Across South Africa, important work is being done every day to advance the rights, dignity and inclusion of persons with disabilities. Government departments, private sector companies, non-profit organisations, activists and community leaders continue to drive initiatives that improve lives and expand access.
Yet much of this work still happens in silos. Programmes, innovations and support systems remain disconnected, limiting their broader impact and making it harder for information to reach the people who need it most, particularly those in rural and underserved communities.
It is against this backdrop that Disability365 Network was founded.
Led by Thato Mokoena, Disability365 Network is a South African disability advocacy and empowerment initiative committed to promoting inclusion, accessibility, information sharing and transformation across society. Its platform, Disability365 Podcast, amplifies the voices and experiences of persons with disabilities while strengthening collaboration between the disability sector, government, business and broader society.
On 30 April 2026, Disability365 Podcast was officially launched in Pretoria. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Mapaseka Steve Letsike, representatives from the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, and disability stakeholders from across South Africa.
Deputy Minister Letsike was direct about what the initiative represents.
“The rights of persons with disabilities are a fundamental right. They are not a luxury. They are essential. This podcast will inform policy work, inform programmes, but it will also celebrate persons with disabilities. We are thirty-two years into freedom, with a Constitution that speaks to non-discrimination, equality and dignity. Podcasts like this must be supported. We call on government, the private sector and allies to stand with this work.”
The launch represented more than the beginning of a podcast. It signalled the start of a broader movement aimed at creating a stronger, more unified voice for persons with disabilities in South Africa.
The vision behind Disability365 is rooted in a simple but urgent belief: sustainable inclusion cannot be achieved through isolated conversations or fragmented efforts. Meaningful change requires collaboration, unified advocacy and shared access to information and opportunity.
The organisation also places strong emphasis on justice and protection for women and children with disabilities who have experienced abuse, exploitation and gender-based violence. For Disability365,
inclusion must mean dignity and safety as much as access and representation.
On 25 May 2026, Disability365 Podcast released its first episode, titled “Information as the Missing Key to Inclusion”. The episode explored how limited access to information continues to drive exclusion, particularly in rural communities and among smaller organisations disconnected from opportunities and support systems.
Disability365 Network operates under the motto: “We Talk. We Act. We Transform.”
Since its launch, the initiative has drawn support from disability organisations and stakeholders across South Africa, as well as interest from stakeholders in other African countries looking to adopt similar approaches to disability dialogue and inclusion.
Its mission is clear: to help build a united, informed and empowered society where persons with disabilities are fully represented and fully able to participate in every aspect of life.