Achievements
As a direct result of DPSA`s advocacy:
- The SA Constitution outlaws discrimination against people on the grounds of disability.
- Disability is no longer seen as a charity/welfare issue, but as a human rights and development issue.
- An Office on the Status of Disabled Person (OSDP) has been established with the responsibility of implementing the Integrated National Disability Strategy.
- Disabled people have been placed in key Commissions established by the government as part of the transformation process e.g. Human Rights, Gender, Youth, Special Needs Education and Public Service Commissions.
- Disabled people are represented on the Boards of SATOUR, National Skills Authority (NSA), NTSIKA Enterprise Development Promotion Agency (NEPA), South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), National Board for Further Education and Training (NBFET) and the SABC.
In 1999, voting procedures were accessible to disabled people.
Significant gains for disabled people through the Presidential Jobs Summit including commitments to achieve the targets of 2% public sector quota for employment at all levels, 2% private sector target incentive through employment and accommodation tax credits; and employment sound in terms of practicality and cost of accommodation, but which has enforcement teeth.
One of the outstanding achievements over the past period must be the nomination by DPSA of five disabled people into the ANC National Assembly list and the subsequent placing of these people as Members of Parliament (MPs). In addition, we have representatives within the Provincial Legislatures in Free State and the Northern Province, as well as in the National Council of Provinces.
With the policy environment now substantially in place, the emphasis after the 1999 elections will be on an effective legislative programme to ensure the implementation of the human rights and development policies adopted by Government since 1994. Legislation which will now require urgent attention will be in the areas of environmental access, education and training, transport and anti-discrimination.