Persons with disabilities speak out against ‘discrimination’

Students with disabilities at PCD College in Pretoria have filed a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), alleging racism and discrimination.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing electrical engineering students claim they’re treated differently from their white and able-bodied peers. They say they are forced to do unrelated tasks like farm work and picking up papers.

The students claim that this work was not part of their initial learnership agreements with private companies.

They say while white students are allowed to use facilities such as lawn chairs and microwaves to warm their food, black students are forced to sit on the grass, eating with ants that often get into their food.

The Neema Foundation, a deaf advocacy group, is supporting the students and urging differently abled youth to know their rights and speak out against injustices.

The foundation’s ED, Fatima Cele, spoke with YNews and emphasised the need for sign language interpreters in public institutions.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Neema Foundation for the Deaf (@neemafoundationnpo)

Cele also urged authorities to ensure that sign language is taught at schools from an early age to promote inclusivity.

She believes this would help deaf individuals feel less isolated and more empowered to advocate for themselves.

YNews awaits a response from the school’s legal representatives on the allegations levelled against it and Afrox, the company sponsoring the learnerships. Written by Naomi Kobbie