As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month under the theme “Building
Resilient Economies for All”, let us reflect on the progress made toward
economic inclusion and the work that still lies ahead. While many initiatives
aim to uplift women in business, education, and leadership, a critical question
remains: Is our economy truly resilient if some groups of women remain
excluded from full participation?
This question becomes even more pressing when we consider
women with disabilities, who continue to face layered barriers that limit their
safety, autonomy, and economic empowerment.
As a woman with a disability, I have come to understand
that economic inclusion cannot happen in isolation from safety. For women with
disabilities, economic security is not just about access to jobs or capital; it
is also about being able to move safely through public spaces, to trust in the
justice system, to live without fear of violence, and to be treated with
dignity in workplaces and learning environments.
Too often, safety is treated as optional. The reality is
that many women with disabilities live in a constant state of vulnerability.
Many environments — whether public transport, offices, or classrooms — are
built without accessibility in mind. The emotional toll of being ignored,
misunderstood, or mistreated can lead to isolation and loss of confidence.
The Department has taken significant strides toward
building resilient economies for all through employing 3.9% of people with
disabilities, of whom 65% are women. Furthermore, the Department is providing
assistive transport for employees with disabilities to get to and from work
reliably, enabling them to fully participate in the workforce.
However, there is still more work to be done. To build a
truly resilient and inclusive economy, government must expand its efforts to
partner with businesses owned by women with disabilities. Government employees
must also undergo sign language training, particularly those in law
enforcement, to ensure effective communication, protect the rights of the deaf
community, and foster greater trust between public services and all citizens.
So, this Women’s Month, the question we must ask is not
just how resilient our economy is, but for whom. Government systems must
intensify efforts to amplify the voices and experiences of women with
disabilities, ensuring that those who have been left out for far too long are
included. True resilience is shared resilience.
Creating a society where no one’s safety, dignity, or
potential is negotiable starts by making visible the invisible, and by
including those who have been excluded for far too long.