'How do we go back to basics?' asks Minister Zulu on helping people with disabilities

JOHANNESBURG – The South African government spends R86 billion a year on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that seek to improve the lives of persons with disabilities.

So revealed Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu on Thursday.

She was a panellist for the Vodacom Inaugural Accessibility Conference for Promoting the Digital Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Africa.

Despite the billions injected into the sector, Zulu notes, communities are still dissatisfied.

“We support NGOs and people and, in particular, those that are doing something around issues of people with disability per year, we're spending R82.6 billion per year on NGO’s.

“But we also do not want to support organisations that are not accountable. Because one of the biggest problems is if we spend R82.6 billion per year, where's this money going to? Why are our communities still complaining so much?”

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Zulu says disability issues have always been at the heart of the African National Conference (ANC) in the pre-994 the organisation planned for the country's future and unity.

She added that disability issues are also contained in the 1994 Reconstruction and Development Program.

“It was at the centre to a point that it was understood that the government in its plan had caught the interest in needs of people with disability, to a point that people with disability were listened to.

“If you recall, their slogan at that time was ‘Nothing about us without us’, which, unfortunately, ended up being abused by other people. They [people with disabilities] used to say that way back in 1994 -95 when I was still in the legislature of the country.”

“But how do we go back to basics?” asks Zulu.

She suggested communities must unite and not leave everything to the state, adding that persons with disabilities should be accommodated.

“Do we know even in the streets where we live, if there are any people with disabilities and who are they? My view is that you need to be very practical. It's nice to have the knowledge and all, but how do we create a conducive environment for our people? We've got to do it, house to house, street to street and coordinate as a community.”