Department fails disabled enterprises

RUIMSIG – Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Recreation and Culture only conducted business with 1.62 per cent of identified enterprises run by people with disabilities.

August 29, 2015

Phathu Luvhengo 2 minutes read

South African disabled tennis player Lucas Sithole insists there is good support from Gauteng Sports. File photo.

South African Riding for Disabled Association (Sarda) is one of the organisations that has not received help from the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Recreation and Culture (SARC).

“The Department of Sports does not support us in anyway. However, we are always in need of funding and donations and do not currently receive any government funding,” explained Sarda branch secretary Nicole Christie.

She added that their organisation would certainly be open to communicating with the department with the view to obtain funding from it.

“We would be most grateful if they would consider sponsoring us,” Christie concluded.

According to the Gauteng DA the SRAC failed to meet its first quarterly target for the 2015/16 year of 5 per cent preferential procurement from enterprises run by People with Disabilities (PwDs).

Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) and DA’s Gauteng spokesperson on Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation Kingsol Chabalala, complained that the department only conducted business with 1.62 per cent of identified PwDs.

“This huge shortfall in targeted objectives has denied a frequently marginalised sector of the population the opportunity to tap into the economy,” he said in a statement.

Chabalala explained that economic inclusion was not restricted to able-bodied members of society.

He said, “PwDs have varied skill sets that should be recognised and utilised.”

He further explained that extension of the preferential procurement processed to vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities, the youth and women were of no use if Gauteng Provincial Government departments do not implement them effectively.

Disabled tennis player Lucas Sithole however, was not affected by this challenge as a disabled sportsman.

“There has been good support from Gauteng Sports through their ambassadorship programme for their awards last year where we went around Gauteng doing motivational talks and promoting our various sports,” he explained.

Sithole indicated that the government continued sponsorship ensures that people with disabilities could express themselves and boost their standing in society.

“There is also an empowerment aspect to the whole thing with a bigger need being that of ensuring PWD have registered entities to position them for beneficiation,” Sithole concluded.

Questions were sent to the SARC and respond is awaited.

Details: Gauteng DA 060 558 8299; Sarda 011 958 5044.