12 April 2002
The Minister of Sports and Recreation
The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg
The Chairperson of the Self Help Association of Paraplegics
Distinguished guests,
Friends and colleagues,
Let me start off by saying how privileged I am to spend some time with you, on my special day.
I am honoured to spend this day with people who have overcome the challenges of life, against all odds. Nothing could be more inspirational for me.
I am also proud to be interacting with members of an organisation, which has produced pioneers such as the late Friday Mavuso and Jabu Tshaka who founded the Self Help Association of Paraplegics. There are many others within SHAP and outside, from whom we draw a lot of encouragement.
As I stand here, I also recall another very moving moment for me, when I accompanied our team to the paralympic games in Australia. The outstanding performance of athletes such as Zanele Situ and others served the show the wealth of talent that we have in our country.
I can assure you that I have the highest regard for members of the Self Help Association of Paraplegics and all other persons who live with disabilities, in our country and all over the world. For centuries of so-called civilisation, disabled people were faced, not only with disabilities and other kinds of challenges, but with deliberate discrimination and disregard for their dignity and human rights in all spheres of society.
The establishment of SHAP in the 80s represents a very informative example of the spirit of vukuzenzele when people with disabilities decided to challenge the dogmas and fallacies and started to do something for themselves.
In that regard, it is important for all sectors of society to be able to support those who heed the call to arise and do something for themselves.
For example, ladies and gentlemen, since SHAP is a business centre whose success depends on contracts from big business, we are calling on corporate South Africa to create partnerships for change, by prioritising contracts and tenders for people with disabilities.
In the same vein, we also call for financial institutions to recognise the contribution of people with disabilities to the economy, and assist to advance this participation in the economic development of our country.
Brothers and sisters, I must acknowledge that as far as infrastructure development, transport, recreational and educational facilities are concerned, to mention just a few, we still have a long way to go to address the needs of fellow South Africans who live with disabilities.
This is a challenge we need to continue working on vigorously together, as it affects all sectors of our society. We also believe that partnership between organisations such as SHAP and the Government will assist in addressing the needs of persons with disabilities.
We are of the view that we can all make positive contributions toward change when we work together. The Integrated National Disability Strategy, which is our government's national policy document on disability, provides guidelines and a framework by which disabled persons are to be integrated and included in mainstream society.
In addition, we have, as a Government and organisations of people living with disabilities, worked hard to ensure that our Parliament passes legislation that facilitates and provides motivation and incentives to the private business sector to employ people with disabilities.
The Office on the Status of Disabled Persons in The Presidency serves as the key unit to co-ordinate the implementation of the policy to ensure that disabled persons are accorded their rightful place in society.
I must emphasise, ladies and gentlemen, that we remain totally committed to the process of transformation of our country and its many institutions. We will no longer allow a situation whereby anyone is simply excluded from full involvement and participation in the mainstream of economy on the basis of ill-informed prejudices, both in government and business at large.
This is part of the rebuilding of the moral fibre of our society which we are calling for, and which will be discussed in the Moral Regeneration Summit next Thursday. If we work together, we can make a difference.
Once again, thank you very much for hosting me today, on my special day. I wish you all the best in all your activities.
I thank you.