Pretoria:Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, responsible for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, has urged the government, business sectors, academia, and civil society to enhance partnerships to eliminate barriers hindering full societal participation by persons with disabilities. Her call was made during the launch of the 2026 Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM), which will be observed from November 3 to December 3.
According to South African Government News Agency, the launch commenced with a disability rights awareness walk from Church Square to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. This year’s campaign focuses on 'Creating Multi-Sectoral Partnerships for a Disability-Inclusive Society' and aims to promote coordinated actions to advance the rights, dignity, equality, and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Chikunga emphasized that a disability-inclusive society cannot be achieved by government efforts alone. She highlighted that partnerships involving all sectors of society are necessary to ensure persons with disabilities are included in decision-making processes affecting their lives. The Minister also remarked that the campaign is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of persons with disabilities across various fields while addressing the barriers they face.
Several initiatives have been undertaken by the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities to promote disability inclusion. These include a study on the impact of climate-related emergencies on persons with disabilities, the integration of findings into municipal disaster management plans, and efforts to address data gaps on the geographical locations of persons with disabilities.
Chikunga also discussed progress in employment equity, noting an increase to 5% in employment for persons with disabilities, with a government target of 7%. Additionally, the department is developing a Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, expected to be submitted to Parliament by 2027, and is working on establishing a Disability Nerve Centre of Excellence.
Despite these advancements, Chikunga highlighted ongoing discrimination against women and girls with disabilities, calling for their inclusion at the center of the national development agenda. She identified four key areas for stronger partnerships meaningful participation in decision-making, access to education and employment, harnessing technology for independent living, and community partnerships to protect dignity and safety.
The Disability Rights Awareness Month program will run from November 3 to December 3, focusing on disability-inclusive job creation, youth advocacy, digital opportunities, and gender equality. The campaign aligns with the government's Medium-Term Development Plan and the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, emphasizing economic growth and poverty reduction. Chikunga called for measurable actions to translate disability inclusion into real-life improvements.