Durban — The KwaZulu-Natal government has urged people living with disabilities to get involved in sport so they can authoritatively speak on behalf of the disability sector.
Finance MEC Peggy Nkonyeni delivered a speech on behalf of KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube at Bergville Sports Centre in uThukela District Municipality over the weekend, in commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
This year’s theme was “Empowering Persons with Disabilities through Resourceful, Sustainable and Safe Environments”.
“Through sport, disabled people can acquire the profile that empowers them to speak authoritatively for the sector and leads the change we need in society to create a better environment for disabled people,” Nkonyeni said.
She said UN reports stated that 93% of disabled women were not involved in sport, and that women comprised only a third of disabled athletes in international competitions.
Nkonyeni added that sport could be used as a powerful transformative tool against gender discrimination, as women experienced double discrimination on the basis of their sex and disability.
She added: “In 2023, we will work very fast to achieve facilities within the community that will make it easier for all disabled people, including transport. We ask all disabled people to not be afraid to disclose their disability – whether it’s visible or not – so that the government can provide assistance and support. All government facilities should be accessible and usable by people with disabilities.”
“Our message for this day is that the rights of those with disabilities are human rights and are protected by the Constitution of South Africa – the highest law in the land. Any violation of the rights of disabled people is a violation of the Constitution.
“We hold this international commemoration because, as we join the global community today, we will not allow disabled people to be left behind as we move to build a better KZN.
“The voices of the disability sector matter, and our regular engagements throughout the year will ensure that we continue to elevate disabled people with decent jobs and not donations.”
Chairperson of committees Hlengiwe Mavimbela spoke on behalf of KZN legislature speaker Nontembeko Boyce.
Mavimbela said: “This commemoration gives us an opportunity to make life easier for people with disabilities through our plans. This is to make disabled people a part of every aspect within the community. This is also a part of our vision and promise for our 2030 development agenda, where we include everybody and do not leave anyone behind.”
“There needs to be a plan whereby disabled people aren’t left behind. A mistake that is made is that disabled people also face racial discrimination as well as discrimination due to their condition. Lack of knowledge and insight contributes to the racial discrimination that disabled people face. Disabled women are racially abused more, as they are perceived as nothing or nobodies.”
Daily News