National Disability Strategy that will be drafted from input received on this document will assist the GNU to create an enabling environment that will lead to the full participation and equalisation of opportunities for persons with disabilities at all levels of society during and after the period of reconstruction and development

The following documents have been used extensively in drafting the Discussion Document on an integrated National Disability Strategy:

This document was developed through a broad consultative process with line functions and the disability NGO sector, as well as within the RDP office. Previous consultative processes, e.g.

...have all been integrated into the document.

A report on the status of disabled people was published during the National Year of the Disabled in 1986. However, due to a lack of central coordination, few of the recommendations were implemented. Relevant recommendations contained in the final report have been integrated into this document. It is envisaged that the recommendations contained in this document are achievable, given the commitment by the GNU to establish a central coordinating office concerning disability.

The document contains a situation analysis of the present status of disability issues in South Africa, and then sets out the vision and elements of a national integrated disability strategy for South Africa. It concludes with a proposed programme of action within suggested time frames.

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Part One

Disability in South Africa

1. Disability as a Human Rights and Development Issue

2. Definitions and Terminology

3. The Situation of Disabled people in South Africa

4. Constraints facing the disabled sector

    4.1 Welfare model

    A large section of the population still view disability in a 'welfarist' manner, restricting integration and development. Persons with disabilities are regarded as in need of constant care, with very little understanding of the effect of the disempowerment this causes.

    4.2 Lack of understanding of disability

    People tend to feel threatened by disability, and/or believe that they 'know better'. This leads to decisions being made for persons with disabilities, often not in their interest.

    4.3 Lack of capacity

    The lack of insight and understanding of disability has led to a severe lack of capacity to plan and implement disability-related policies and programmes, and to integrate disability into broader development programmes at all tiers of Government, both within government and the NGO sector, including service organisations and DPOs.

    4.4 Lack of non-discriminatory and integrated disability related policy and legislation

      4.4.1 Existing legislation

      For disabled people, who are the most marginalised minority group in our society, existing legislation not only fails to protect their rights as citizens but actively discriminates against them in a number of important areas.

      Although there have been some positive developments for disabled people through the new Constitution there are still many ways in which the law is discriminatory and denies disabled people their rights. Many of these laws do not meet standards and principles enshrined in international human rights instruments, particularly those adopted by the United Nations. These instruments should form the guiding documents for the changes which need to take place in our law.

      Four specific areas of concern for disabled people have been identified:

    1. Statutes which deny disabled people their rights and discriminate against them:

      2. Blind Persons Act

      This Act needs revision in its entirety to analyse its enabling, as well as its discriminating aspects.

      Mental Health Act (Act 18 of 1973, as amended)

      This Act, which was designed to 'provide for the reception, detention and treatment of persons who are mentally ill; and to provide for incidental matters', fails to protect the rights of mentally ill people in a number of ways. The most important area of concern relates to the involuntary detention of mentally ill people. This section of the Act not only fails to afford sufficient protection to people with mental disabilities but is also inherently open to abuse and falls foul of international human rights principles.

      Electoral Act (Act 202 of 1993, as amended)

      Sections 16 (a) and 16 (b) of the Electoral Act stipulate two categories of persons who are not eligible to vote. These are persons who have been declared by a court to be of unsound mind, mentally disordered or affected, or detained as mentally ill patients under the Mental Health Act of 1973.

      Firstly, voting is a fundamental political right. Secondly, while there are mentally disabled people who, because of the severity of their impairment, may not have the capacity to make a meaningful decision in this regard and are thus susceptible to exploitation by political parties intent on securing votes at any cost, this should not impair the fundamental rights of the many mentally disabled people who currently cannot vote and who have the capacity to do so.

    2. The application of laws and associated regulations

      3. There are also aspects of existing legislation whose application leads to discrimination of disabled people. Often, the nature of the discrimination is not obvious from merely reading the statute. The way in which disabled people are discriminated against by the law is only made obvious when the law is put into practice.

      Most often, discrimination takes place through the application of regulations which govern the particular Act. The regulations may be applied nationally or may be specific regulations drafted at a provincial or local level.

      The Public Service Act, 1994

      Section 10 (1) specifies the qualifications for permanent appointment to all departments of the Public Service. The three criteria which must be met before the person qualifies for permanent employment include that 'in so far as his or her condition of health is concerned, complies with such requirements as may be directed by the Commission under Section 3 (4) (b) of the Act'.

      This section authorises the Public Service Commission to give directions regarding 'the health requirements to which a person shall conform before he or she may be appointed as an officer'. An officer is defined as a person who is employed permanently and is distinct from an employee who is in a temporary capacity whether full-time or part-time. The commission may restrict any person who fails to meet the health requirements from gaining permanent employment.

      The health requirements are specified in the Public Service Staff Code. The relevant section is Section D of Chapter B.III/III/D and is entitled 'Health Requirements'. Under these requirements all applicants for any job in the Public Service must disclose extensive personal details relating to their health. The code probes into a wide variety of disabilities, both past and present, both physical and mental, regardless of whether they relate to the requirements of the job sought.

      If the completed health questionnaire is not sufficient for a decision to be made on their eligibility for permanent employment, the applicant must undergo a medical examination.

      The Department of Health can also be consulted regarding the eligibility of a candidate for permanent employment.

      While a central criteria for permanent employment status is based on the requirements of Section D of the Staff Code, the Public Service retains absolute discretion to refuse permanent employment to any person with a disability. The current requirements allow the Civil Service to exercise discretion based on the nature of a person's disability rather than their competency for a particular job.

      In the past the Public Service has used the health requirements to prevent disabled people from gaining permanent employment status. This overt discrimination has taken place because of the existence of these health requirements in the legislation and because of the discretion which is allowed heads of departments in Section D of the Staff Code with regard to the employment status of a person in the Public Service. While the application of these regulations remain a central component of employment policy in the Public Service, discrimination of disabled people will continue to exist.

      The new Labour Relations Act

      The new Act makes important steps towards addressing discrimination in the workplace. In Schedule 3, which relates to transitional arrangements, discrimination on the grounds of disability is included in the definition of an unfair labour practice. Moreover, this definition specifically includes applicants for jobs. Thus under the proposed legislation disabled workers are afforded significantly more protection than in the past.

      Workmen's Compensation Act (Act 30 of 1941)

      The Act makes provision for an Accident Fund to provide limited compensation to workers falling within the ambit of the Act for loss of earnings through an accident at work. There are a number of criteria which must be met before the applicant may receive compensation.

      A number of these criteria often create problems for the worker in accessing their compensation.

      The money which a person who has become disabled through an accident at work, receives, is most often too little to survive on and to support a family. Moreover, the stringent tests applied in the allocation of state disability grants, often result in a person being refused a disability grant on the basis that they are receiving Workmen's Compensation.

      The Act also states that the employee loses any claim he/she might have had against the employer as a result of the accident.

    3. Poor administration

      4. Another important area of discrimination results from laws which are badly and ineffectively administered. Thus where there are laws which allow for disabled people to access their rights, their experience is one where these specific rights are denied them in practice, despite the existence of the legislation:

      The Social Assistance Act (Act 59 of 1992)

      This Act consolidates a number of statutes which dealt with State social assistance and makes provision for, amongst others, disability grants to people with disabilities over the age of 18, care-dependency grants to severely mentally or physically disabled children, grants-in-aid to people who require attendant care and capitation grants for the maintenance of people staying in welfare homes.

      Although this act significantly improves on the area of social assistance to disabled people, many of the problems which people experienced in the past related to the application of regulations governing the act and most importantly, the system which existed to administer the application and payment of grants. In summary, the administration of social pensions remains totally ineffective and inaccessible to disabled people. While this system remains in place disabled people will be unable to access rights contained in legislation.

      National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act (Act 103 of 1977)

      1986 heralded a new era in the development of enabling legislation for disabled persons when the National Building Regulations Act of 1977 was amended to set out requirements which must be met in order to make buildings accessible to disabled people, particularly wheelchair users. These regulations include provisions such as ramps, accessible toilets wheelchair accommodation in auditoriums and access to buildings from parking areas. They apply to all new buildings and buildings undergoing alterations.

      While the introduction of these regulations marked an important development for some disabled people, once again they are badly administered and monitored. This means that many buildings remain inaccessible and disabled people using wheelchairs are unable to enjoy access to many facilities.

    4. No legislation

      5. South Africa presently has no Equal Opportunities Legislation. Much debate has, however, taken place in the past few years within the disabled community of Southern Africa regarding the most effective legislation to ensure equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.

      Other existing legislation

      There are a number of laws that contain, or should contain, disability-related clauses. The majority of these need revision to ensure that it will contribute to the equalisation of opportunities for persons with disabilities:

      The Machinery and Occupational Safety Act (Act 6 of 1983)
      Unemployment Insurance Act (Act 30 of 1966)
      Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act (Act 78 of 1973)
      The Defence Act (Act 44 of 1957)
      Education Acts
      The Mentally Retarded Children's Training Act (Act 63 of 1974)
      The Administration of Estates Act (Act 66 of 1965)
      The Criminal Procedure Act (Act 51 of 1977)
      The Health Act (Act 63 of 1977)
      The Medical Schemes Act
      The Road Traffic Ordinances (1966)
      Tax legislation
      National Monuments Act

    4.5 Lack of an effective service-delivery infrastructure

    Service delivery to persons with disabilities historically was the responsibility of predominantly welfare, church and other non-government organisations, with little or no interaction with the mainstream NGO sector. Services were historically concentrated in the urban areas. This has resulted in isolated, small scale service-delivery projects with little or no support and contact.

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Part Two

Context of National Programmes of Action for Persons with Disabilities

1. World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons

1981 was declared the International Year of Disabled Persons by the United Nations. This year was not recognised by the South African Government. It was nevertheless promoted by the NGO sector with the theme of Full participation and equality, which gave rise to the development of a disability rights movement in this country.

The most important outcome of the International Year Of Disabled Persons was the adoption of the World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons during the UN Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992). The purpose of the World programme of action is to promote effective measures for prevention of disability, rehabilitation and the realisation of equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.

2. 1986: National Year of Disabled Persons

1986, the International Year of Peace, was also not recognised by the South African Government, who, apparently in an attempt to divert attention from the violence raging in the country at the time, declared a National Year of the Disabled.

Investigations carried out during the year by NGOs, including DPSA, and the Government on the situation of disabled people in the country revealed the complete absence of any workable policy on disability and gross discrepancies in the few services which existed, both racial and in terms of rural/urban distribution of services.

Following the 1986 investigation an Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee for the Care of the Disabled (ICCD), involving state departments as well as the NGO sector, was established to implement the various recommendations arising out of the 1986 investigation. At the end of 1991 it had not succeeded in implementing one of its tasks and it was subsequently disbanded.

It was then decided to restructure the then South African Federal Council on the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons so that it could fulfil the function of policy development, building on the experience and creative interaction between service providers and representatives of organisations of disabled people gained over the preceding seven years. The Federal Council was to interface with the political negotiating process rather than the government of the day. This structure also struggled as a result of lack of capacity and other factors.

3. Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunites for Persons with Disabilities

The UN facilitated the drafting of the Standard Rules for the Equalisation of Opportunities for Disabled Persons to provide governments with more clear guidelines on actions to be taken. The Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities were adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 December 1993.

4. National Coordinating Committe on Disability (NCCD)

Following further negotiations between the Federal Council, Government and the negotiating process, and in line with the draft recommendations in the Standard Rules, the National Coordinating Committee on Disability (NCCD) was launched in September 1993. The NCCD is the national consultative forum on disability in South Africa, with representation from the NGO sector and Government. (See Part Four, Page 45)

5. Disability Rights Charters

6. 1993 Constitution

Another important development for the disabled community in South Africa took place when the 1993 Constitution came into effect in 1994.

Chapter 3 of the 1993 Interim Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens. It includes in Section 8, the equality clause, the right to freedom from discrimination based on a number of social criteria. Discrimination based on disability is specifically mentioned and thus disabled people are guaranteed the right to be treated equally and enjoy the same rights as all other citizens. The inclusion of this provision in the Constitution has far-reaching implications for preventing discrimination against disabled people in our society.

The Right to Franchise, however, excludes people with mental disabilities that are confined to an institution from the vote.

Provision is also made for affirmative action. Persons with disabilities have clearly been disadvantaged in the past, and should benefit from this clause.

7. The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP)

7.1 RDP White Paper 1

The first White Paper of the RDP commits itself to the following:

'The Government will design, in consultation with disabled people, a comprehensive programme for the disabled which will enhance their engagement in society and remove discriminatory Practices against them, especially in the workplace. Government will also discuss means to reintegrate mentally and physically disabled people into their communities... '

Although this significant commitment has been made by the GNU, it is also important that the needs of disabled people are integrated into all the components of the RDP. The Government acknowledged that the first White Paper did not address disability in an integrated manner and the commitment was limited to the statement quoted above.

With these concerns in mind a Disability Programme was established in the Off-ice of the Minister Without Portfolio to facilitate the integration of disability fully into the RDP.

7.2 Implementation of RDP thus far

The importance of integrating disability issues into all areas of policy development and strategic planning and the weaknesses inherent in programmes where this has not taken place is evident in an evaluation of the implementation of the Presidential Lead Projects (PLPs) thus far and their capacity to meet the needs of disabled people.

  • Free health care for children under six years has not always automatically been extended to include rehabilitation and the provision of assistive devices.
  • The Primary School Nutrition Scheme has not reached the majority of disabled children as they are presently not in schools.
  • The National Literacy Campaign will not reach the majority of disabled adults, particularly those who are deaf and blind, due to inaccessible communication and teaching methods.

    • Physically disabled adults will also be excluded as a result of inaccessible public transport and centres of learning.

  • Clinics built under the Clinic Building Programme are inaccessible to wheelchair users.
  • Schools built under the Culture of Learning Programme are also physically inaccessible to wheelchair users.

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    Part Three

    An Integrated National Disability Strategy

    1. Vision: A Society for All

    2. Objectives

    3. Principles

    4. Strategic Guidelines

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    Part Four

    Elements in an Integrated National Disability Strategy

    1. Government Responsibility

    The GNU has asserted the political will to address the needs of disabled people and challenge the inequalities of the past. The GNU is therefore assuming responsibility for facilitating, funding and managing the process of reconstruction to ensure that political will is channelled into effective action and recognisable change that will lead to the equalisation of opportunities.

    The GNU subscribes to the Standard Rules, as indicated in the World Summit for Social Development Report.

    The responsibility assumed by Government includes, among other things,

    The GNU will take the lead in implementing the National Disability Strategy in such a way that all stakeholders may become involved in the planning, implementation and in monitoring the progress of the strategy.

    2. Preconditions for Equal Participation

    There are four preconditions for equal participation, i.e. enabling mechanisms that will lead to full participation by persons with disabilities in target areas:

    3. Target Areas for Equal Participation

    Organisations of persons with disabilities have identified priority or target areas that need urgent redressing.

    4. Implementation Measures

                The National Coordinating Committee on Disability (NCCD)
                       ______________________________
                      |      KEY LINE FUNCTIONS      |
                      |                              |
                      |   * Office of the Minister   |
                      |     without Portfolio        |
                      |   * Department of Labour     |
                      |   * Department of Health     |
                      |   * Department of Education  |
                      |     and Training             |
                      |   * Department of Welfare    |
                 _____|     and Population           |___     ____________
                |     |     Development              |   |   |            |
                |     |                              |   |   | DISABILITY |
   _____________|___  |   * Department of Transport  |   |___| OFFICE     |
  |   NGO SERVICE   | |______________________________|       |Secretariate|
  |  PROVIDING WEL- |                                        | Technical  |
  |  FARE COUNCILS  |                                        |   support  |
  |                 |                                        |____________|
  |                 |
  |    * SANCB      |
  |    * SANCD      |
  |    * SAFMH      |                                     __________________
  |    * APD        |                                    |    DISABLED      |
  |    * SANEL      |  _____________________________     |   PEOPLE'S OR-   |
  |    * CANSA      | |                             |    |   GANISATIONS    |
  |    * SACA       | |     NATIONAL COORDINATING   |    |     (DPOs)       |
  |    * Cheshire   | |    COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY  |  __|   * DPSA         |
  |      Homes      | |             (NCCD)          | |  |   * DiCAG        |
  |_________________| |                             | |  |   * QUASA        |
                      |      MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE   |_|  |   * SA Down      |
                      |                             |    |   Syndrome Forum |
                      |                             |    |__________________|
                      |       PERMANENT WORKING     |
                      |         COMMISSIONS         |
            __________|                             |
           |          |     1) Rehabilitation       |
           |          |       2) Prevention         |
           |          |     3) Equal opportunities  |
           |          |       4) Awareness          |
   ________|_______   |                             |
  |  UN AGENCIES   |  |                             |
  |                |  |                             |
  | (Advisory capa-|  |   SA DISABILITY INSTITUTE   |
  |     city)      |  |            (SADI)           |
  |                |  |_____________________________|
  |________________|

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    Part Five

    Allocating Budget Funds for Disability Programmes

    1. Very few line functions allocated budgets to disability-related programmes in the past. Yet persons with disabilities very seldom benefited from broader sectoral programmes due to the barriers and constraints discussed in Part One.
    2. Line functions that presently make provision for specific disability-related programmes include
    3. Persons with disabilities constitute between 5 per cent and 12 per cent of the population. It is therefore only reasonable to expect that they should benefit from at least 5-12 per cent of the budgetary allocations to departments. This would include both disability-related programmes and broader programmes with specific mechanisms that will ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities, e.g.
    4. Disability cuts across line functions, and this needs to be reflected in budgetary spending to transform the present situation whereby a few departments carry the responsibility of other line functions. This will have an impact on the
    5. Additional funds will also be needed for the coordination of planning and monitoring. It is envisaged that the Ministry in the Office of the President will be responsible for, among other things
    6. RDP Fund

      7. The RDP Fund should not be viewed as a separate fund. It is a mechanism to act as leverage to bring about a change in government spending patterns. Past neglect in disability-related spending needs to be corrected within the line functions, with assistance from the RDP Fund.

    7. National Lottery

      8. The Wiehahn Commission proposes that lottery profits be allocated as follows:

      The Disability Sector presently benefits considerably through the lotteries of Viva Trust and Ithuba Trust. The establishment of a national lottery could therefore severely impact on disability NGO sector income, and therefore on service provision to disabled people.

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    Part Six

    Programme of Action

    1 Strategic Measures

    2 Short Term (1995/96)

    Short term activities for the financial year 95/96 will concentrate on

    Objective           Mechanism /Task   Output      Time-frame   Responsibility
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.Developing and   Inclusion of        Government   December     RDP Office
  launching        framework in RDP    policy       1995
  national         White Paper II
  disability
  strategy

                   Consultation to     National     May 1996     RDP Office
                   finalise National   Disability
                   Disability          Strategy
                   Strategy            Document

2.Setting in       Statutory recogni-  Legislation  July 1996    RDP Office
  place the        tion of the NCCD
  necessary        as the national
  structures       consultative
  for the          forum on
  implementation   disability
  of the
  disability
  strategy at
  national and
  provincial level

                   Strengthening       Functional   October 1996 RDP Office
                   of NCCD -           disability
                   1. disability       consultative
                   office in Office    structure
                   of President

                   2. budgetary
                   allocation

                   Establishing        Legitimate   October 1996 RDP Office
                   provincial          inclusive
                   disability          and supported
                   coordinating        consultative
                   structures -        structures

                   1. inclusive
                   forums

                   2. equal
                   opportunities
                   centres for
                   persons with
                   disabilities
                   within the
                   Offices of the
                   Premiers

3.Developing       Awareness/          National     August 1996  NCCD (SADI)
  national         information/        Disability
  sectoral         communication       Newsletter
  policies,        Strategy            National
  guidelines                           Disability
  and minimum                          Awareness
  standards                            Campaign
  in key areas                         National and
                                       Provincial
                                       Disability
                                       Information
                                       Service

                   Legislation         Review       August 1996  RDP Office
                   Review              document on
                                       existing
                                       legislation
                                       Programme of
                                       Action for
                                       drafting and
                                       continuous
                                       review of
                                       legislation
                                       affecting
                                       disabled people

                   National Support    Policy and   August 1996  NCCD (SADI)
                   Services Policy     Funding
                   and                 Strategy for -
                   Guidelines          * Assistive
                                       Devices
                                       * Interpreter
                                       Services
                                       * Personal
                                       Assistance
                                       * Appropriate
                                       Technology
                                       Development

                   Accessibility       * Legislation August 1996 NCCD
                   Strategy and        * National                (NEAP)
                   Plan of Action      Standards and
                                       Guidelines
                                       * PLP (NPWP)

                   National            National     August 1996  Department of
                   Employment          Plan of                   Labour
                   Strategy            Action,
                   and Policy          including                 Department of
                                       enabling                  Trade and
                                       mechanisms in             Industry
                                       SMME
                                       programmes

                   National            * Minimum    August 1996  Department of
                   Policy for Sport    Standards                 Sport
                                       and Guidelines

                                       * Development
                                       Programme for
                                       inclusion in
                                       White Paper

                   Access to           Additional   August 1996  Department of
                   affordable          housing                   Housing
                   housing             subsidies for
                                       pensioners

                   National Equal      Policy and   August 1996  RDP Office
                   Opportunities       national                  (NIEP)
                   Economic Policy     guidelines

                   National Social     Inclusion   February 1996 Department of
                   Security Policy     in Welfare                Welfare
                                       White Paper

                   Education Policy    National     March 1996   Department of
                   for Students with   Policy                    Education
                   Special Needs -     Guidelines                and
                   National            and Minimum               Training
                   Commission          Standards

                   National Disability Integration  March 1996   CSS
                   Data                of disability
                   Management Policy   into data
                                       systems

                   Strengthening of    National     July 1996    SAFCD
                   DPOs                Guidelines

4.Integration of   Removal of          Guidelines   May 1996     RDP Office
  disability into  barriers and        for the in-
  RDP Planning     inclusion of        clusion of
  System           enabling            disabled
                   mechanisms into -   persons in
                   * Rural development broad development
                   strategy            programmes.
                   * Urban Development Disability
                   Strategy            related PLPs -
                   * HRD Strategy      * Business Plan
                   * Poverty           for Improvement
                   Indicators          of Pension System
                   * Gender            * Business Plan
                   Programme           for ABET for
                   * National Plan     deaf and
                   of Action for       blind adults
                   Children            * Business Plan:
                   * Key Performance   HRD programme
                   Indicators          for disabled
                                       adults in rural
                                       areas
                                       * Accessible
                                       building plans
                                       for clinics and
                                       schools and/or
                                       classrooms

5.Capacity         Development of      Orientation  May 1996     Public Service
  building within  Training and        and Training              Training
  Public Service   Orientation         Programme                 Institute
  at all levels    strategies          for Management,
  to implement                         Service-providers
  National                             and Administrators
  Disability
  Strategy

6.Securing the     Budget              0 to 5 year  August 1996  RDP Office
  necessary funds  unpacking           budget for
  to implement     within line         implementation
  the medium-term  functions           of disability
  objectives and   RDP Fund            strategy
  programme of
  action

    3. Medium Term (1996-2002)

    Medium-term activities will focus on

    Objective           Mechanism /Task   Output      Time-frame   Responsibility
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.Strengthening    * Establishing      Legitimate   March 1997   Disability
  coordinating     district            disability                Office
  structures at    coordinating        consultative
  provincial and   committees          forums at
  district level   * Institutional     district
                   capacity-           level
                   building            Policy
                   programmes          development
                                       units at
                                       provincial
                                       level
                                       Information
                                       centres at
                                       provincial
                                       and district
                                       level

2.Developing       Legislation Task    ? Anti-      March 2000   Disability
  appropriate      Force               Discriminatory            Office
  and enabling                         Disability Act
  legislation                          ? Inclusion of
                                       disability
                                       into key
                                       sectoral
                                       legislation

3.Implementation   Capacity-building   Equal        1996- 2002   National and
  of key           programmes at       opportunities             Provincial
  programmes at    especially local    and affirmative           Disability
  national,        authority level     action                    Offices
  provincial and                       programmes in
  local level                          the fields of
                                       * employment
                                       * education (HRD)
                                       * access at
                                       local level

4.Implementa-      Long-distance       Inclusion of 1996 - 1997  Public Service
  tion of          training            disabled                  Training
  capacity-        Orientation         people in                 Institute
  building pro-    Workshops           development
  gramme within    Formal courses      programmes
  the Public
  Sector at
  especially                           Development  On-going
  local and                            and
  district                             implementation
  level to plan                        of specific
  and implement                        disability-
  services to                          related
  disabled people                      programmes

5.Monitoring and   Monitoring          Disability   June 1996    Disability
  evaluation of    Strategy and        Index with                Office
  implementation   Programme of        Point Scale
  of RDP           Action              (in          On-going
                                       accordance
                                       to
                                       international
                                       index)

    4. Long Term (2002 - 2007)

    Long-term activities will concentrate on

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    Conclusion

    Historically services for persons with disabilities were planned in an uncoordinated and exclusive manner. Disability was therefore never integrated into broader development planning. This resulted in under-funding, marginalisation and in some cases, extreme abuse of the human rights of persons with disabilities.

    April 27, 1994, has brought a new perspective on development to South Africa. The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) embodies this perspective, whereby development planning is a people-driven, inclusive process aimed at creating an enabling environment for all South African citizens, and not just the privileged few.

    It is a golden opportunity for persons with disabilities to redress past neglect and marginalisation by becoming part of the reconstruction and development process. This discussion document is but one step in the process.

    The past four months have clearly shown that substantial further research and investigation is needed to ensure that the vision of a Society for All becomes a reality.

    It has also become very clear that although the political will to redress the situation of persons with disabilities, exists, the GNU presently has limited capacity to implement a national disability strategy at all tiers of government.

    We firmly believe that an integrated National Disability Strategy which includes capacity building and human resource development aspects, will inevitably lead to a better life for all, including persons with disabilities.

    PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS BEFORE 31 MAY 1996 TO:

      Shuaib Chalklen
      Disability programme
      Office of the Minister without Portfolio
      Private Bag X1000
      0001 PRETORIA

      Tel: (012) 341-5569
      Fax: (012) 341-9612

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