[blindza] WESTERN CAPE NETWORK ON DISABILITY - General meeting
- From: "Tony Webb" <tony.webb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "NAP - Deaf" <deaf@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "NAP - Educate" <educate@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "NAP - General" <general@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "NAP - Physical" <physical@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "NAP - Blind" <blind@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "AACSA List" <AACSA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Disability List" <disability@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "BLINDZA" <blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2012 11:10:59 +0200
BLINDZA <blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; Disability List <disability@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>;
AACSA List <AACSA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; NAP - Blind <blind@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; NAP -
Physical <physical@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; NAP - General <general@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; NAP -
Educate <educate@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; NAP - Deaf <deaf@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Dear Lists,
Always good to hear from WCND.
No apologies for cross posting as they appear to be one of the few networks on
disability in South Africa and I hope that their work may inspire other
provinces to do the same .
Regards,
Tony Webb,
The.Sponge Project, Port Elizabeth.
+27-41-368 3707, Mobile +27-82-290 3764,
tony.webb@xxxxxxxxxxxx, http://thespongeproject.yolasite.com
WESTERN CAPE NETWORK ON DISABILITY
MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETING OF NETWORK HELD AT PROTEA SPORTS CLUB, RETREAT, ON
TUESDAY 20 MARCH 2012, AT 10 AM
PRESENT: Vincent Daniels (in the Chair), Vice-chairperson Hillary Lane,
Treasurer Doug Davidson, Vivienne van der Merwe (Administrator/Secretary) - in
total 73 Members/Stakeholders, as per attendance list;
APOLOGIES: 21 Members/Stakeholders, including WC Premier Helen Zille and MP
Helen Lamoela; from the City, Mayor Patricia de Lille and Councillor Beverley
Cortje-Alcock
1. WELCOME:
Steve de Lange, Manager of Protea Sports Club, welcomed everyone to the Club,
commenting that the Club was very much connected to persons with disabilities
having been started 50 years ago by a psychiatrist who had wanted to introduce
persons with disabilities to archery. A variety of other sports were now also
being enjoyed, including wheelchair dancing and wheelchair rugby.
Chairperson Vincent Daniels also extended a warm welcome to everyone present,
especially Guest Speaker Virginia Petersen of SASSA, Champion for Disability
Thandi Mpambo Sibhukwana and MP Denise Robinson. He asked people to remember
those who had recently died - previous Network Board Member Anlo van Heerden
who did so much to help the blind, especially deafblind, Jean Bald - a stalwart
of IPDM, and DPSA's Lennox Bonile who lost his son in a shooting accident.
Uplifting thoughts also needed to be directed to Dawn Hare of Ocean View APD,
who had recently suffered severe whiplash in an accident. Finally, he called
on those present to introduce themselves and their organizations.
2. CANDLELIGHTING CEREMONY TO COMMEMORATE WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY AND HUMAN
RIGHTS DAY:
Tineke Boshoff, Down Syndrome Association WC Liaison Officer, came forward with
Jody Adams, a young man with Down Syndrome, who lit the Candle. Full details
of Down Syndrome and World Down Syndrome Day being available on Internet,
Tineke concentrated instead on sharing her experience of living with a child
with Down Syndrome. She described how her life had changed and taken a
different route. Children with DS were really special little individuals but
lived on a different planet, not caring what you looked like, only how you
reacted to them, only wanting to be accepted. She told the story of a group of
athletes who had trained very hard for Special Olympics but when they started
their race, one fell. The others immediately stopped, turned around and ran
back to help him up; then everyone started off again - together. This was
typical of those with Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability. They helped
each other. Jody who only speaks English but sings in Afrikaans, then
enriched proceedings with a song, to tumultuous applause.
Farahneez Hassiem of Disabled People SA then reminded everyone that Human
Rights Day would be celebrated the following day. Persons with disabilities
all had a common interest - they wanted to enjoy respect and dignity, human
rights to which they were entitled. DPSA was a people's organization which
totally believed in self-representation ie nothing about us without us. DPSA
and Network were on a mission and needed support. A few years ago, there had
been great excitement when the Disability Sector had been invited to join the
City in working on a City Disability Plan, but implementation had not happened.
Now the Plan had been taken up again and the support of everyone present was
needed. This time not just a policy was required but tangible outcomes - a
plan of action to achieve results with a view to improving the lives of people
with disabilities.
Vice-chairperson Hillary Lane followed with a few words about the uncaring
attitudes still being experienced by persons with disabilities. As a society
still in the early stages of democracy, it was necessary to continually inform
people about persons with disabilities because non-disabled did not understand
the problems still being experienced by disabled.
Champion for Disability Thandi Mpambo Sibhukwana called on the Almighty to
enlighten people's minds with respect to persons with disabilities. People
still did not understand how things worked in Government. Everyone had the
right to know and she urged MP Denise Robinson to take up issues of concern in
Parliament. She had been attending a Disability Summit with the Minister and
Deputy Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, and vowed to
champion the aspirations of persons with disabilities in the Province but
funding was needed. She appealed to Denise to try and open doors.
Chairperson thanked all the speakers for their inspiring messages.
3. MINUTES:
Minutes of the previous General Meeting held at Stellenbosch on 14 June 2011,
were confirmed (proposed by Hillary Lane, seconded by Sannie Crous, and agreed)
.
4. GUEST SPEAKER: MS VIRGINIA PETERSEN, CEO, SA SOCIAL SECURITY AGENCY:
Virginia Petersen, well-known to everyone from her days with APD, the Dept of
Social Development, and later as Director-General of the Premier's Office, then
took the floor. She congratulated Network on good work done over the past 15
years but stressed the need to continue to fight for all issues still needing
attention in terms of the Disability Plan. She then explained the changes that
would be introduced into the Social Pension System, changes that would result
in a great saving of costs (only one contractor for the entire country), remove
corruption and simplify the lives of pensioners who would be able to draw their
pensions with a smartcard at any pay point in the country. Pay points would
also be more varied including shops, like Checkers for example. Pensions would
however only be paid to the person entitled to receive the pension - no third
parties would be tolerated. Those unable to personally collect their pensions
from paypoints would in future enjoy the benefit of street delivery. In order
to commence with the new system, pensioners as from 1 April, when collecting
their pensions, would exchange their current All Pay card (or whatever type of
card they were using) for a SASSA card. For this card, one finger on each
hand would be fingerprinted. This card would be used until re-registration
had been completed. Re-registration would take place between 1 June and end
December. Re-registration would comprise fingerprinting, voice-recording and
photographing to ensure correct identification of the person entitled to the
pension. For children, footprints would be used. A smartcard would then be
issued. For the time being, until the new system got going, pensioners
receiving their pensions via banks, would not be affected, likewise
institutions. SASSA would in due course make arrangements to visit
institutions for pensioners' re-registration. Persons holding Power of
Attorney in respect of pensioners, would also have to be re-registered. It was
envisaged that the new contractor would operate the system for five years,
after which time SASSA would take over payment of pensions themselves.
Further questions could be forwarded to Vivienne for passing on to her, or she
could be contacted direct on SASSA's toll free no: 0800-60-10-11 or CPS:
0800-60-01-60 /email: VirginiaP@xxxxxxxxxxxx /cell: 082-550-4951.
Finally she assured everyone that a communication process would be rolled out
in the Press, starting in Gauteng at end of March. When the time came, those
receiving their pensions via banks, would be notified by letter, also those
with powers of attorney. Those who could not leave their homes to
re-register, would be visited at home.
Chairperson thanked Virginia for coming personally to bring her message to the
Disability Sector, on whose behalf he expressed sincere appreciation of her
efforts to improve the lives of persons with disabilities.
5. BRIEF REPORTS:
5.1 DISABILITY SUMMIT (Western Cape): Ruth Nugent (Epilepsy WC & Network
Board Member) reported briefly on the Disability Summit held on 1 December 2011
in which Network members, DPSA and the Dept of the Premier had collaborated. A
report had already been circulated. Basically, the Disablity Summit had been
intended to move policies that had not yet been implemented. A Task Team
comprising representatives of DPSA, Network and Government Departments had been
set up and would be broadened. A set of outcomes had been identified but
resolutions could not be taken forward unless it was understood what had gone
before. A Disability framework had been developed. Government Department
representatives were to look at what strategies had been devised and what had
been achieved; the Disability Sector were to do the same; and then both would
look at the gaps. The NGO sector would play a leading role. She promised to
provide more details shortly. Avril Hoepner (IPDM) reminded that disunity in
the sector had in the past caused lack of progress. Network needed to ensure
unity for success. She congratulated Network on a good job.
5.2 RURAL OUTREACH - LOTTERY-FUNDED PROJECT:
Ruth advised that she had been working with Rural Outreach Project Co-ordinator
Patsy Anthony, who wanted to revive Disability Forums in the rural areas eg
Atlantis, but rural forums did not always have access to resources so Network
would feed back needs to the relevant bodies eg in respect of deaf, raise their
needs with DeafSA WC. Patsy was also working in Malmesbury, in the process of
getting questionnaires filled in so as to look at needs in that district.
5.3 CITY DISABILITY POLICY:
Vice-chairperson Hillary Lane reported that Network had been involved for a
number of years with a proposed City Disability Policy, and had recently met
with the City's lawyer to make sure that everything was legally correct.
Before finalizing the policy, however, it had been decided to meet with the
City Manager to discuss implementation and how the Disability Sector could best
hold the City accountable. Members would be kept informed.
5.4 INSTITUTE FOR PROMOTION OF DISABLED MANPOWER (Network's Economic
Empowerment arm):
Vic McKinney of IPDM recommended that everyone read the report that had been
circulated as it contained a lot of interesting information about IPDM
activities during the past year. Any questions could be directed to him via
email: sky@xxxxxxxxxxxx He admitted that he had initially been pretty
sceptical in terms of SETA's but a lot had been happening and a lot of
mechanisms were now in place to promote employment of disabled. Government
could however only do so much. Disabled must also come to the party!
5.5 DIAL-A-RIDE:
Chairperson reported no further progress regarding the new DAR Contract since
circulating latest developments reported at Network's Board meeting end
February. They were presumably still processing appeals/complaints regarding
the proposed new contract. A few concerns had been raised with regard to how
new drivers would cope and whether training would be provided. Network was in
the process of looking into the matter.
6. ANY OTHER RELEVANT BUSINESS:
Chairperson reminded members that 2012 was an election year. A new Board
would be elected at the AGM in September. Although Network had some dedicated
Board members, there were some vacancies and new blood was needed. He
therefore urged people to speak to their organizations and other organizations
in their particular Disability Sector, and consider who could best represent
the Sector - ideally member organizations in each sector should get together to
elect their four representatives to the Network Board.
7. APPRECIATION AND CLOSURE:
Chairperson thanked everyone for attending and participating in the meeting -
some like Petronella Linders had come from far; he thanked organizations for
allowing so many of their staff to attend; special thanks to all the
speakers, especially Guest Speaker Virginia Petersen who came from Pretoria
with a message for the Disability Sector; and Jody Adams who sang so
beautifully. He also expressed appreciation to all who had helped - Steve de
Lange of Protea Sports Club for providing the venue, and staff to prepare the
hall and clean up afterwards; the ladies of Adam's Farm Home who provided the
delicious snacks; Frikkie Crous who provided the sound and Sannie Crous who
helped him, and also helped Vivienne with preparations and registration. To
everyone a big thank-you!
Finally, he would really like to hear from members whether they considered
General Meetings worthwhile attending - just a few lines in an email to:
vincent@xxxxxxxxxxxx
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