Hon Speaker, the IFP today calls on the Human Rights Commission to urgently take note of the conduct of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University after it denied admission to three blind matriculants from a school for the blind in Mthatha, who dreamt of pursuing their studies and who are now devastated by the university's decision.
It seriously calls into question the government's commitments made in this House yesterday that it is complying with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and that it is doing everything possible to ensure that children with disabilities enjoy equal rights. The fact remains that people with disabilities are still sidelined in our society and often treated as second-class citizens.
The IFP denounces this university's decision. What has made matters worse is that the Deputy Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities acknowledged during a recent visit to the university that the university does not have the necessary facilities to accommodate sight and hearing impaired students, yet nothing has happened to date. While this incident has caught the media attention, there are scores of learners with disabilities that face similar challenges on a daily basis.
The IFP calls on the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities and also on the Minister of Higher Education and Training to urgently intervene in this matter. Furthermore, they must conduct an urgent audit of how many tertiary institutions are failing disabled students by not allowing them access and the necessary assistance to further their studies, which dashes their hopes and their chances of living meaningful lives. I thank you.