Government continues to promote the pride of persons with disability through various sports games.
On Saturday, more than 500 persons living with disability across all five regions in Gauteng converged at the Isak Styl Stadium in Vanderbijlpark to participate in the 2019 provincial Disability Sports Games.
The Disability Sports Games was planned as part of activities to celebrate the Disability rights awareness month which were aimed at promoting the inclusion of all Persons living with Disabilities as equal citizens in communities by showing their talent and recognising that they are differently abled.
According to the Director for Special Needs and Services to Families Ms Khanyisile Mathebula government remain committed to the vision of the creation of a free and just society which is inclusive of all persons with disabilities as equal citizens. She reaffirmed government's commitment to persons with disabilities, their rights and development.
"As government, we take the plight of persons with disabilities seriously. We value and acknowledge your contribution in our society, this is your day, have fun and interactive day", she said.
Mathebula stressed that the celebration of disability rights is in line with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities which was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3 in 1992 and which falls within the disability month.
"Government is determined to promote the advancement of disability rights, this is to ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind as resonated in the disability rights movement slogan 'Nothing about us without us'," concluded director Khanyisile Mathebula.
Two young girls Emihle Mbotho (16) who is on crushes and Nosipho Hlatswayo (19) who is on a wheelchair both from Adelaide Tambo School for the Physically Challenged said that they appreciate what government is doing for them and the day helps them to realise that they are being taken seriously.
"We appreciate this day because it is beneficial to us as people with disability. Taking part in sport is beneficial to us. Ordinarily people who participate in sports enjoy psychological benefits like good self-esteem, confidence and start to believe in themselves," said Nosipho Hlatswayo who plays wheelchair tennis.​