An understanding of the collective experiences of unemployed people with disabilities engaged in an employment assisted programme in the Eastern Cape (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 2021
The promise of a better life for all made by the South African government in 1994 remains unfulfilled, as many South Africans are still living in the margins of the economy where unemployment and poverty are rampant. People living with disabilities (PLWDs) are the worst affected, as they are poor with no access to jobs and housing. Despite the enactment of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) Number 55 of 1988, employment opportunities for black PLWDs are scarce in South Africa. This is due to, among other reasons, the fact that employers are reluctant to employ disabled people. This narrative study examined the experiences of black people living with disabilities (PLWDs) in Soshanguve Township, Tshwane, South Africa. It employed the symbolic interactionist (SI) theory as a lens to gain insights into the experiences of black women and men living with disabilities in their quest to access employment opportunities. The study was exploratory qualitative in nature and employed the case study design approach. Data were collected using a purposive sample of 15 black men and women living with disabilities in the Soshanguwe Township with whom in-depth interviews were conducted. This was complemented by focus group interviews with 13 purposively selected respondents who met the selection criteria. Findings were that people living with disabilities (PLWDs) were discriminated against and marginalised in employment and the workplace before and after post–apartheid South Africa. This situation leaves them inactive, economically disadvantaged and poor. The study expands knowledge on the experiences of black men and women who live with disabilities, thereby contributing towards the design of public policies and other social security interventions meant to alleviate the plight of marginalised communities in general and people living with disabilities.
2013
Professor Frank Horwitz, for finding time in his very busy schedule to supervise the start of my thesis. Dr Linda Ronnie for agreeing to be my co-supervisor when Professor Horwitz emigrated. Professor Seyi Ladele (Dele) Amosun for being my co-supervisor, for all his encouragement, belief, support, and understanding of my work. My participants for their willingness to share their life stories and experiences so openly. Without their enthusiasm and involvement, this research would not have been possible. William Daniels and Amina Adam of the Research Commons for their technical support, assistance and encouragement. Professor Andre Görgens for his assistance with regard to the structure and content of my thesis. Elise Varga for her very thorough editing and valuable comments. Dr Brian Watermeyer for his friendship, perspective, ongoing support and advice. Tristan Görgens for his input, support and proofreading. The Harry Crossley Foundation, for the doctoral research funding that made this study possible, their belief in my work, and their ongoing support and encouragement. My parents Anne and Derek Coop their support and encouragement, technical advice, tireless babysitting, and endless editing and proofreading. My wonderful husband Vic McKinney for all of his love, enduring support, perspective and endless editing of my final drafts of my thesis. Without his support, this work would not have been possible, and I dedicate this thesis to him and our baby son James.
Employing people with disabilities in South Africa
2011
Key words: people with disabilities, attitudes towards People With Disabilities, employment of people with disabilities South Africa has developed policy and legislation to overcome barriers that people with disabilities face in the labour force, yet there remain practical issues relating to the implementation of these policies. This research aimed at identifying the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions and experiences of employers when hiring People with Disabilities (PWDs). Two organisations were selected using a purposive sampling method where interviews were conducted based on a completed questionnaire. It was found that there was a lack of knowledge about disability and although there were negative attitudes presented toward disabled people from fellow employees as well as physical barriers to their employment within the organisations, there were also clear benefits. These benefits were related to among others, the positive contribution made by the employees with a disability.
Understanding Issues of People Living With Disabilities in South Africa
Journal of Asian and African Studies, 2013
The problem of disabilities is growing all over the world. Nevertheless, some progress has been made since the year 1981 was proclaimed International Year of Disabled Persons. In 2001 people living with disabilities accounted for 5% of the South African population. Because of their disabilities or the perception society has regarding their potential, this population is mostly economically inactive. This study assesses the relationship between disabilities and the adverse socio-economic impacts. Both descriptive and logistics regression models are used to understand the problem by exploring the data of the 2006 South African General Household Survey. The overall people living with disabilities and aged 15–49 years is estimated at 1742 (961 males and 780 females), when exploring people with disabilities findings reveal that the Western Cape Province’s disabled are mostly affected by physical disabilities (40%). People living with disabilities are 3.5 times ( p < 0.01) more likely t...
2015
Access to work for disabled persons in South Africa: The intersections of social understandings of disability, substantive equality and access to social security Meryl Candice du Plessis February 2015 This thesis examines possible synergies and points of friction between understandings of disability that emphasise its social contingency and jurisprudential debates on substantive equality and access to social security in the context of the promotion of access to work for disabled persons in South Africa. In consequence of an analysis of theoretical debates in the field of disability studies and how these find application in the sphere of employment equity law, it is concluded that, while social