The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga, launched Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) in Pretoria on 16 October 2026, with an awareness walk by persons with disabilities from Church Square to the Union Buildings. The awareness walk brought together government representatives, organisations of persons with disabilities, disability rights advocates, and civil society to raise awareness about the rights, dignity, equality, and inclusion of persons with disabilities under the theme: “Nothing About Us Without Us”.
The Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities (DWYPD) is responsible for driving Government’s empowerment agenda in terms of those living with disabilities. However, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) partners with the DWYPD to strengthen commitment towards inclusive quality education in Early Childhood Education Centres, Special Care Centres, Special Schools, and Public Ordinary Schools.
Persons with disabilities are equal rights-holders who must enjoy the same human rights, fundamental freedoms, and opportunities as all other South Africans to participate fully and equally in all aspects of social, economic, political, and cultural life. South Africa observes DRAM annually between 3 November and 3 December, with 3 December culminating in International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year’s theme is: “Creating Strategic Multisectoral Partnerships for a Disability-Inclusive Society” and remains grounded in South Africa’s constitutional commitment to equality and non-discrimination, the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Leading up to DRAM, Blind SA, in celebrating their 80 years anniversary (1946–2026) of advocacy and empowerment, hosted the Inclusive Early Childhood Development (ECD) Conference from 28 to 29 October at the Manhattan Hotel in Pretoria, creating space for meaningful dialogue on building a more inclusive future for children with disabilities under the theme “Leaving No Child Behind | Vision 2030”. From early identification and intervention to inclusive education, accessible learning resources and caregiver support, the Conference highlighted the importance of working together to ensure that every child has an opportunity to learn, grow and reach their full potential.
Dr Janeli Kotzé, Director for Early Childhood Development at the DBE, was one of the featured speakers. She said that inclusion must begin in the earliest years of a child's life. Early Childhood Development, early identification, intervention, inclusive education, and accessible learning resources for blind and visually impaired children will contribute towards building a more inclusive future for children to thrive. Along with the Inclusive Education Directorate under Mr Jabulani Ngcobo, achieving inclusive universal access to quality early learning by 2030 for the expansion of early learning opportunities remains a priority for early childhood development, where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, participate and thrive, regardless of disability. Dr Kotzé invited all partners as part of the social compact, to collaborate as champions of inclusion, accessibility, and equal opportunities from the earliest years.