Ramaphosa calls for greater inclusion on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

By Johnathan Paoli

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to improving the lives of persons with disabilities and eliminating barriers to inclusion.

Tuesday is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

In his weekly message to the nation, the president acknowledged progress in advancing the rights of people with disabilities, but emphasised that significant challenges remained.

“As we observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I call on all South Africans to build a country in which everyone is included, represented, accommodated and able to achieve their dreams,” he said.

Ramaphosa said approximately 3.3 million people in the country live with some form of physical or intellectual impairment and that many continued to face stigma, stereotyping and exclusion, compounded by infrastructural and societal barriers.

The president condemned harmful attitudes such as labelling disability as a curse, and highlighted the violence faced by vulnerable groups like persons with