The government met with the disability sector in February for a two-day workshop aimed at strengthening disability policy and advancing independent living for people with disabilities in South Africa. Hosted by the Gauteng Provincial Government at the Sky Hotel in Sandton from February 12 to 13, the workshop brought together local experts and international partners from Japan, Thailand and South Korea to offer a rare space for both reflection and practical planning.
A key discussion point at the workshop was the need for better implementation of disability policies in South Africa. The White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, for example, offers a strong framework, but is not legally enforceable. As a result, both the public and private sector fails to comply.
There was a call for a national Disability Act that would ensure the rights of persons with disabilities were enforceable with real consequences. It was confirmed that a Draft Disability Bill is expected to go to Cabinet this year. Attendees called for a practical implementation plan to be drawn up so that action can immediately be taken once the Act was passed. There was also a call for better monitoring of disability programmes to better track the outcomes.
Participants stressed that current government engagements felt superficial and “tick-box” in nature. They called for deeper conversations with measurable, actionable targets that shift resources and protect against systemic blindness; highlighting that rural representation and diverse participation should be non-negotiable.
Finally, there were discussions about the independent living centre models from Japan, Thailand and South Korea, and what could be applied to South Africa. Notably, the partnership between Japan and Gauteng is already bearing fruit as the joint initiative is helping local centres strengthen their systems and adopt international best practices.
With Ubuntu as our cultural backbone and practical implementation as our next step, South Africa can move from policy promises to lived rights.
