Department supports Casual Day campaign

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) supports the Casual Day campaign, run by the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).

The MEC of Social Development, Albert Fritz, led the charge in purchasing his Casual Day Sticker, and encouraged officials within the department to support the initiative, which has been in existence for the last 23 years.

The campaign is run annually on the first Friday of every September. Casual Day stickers are bought and sold at just R10, with the participation of approximately 4 500 companies, 100 schools and 400 organizations rendering services to persons with disabilities.

DSD supports this initiative as part of our broader support for people living with disabilities. A total of R163.7-million is allocated this financial year for services to people with disabilities.

Over the MTEF period an additional R138.9-million (R138 923 000) has been invested, bringing our total spending to just over R512-million.

The teams working within the Disability Programme, including the newly established Disability Desk, have begun to put in place truly ground-breaking and innovative projects.

Our Disability Desk, run by Mr. Jeremy Opperman, himself a blind man, has already begun work on improving access to all government buildings, and is the go-to for all disabled Western Cape Government staff.

The Department funds 35 residential facilities in the province, and is working to expand day-care facilities for disabled children and adults. To mainstream services, the Department initiated a referral pathway for children and youth with disabilities that will improve the efficiency of services to these vulnerable young people. We have also established, and will expand the Provincial & Local Parental Support Structures in partnership with our NPO partners.

Work is underway to expand existing bed space at three facilities catering for intellectual disabilities. We are in discussion with;

·         Agape Ministries in Worcester for 30 additional beds,

·         Die Eiland Huis in St. Helena Bay for 30 additional beds,

·         Sivuyile in Maitland for 20 additional beds.

We encourage the public to support Casual Day, and more importantly to donate their time and money to registered NGOs rendering services to people with disabilities.