Kimberley: Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has called on society to build a truly inclusive South Africa where people with disabilities participate fully and equally in all spheres of life. Speaking at the launch of Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) 2025 at the Supported Employment Enterprise (SEE) Factory in Kimberley, Northern Cape, Chikunga said this year’s theme: ‘Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy: Creating Strategic Multisectoral Partnerships for a Disability-Inclusive Society’, is a call to action for government, business, academia and civil society to work collaboratively to remove barriers that continue to marginalise people with disabilities.
According to South African Government News Agency, Chikunga highlighted the SEE Factory as evidence that inclusion is attainable, showcasing how persons with disabilities can be skilled workers, producers, and innovators when different sectors collaborate. The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing universal access, inclusive education, decent employment, community-based services, and accessible technologies in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the G7 Solfagnano Charter.
Chikunga expressed concern over the persistent exclusion of people with disabilities from education and the economy, noting that unemployment among this group exceeds 80% in some areas. She pointed out the structural issues, such as schools that lack accessibility and scarce resources, which hinder progress. The Minister emphasized the need for the education system to adapt to include every learner, rather than expecting learners to adjust to the existing system.
The Minister also addressed the heightened vulnerability of women with disabilities to gender-based violence (GBV), noting the compounded risk they face. She revealed that the department has approached the Minister of Public Service and Administration to mandate all departments to employ people with disabilities until the 4% public service employment target is met. Current Employment Equity data indicates that people with disabilities constitute only 1.2% of employees in the public service and 1.3% in the private sector, falling short of national benchmarks.
Cabinet has urged departments to recruit and plan towards meeting these targets, mandating that every board of a public entity include at least one person with a disability. Chikunga also announced that SEE factories will supply goods directly to government departments, bypassing lengthy tender processes to preserve jobs for people with disabilities and reduce costs.
Chikunga emphasized that true government success will be measured by whether inclusion becomes a reality, with every school, business, and public entity advancing the rights of persons with disabilities. She described an inclusive society as one where public transport, buildings, and digital platforms are accessible to all South Africans, regardless of ability.