Flag of South Africa

The South Africa team is working together to build knowledge in three thematic areas:

  1. Underrepresented groups of women and girls with disabilities
  2. Health, gender-based violence, and femicide
  3. Policy and governance

Education and training across phases will consider policy and governance and will regularly reflect on the research approach itself.

  • David Black, Dalhousie University (Co-Lead)
  • Jacqueline de Matos Ala, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Co-Lead)
  • Kristi Kenyon, University of Winnipeg (Co-Lead)
  • Sharlene Cassel, Epilepsy South Africa
  • Naefa Kahn, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
  • Karen Robinson, Epilepsy South Africa

  • South Africa Disability Alliance (SADA)
  • University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Key Priorities

  • What are the critical gaps in knowledge and understanding concerning the challenges faced by diverse women and girls with disabilities in South Africa?
  • What are the critical gaps between formal policy objectives and outcomes with regards to the diverse cohort/populations of women and girls with disabilities in South Africa?
  • How can these knowledge and policy gaps be closed?
  • How can the voices and interests of diverse women and girls with disabilities in South Africa be amplified, and their ability to shape their own lives strengthened?

Key Priorities

  • What are the critical gaps in knowledge and understanding concerning the challenges faced by diverse women and girls with disabilities in South Africa?
  • What are the critical gaps between formal policy objectives and outcomes with regards to the diverse cohort/populations of women and girls with disabilities in South Africa?
  • How can these knowledge and policy gaps be closed?
  • How can the voices and interests of diverse women and girls with disabilities in South Africa be amplified, and their ability to shape their own lives strengthened?

About Disability in South Africa

In 2011, approximately 2.8-2.9 million people (7.5% of the population) were living with disabilities in South Africa.

  • Based on 2011 Census data, 8.3% of females in South Africa have a disability. This decreases to 5.57% for girls aged 5-19 and rises to 9.6% for women aged 20 and older.
  • The government has established the Employment Equity Act, which states that people with disabilities should make up 2% of the workforce employed per sector. However, recent data suggest that the current percentage is closer to 1%.
Three women sitting down facing left.

Unemployment is a major challenge affecting many people with disabilities in South Africa. Key issues are attitudes and practices as well as ineffective labour legislation.

  • In late 2015, the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (WPRPD) showed the government’s progression towards equality for the disabled. However, despite being relatively inclusive, the WPRPD does not address the necessary budget needed to meet its goals.
Click to view sources

About Disability in South Africa

In 2011, approximately 2.8-2.9 million people (7.5% of the population) were living with disabilities in South Africa.

  • Based on 2011 Census data, 8.3% of females in South Africa have a disability. This decreases to 5.57% for girls aged 5-19 and rises to 9.6% for women aged 20 and older.
  • The government has established the Employment Equity Act, which states that people with disabilities should make up 2% of the workforce employed per sector. However, recent data suggest that the current percentage is closer to 1%.

Unemployment is a major challenge affecting many people with disabilities in South Africa. Key issues are attitudes and practices as well as ineffective labour legislation.

  • In late 2015, the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (WPRPD) showed the government’s progression towards equality for the disabled. However, despite being relatively inclusive, the WPRPD does not address the necessary budget needed to meet its goals.
Click to view sources

Recommended Reading

South Africa: Snapshot of Human Rights Commitments

Ratified: 2007; Most recent Report: 2015

Selected Recommendations (2018):

  • Provide regular training to all public officials involved in the consultation process on non-discrimination, dignity and respect, as well as the right to reasonable accommodation of persons with disabilities.
  • Adopt as a matter of priority measures to prevent and combat discrimination, violence and abuse against women and girls with disabilities.
  • Adopt affirmative action measures aimed at the empowerment and full inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in all spheres of life to address multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination against black women and girls with disabilities.
  • Adopt a strategy to increase productive and decent work and the employment of persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors.
  • Access the full CPRD Concluding Observations Report for South Africa.

Ratified: 1995; Recent report: 2019

Selected Recommendations (2011 – Most recent recommendations are forthcoming):

  • Strengthen National Gender Machinery, in particular the Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, in order to ensure a strong institutional mechanism for the promotion of gender equality.
  • Pursue sustained policies aimed at the promotion of women’s full and equal participation in decision-making as a democratic requirement in all areas of public, political and professional life.
  • Prepare a unified family code in conformity with the Convention, in which unequal inheritance rights, property and land rights and polygamy are addressed, with the aim of abolishing them, including the option of civil provisions available for all women.

Access the full CEDAW Concluding Observations Report for South Africa.

Ratified 1995; Recent report 2015

Selected Recommendations (2016):

  • Collect disaggregated data and conduct research on the situation of informal care arrangements, including customary adoptions, as a basis for the development of policy responses.
  • Develop a regulatory framework for customary adoption and a system for monitoring such adoption, with the active and meaningful participation of children, families, communities and civil society organizations working with and for children.
  • Adopt a national policy in response for preventing and addressing online child sexual exploitation and abuse, in close collaboration with relevant industries and organizations.
  • Access the full CRC Concluding Observations Report for South Africa.

South Africa: Snapshot of Human Rights Commitments

Ratified: 2007; Most recent Report: 2015

Selected Recommendations (2018):

  • Provide regular training to all public officials involved in the consultation process on non-discrimination, dignity and respect, as well as the right to reasonable accommodation of persons with disabilities.
  • Adopt as a matter of priority measures to prevent and combat discrimination, violence and abuse against women and girls with disabilities.
  • Adopt affirmative action measures aimed at the empowerment and full inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in all spheres of life to address multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination against black women and girls with disabilities.
  • Adopt a strategy to increase productive and decent work and the employment of persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors.
  • Access the full CPRD Concluding Observations Report for South Africa.

Ratified: 1995; Recent report: 2019

Selected Recommendations (2011 – Most recent recommendations are forthcoming):

  • Strengthen National Gender Machinery, in particular the Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, in order to ensure a strong institutional mechanism for the promotion of gender equality.
  • Pursue sustained policies aimed at the promotion of women’s full and equal participation in decision-making as a democratic requirement in all areas of public, political and professional life.
  • Prepare a unified family code in conformity with the Convention, in which unequal inheritance rights, property and land rights and polygamy are addressed, with the aim of abolishing them, including the option of civil provisions available for all women.

Access the full CEDAW Concluding Observations Report for South Africa.

Ratified 1995; Recent report 2015

Selected Recommendations (2016):

  • Collect disaggregated data and conduct research on the situation of informal care arrangements, including customary adoptions, as a basis for the development of policy responses.
  • Develop a regulatory framework for customary adoption and a system for monitoring such adoption, with the active and meaningful participation of children, families, communities and civil society organizations working with and for children.
  • Adopt a national policy in response for preventing and addressing online child sexual exploitation and abuse, in close collaboration with relevant industries and organizations.
  • Access the full CRC Concluding Observations Report for South Africa.

Recommended Reading

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Connect with us!

EMAIL: edid-ghdi@uoguelph.ca

TWITTER: @edid-ghdi

INSTAGRAM: @edid_ghdi

MAIL: Live Work Well Research Centre, University of Guelph, Attention: EDID-GHDI, 501 MacKinnon Building, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1