Madam Deputy Chairperson, it is true that this department is still new. However, in each and every department, there are people dealing with persons with disabilities. Can the Minister tell us how many of these people are there, for instance, in the Police? This question is about assessment. I fully agree that it's a new department, but the Minister conducted her assessment at least in the past five months. Can the Minister tell us what the assessment is in each and every department? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Deputy Chairperson, I think I have responded to the questions that have been asked by the hon member Ntwanambi. I have also gone further to respond on what the department will be able to do when it is established. I don't know now whether I must go into details of the processes we are undergoing to establish the new department and its capacity. I think that would be unfair on the programme of the House if I were to go into those details. So, I think let's stop there and then allow the department to be legally established. Thank you.
Chair, my question is not really going to be a question because the Minister is saying they are still in the process of establishing the department. The question might be ... [Interjections.]
Order! Can you speak into your microphone, please! [Interjections.] Oh, is it far from him? Okay.
You may continue, hon member.
My one had a problem.
Okay.
Mine is just a comment because the department is still in the process of being established. What is very important in the process of establishing the department is to look at what other departments are doing about disabled people - look at other departments except for the one that is being established, especially those whose employees get injured at work like in the Police Force and in many others.
The department can also do us a big favour in looking at people who have been injured in the mines, especially those from areas in Transkei who find themselves in very difficult situations today because there are no hospitals to assist them in terms of spinal cord injuries. The workmen's compensation is nowhere to be found to assist these people. Can the department also link with the workmen's compensation in the process of establishing itself and also link with hospitals that assist people with disabilities, especially those with spinal cord injuries, so that they can be assisted in the process? It is so frustrating to find that government has put away money all over to assist these people, but then it becomes very difficult for them to access it.
I will write other comments to the Minister so that they can be of assistance to them in establishing the department. But the sooner the department is on its feet, the better. Thank you. [Interjections.] [Time expired.]
Order! That was not a follow-up question but a comment. So, I don't expect the Minister to answer that. I'm sure she has noted your concern and your inputs.
Sihlalo. Ngqongqoshe, uma kwenziwa lolo cwaningo, ingabe umnyango wakho uzithinta ngqo yini izinhlaka kanye nezinhlangano zabantu abaphila noku khubazeka njengokulandela isiqubulo sabo esithi: "Akukho okuyokhulunywa ngathi ngaphandle kwethu"; ukuze kubonakale ukuthi lolo cwaningo lwenzelwa bona laba bantu abaphila nokukhubazeka ngesimo nangemsebenzi, kodwa alwenzelwa abantu abangakhubazekile? Ngiyabonga. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Mr D D GAMEDE: Chairperson. Hon Minister, when you conducted that assessment, did your department directly consult with the structures as well as the organisations which deal with people living with disabilities in line with their slogan which says: "Nothing about us without us"; so that it can be evident that this assessment is conducted specifically for people who are living with disabilities and their work, and not for people who are not living with disabilities? Thank you.]
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Chairperson, I appreciate the comments that have been made, and they have been noted. We must emphasise the fact that the critical role of this new department will also be to oversee what other departments are doing in mainstreaming and ensuring that issues of people living with disabilities are addressed. So, that one is in the pipeline as we form the new department.
But, this is also linked to the question that has been asked in terms of the assessment and so on. This is because if one looks at the last 15 years, for instance, as a country we set ourselves a target of 2% for the employment of people with disabilities. What we have achieved thus far is far less than what we sought to do, and it remains at 0,2%. Therefore, we need to work on the kind of assessment that Mr Gumede is talking about so that everybody can come to the party.
We also need to assess the kind of work the private sector is doing. We need to find out how many people with disabilities there are in the private sector, for instance, and what the plans are that they are putting into place and so on. So,...
... ngiyavuma ukuthi lo msebenzi kudingeka ukuthi wenziwe. [... I agree that this job must be done.]
I also wish to emphasise the point that this is not just the responsibility of government, but it is also the responsibility of this House to ensure that it plays its oversight role to ensure that the objectives we have set to ensure that people with disabilities are given the space and the capacity to play a role in the economy and the transformation of our country are met. Thank you.
Minister, firstly, is there an audit available on people with disabilities in all sectors or departments and not just an assessment of the overall picture? Secondly, what is the position of your department on advertisements so that different departments can include in their advertisements that persons with disabilities can also apply?
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Chairperson, I have alluded to the overall picture, even though I may not have gone into detail. In terms of the audit, for instance, the overall picture is that we are not doing well; you can go to any sector, including civil society. We have not made headway with respect to people with disabilities. That's my response in brief to the question that has been raised by the hon member. Thank you.
Discussions with Setas in respect of training people with disabilities and youth for employment in the Public Service
49. Ms A N D Qikani (ANC) asked the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:
Whether since taking office she has had discussions with any Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) in respect of training people with disabilities and the youth to equip them for employment in the Public Service; if not, why not; if so, (a) what Setas are currently involved in such an initiative and (b) what is the total number of (i) people with disabilities and (ii) the youth who (aa) are currently identified for placement in the Public Service and (bb) were placed in the Public Service thus far?