For the past 30 years, South Africans have donned their Casual Day stickers with pride, coming together to raise awareness and support for persons with disabilities.
What started as a modest initiative has blossomed into a nationwide movement, bridging communities, businesses, and individuals. Casual Day is no longer just an event, it’s a powerful platform that champions accessibility, inclusivity, and the rights of persons with disabilities.
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At the heart of this movement is the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), which has been advocating for the rights and access of persons with disabilities for more than eight decades. Their mission is clear – to create a society where equal opportunities are the norm, and where persons with disabilities can participate fully in social, economic, and public life. Through awareness programmes, policy influence, and initiatives that promote physical and social access, the NCPD is reshaping the landscape for persons with disabilities in South Africa.
The theme for Casual Day 2024, I See You, reflects the organisation’s ongoing commitment to celebrating the unique identities and contributions of persons with disabilities. It’s a reminder to society that we need to look beyond the disability and acknowledge the person – their abilities, their potential, and their value.
Brand SA and the NCPD celebrated Casual Day’s 30-year journey at Brand SA’s head office in Houghton on September 6. The event featured insights into how Casual Day has evolved and the key partnerships that have driven the initiative forward.
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Guests enjoyed an afternoon of food and entertainment. But beyond the festivities, the message was clear – the fight for true inclusivity continues. Zain Bulbulia, the acting chief director of the Gauteng Office of the Premier, delivered a poignant address, recognising the importance of partnerships in ensuring that persons with disabilities are acknowledged and celebrated.
“Today’s event is a brilliant mark of 30 years of celebrating people with disabilities,” Bulbulia said. “But the partnership with Brand SA and Standard Bank shows the initiative driven forward to ensure that disabled people are recognised. We also celebrate our Paralympians coming home with medals, a testament to their ability and resilience.”
He further emphasised the need for policy to translate into real rights and opportunities. “We have the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Here in Gauteng, we have the Disability Rights Policy, which ensures that small, medium, and micro-enterprises owned by persons with disabilities benefit from public spending.” Bulbulia stressed that through these frameworks, South Africa can continue to drive forward its programmes and truly create a society where everyone thrives.
As the afternoon progressed, the sense of solidarity and hope was palpable. Casual Day 2024 serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come and the work that still lies ahead. It’s a call to action for everyone – corporates, government, and citizens alike – to see, recognise, and uplift the contributions of persons with disabilities.
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Related article: Pair your Casual Day sticker with a smile this year
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