Issued by: Office of the Executive Deputy President
The Office on the Status of Disabled People in the Office of the Deputy President and the Swedish Government (SIDA Development Agency) today signed a funding agreement. The funding agreement is the product of two years of negotiations between the OSDP and the Swedish Government.
The OSDP was established in the Office of the Deputy President on May 1, 1997. The primary focus of the programme is to advise government departments on disability policies, programmes and legislation as well as monitor implementation.
The OSDP will be using the funding for furthering the aims of objectives of this Disability Programme. These will include refining policy with regards to disabled people, support for NGO's working in the field of disability, developing public education programmes, establishing an information service for disabled people and a Southern African regional exchange programme.
The agreement is significant since it involves NGO's in Sweden and South Africa as well as both governments. It is also one of the largest funding agreements on support to people with disability.
The signing ceremony took place in the Office of the Deputy President in the Union Buildings in Pretoria. President were members of the Office of the Status of Disabled People, the Swedish Embassy and representatives of South African NGO's working with and for people with disabilities.
The signing was officiated by Dr EG Pahad, Deputy Minister in the Office of the Deputy President, on behalf of the South African Government and Mr C Norloff, First Secretary in the Swedish Embassy in Pretoria.
Contacts for more information: Shuaib Chalklen, Director OSDP - 082 775 1175 Ronnie Mamoepa, Chief Director Communications - 082 990 4835, 012 323 2502
1998/11/06