13 Dec 2023

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has programmes that cushion vulnerable groups which included persons with disabilities prior to inception of 2021 policy for People with Disabilities.

Responding to a question from Member of Parliament for Bobonong Mr Taolo Lucas, the Assistant minister Mr Setlhabelo Modukanele said the programmes were accessed through means-testing while others were universal coverage as informed by relevant policies.

Mr Modukanele said specific to persons with disability, those with severe and profound disability were given monthly Disability Cash Transfer of P600, adding that as at end of October this year, 9 481 persons with disability had benefited from the programme.

“Persons with disabilities benefit from other programmes such as Destitution (Food Baskets, Destitute Cash-Allowance, Orphan Care, Old-Age Pension and World-War Veteran,” he said.

He noted that by end of October, close to 17 082 persons with disability had benefited across the above mentioned social protection programmes.

He also stated that persons with disability benefit from affirmative action programmes which include access to tertiary education and employment upon completion of studies.

Mr Modukanele said there were already some programmes with  universal coverage that people with disability benefited from like other citizens such as Old-Age Pension and Orphan Care. However, he said other programmes were means-tested to streamline the eligibility criteria so that only those deserving support could benefit while the rest were empowered through other programmes towards self-reliance.

He said as all people with disability did not need social protection programmes or hand-outs for subsistence, the ministry had noted that with access to education and other empowerment initiatives, they could graduate to be independent citizens and contribute to the economy.

On other issues, he said he was aware of the plight of care givers for primary school going children living with disabilities following the withdrawal of Ministry of Education and Skills Development from paying allowances of care givers who accompany their children in Bobirwa and other district.

“I have advised all councils to address this matter on an urgent basis,” he said adding that the ministry reviewed allowances from time to time to cushion the beneficiaries from inflation including the Disability Cash Transfer.

He said the last two increments of Disability Cash Transfer had been P100 and P50 in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

MP for Bobonong Mr Lucas had asked the minister to update the house on the programmes introduced to alleviate the situation of People with Disability since inception of the policy for People with Disability in 2021.

He also wanted update on the plight of care givers for primary school going children living with disabilities following the withdrawal of the Ministry of Education and Skills Development from assisting them in Bobirwa District. ends