October marks a significant moment of reflection and responsibility in South Africa’s journey toward greater inclusion. While South Africa officially observes National Disability Rights Awareness Month from 3 November to 3 December, ACTIVATE! Change Drivers has chosen to begin this conversation early through its A! Diversity campaign. The campaign dedicates October to deepening awareness, challenging stereotypes, and placing people living with disabilities at the centre of social participation.
The campaign arrives at a time when inclusion cannot remain an abstract value. According to Statistics South Africa’s 2024 report, approximately six per cent of the national population lives with a form of disability. Behind that figure are individuals whose daily experiences are shaped by physical and social barriers. These barriers limit not only access to buildings or education. They limit dignity, opportunity and full citizenship.
Disability and South African Law
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa enshrines human dignity, equality and
freedom from discrimination as foundational principles. Section 9 of the Constitution
recognises disability as a ground on which unfair discrimination may not take place. Section
10 goes further and affirms the inherent dignity of every person. These are not abstract legal ideals. They form the moral framework of the nation’s social contract. In addition to these, Chapter 9 of the Constitution established, among other institutions, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which is mandated to protect and promote human rights. The Commission continues to highlight the gap between policy and lived reality for persons with disabilities. The SAHRC’s 2017 Research Brief on Disability and Equality underscored that the denial of access, whether to education, healthcare or employment, constitutes a form of systemic discrimination. The Commission has since urged all sectors to adopt the principle of ‘universal design’, ensuring that physical and informational spaces are usable by everyone, regardless of ability. By doing so, the SAHRC reminds South Africa that equality is not achieved by accommodation after exclusion. It is achieved by inclusion from the outset.
To support employers and institutions in this task, the SAHRC has developed practical
resources such as the ‘Disability Toolkit for Employers' and the booklet on Human Rights and Persons with Disabilities. These tools offer guidance on workplace inclusion,
accessibility standards, and the legal obligation of employers under the Employment Equity
Act, and other frameworks. These resources are freely available on the SAHRC website and
serve as valuable references for organisations committed to creating equitable environments.
The South African government reinforced this constitutional commitment in 2015, through
the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The White Paper provides a
policy roadmap for removing barriers and creating inclusive communities. It calls for
reasonable accommodation in public institutions, accessible infrastructure, and the
representation of persons with disabilities in all decision-making spaces. Importantly, it affirms that inclusion is not an act of charity. It is a matter of justice and equality before the law.
Equality and International Law
South Africa’s domestic commitments are also shaped by its international obligations. As a
signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(CRPD), the country has joined the global movement to ensure the equal treatment of people living with disabilities. The CRPD’s guiding principles, which include respect for dignity, non-discrimination, full participation, accessibility and equality of opportunity, are echoed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goals 4, 8, and 10. These goals focus on inclusive education, decent work, and reducing inequalities.
The UN Disability Inclusion Strategy provides further guidance. It urges states and
organisations to mainstream disability considerations into all programmes, budgets, and
policies. It recognises that persons with disabilities are not a marginal constituency. They are a cross-cutting demographic that must be included in every sphere, from climate resilience and education to employment and digital access. These frameworks matter because they transform goodwill, not obligation. They remind governments, businesses, and civil society alike that disability rights are human rights.
The Gap between Law and Lived Realities
Despite legislative progress, the lived experience of many South Africans with disabilities
tells a story of exclusion. South Africa’s rate of youth unemployment currently sits at 70%.
According to the Department of Employment and Labour, out of 27 532 employment equity
reports covering 7.2 million employees, only 1.2% of such employees were persons with
disabilities. Young people with disabilities are faced with a steep climb. They have to
navigate the aforementioned reality, social isolation, inaccessible environments, and limited
visibility in leadership spaces. The National Youth Policy (2020-2030), a cross-sectoral
policy, recognises these disparities and has called for targeted interventions to increase
representation, accessibility, and support. Yet the policy’s success depends on sustained civic and organisational commitment. It requires youth networks, institutions, and citizens to internalise inclusion as part of their identity and everyday ethic, not only as a yearly
campaign. It is within this context that ACTIVATE! Change Drivers do their work.
A Call to Action to the Youth and the Government
Disability Rights awareness is not merely about empathy. Raising awareness, therefore, must go beyond annual observances. It involves re-examining everyday practices: the design of public buildings, the accessibility of information, the representation in media, and the attitude with which people engage difference. It also requires honest dialogue between policymakers and young South Africans who are demanding a more inclusive nation. Young people are calling for a nation where ability is not measured by physical capacity but by contribution and character.
As South Africa moves from October’s awareness efforts into the official Disability Rights
Awareness Month in November and December, the message remains the same: inclusion is
not seasonal. It is a constitutional promise, a global mandate and a moral necessity.
In a country still healing from structural inequality, true transformation depends on how
society treats those who are often overlooked. The challenge for South Africans, especially
young leaders, is to turn awareness into action, policy into practice and rights into reality.
By initiating its A! Diversity campaign, ACTIVATE! Change Drivers has demonstrated that
inclusion begins with intentionality, with choosing to see, to listen and to design differently. It is a reminder that every citizen has a role to play in building a South Africa where no one is left behind.