In a developing country with socioeconomic disparity and a history of apartheid, South Africa has a substantial share of the world’s population with disabilities, and the position of these people in society varies greatly. Wealthy city people have access to a variety of services, but the impoverished struggle to get even the most basic essentials.
There hasn’t been much done to actively integrate persons with disabilities into mainstream society in South Africa, despite the fact that the constitution recognizes the condition of the underprivileged.
Number of disables people in South Africa
There are about five million disabled people in South Africa. One in ten South Africans fall into this category. Despite this, people with disabilities make up fewer than 1% of the workforce in this nation. Approximately 43% of these individuals are male, while the remaining 57% are women, according to estimates.
Issues facing those with disabilities
The majority of people with disabilities and their families face numerous obstacles, with unemployment ranking among them. Disability-related exclusion from the workforce is common. This is caused by a variety of things, including discriminatory attitudes and behaviours, outdated, ineffective labour laws, hostile workplace settings, a lack of informational accessibility, inaccessible public transportation, and a lack of skills.
Income is connected to work, which in turn affects how well people and their family are doing. In general, those without disabilities make more money than people who do. Disability severity and kind among people with disabilities determines one’s income. Compared to those with other sorts
of disabilities, people with sight-oriented disabilities make more money.
What is being done in this regard?
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is being enforced, non-complied with, and put into practice, as President Jacob Zuma disclosed in September 2011.
Accessibility, rehabilitation, political engagement, equality, and non-discrimination of the disabled are all topics covered by the convention.
