Disabled sidelined in Eastern Cape: MPLs

The Office of the Premier (OTP) has been criticised for its failure to provide properly for disabled people in the Eastern Cape.

The portfolio committee Youth, Gender and Disability says in its report tabled today that the two percent target for the employment of disabled people has not been met and that there is “no system in place” for monitoring the plans and programmes of different departments.

In addition, the committee says the budget is “not sufficient” and not all departments have programmes in place for the economic empowerment of people with disabilities.

The committee says it wants the OTP to inform it when departments will meet the target for the employment of people with disabilities, to increase the budget and research programmes that are “biased to the economic needs of people with disabilities”.

A progress report must be submitted to the committee by the end of next month.