Press Release, Cape Town, 20 April 2007

The CEO of the Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities, Mr AK Dube, has challenged the private sector to acknowledge and reward organisations of persons with disabilities promoting economic development and mainstream business.

Speaking at a special ceremony today to reward the Magnum Shield security company personnel based at the Pinnacle Building in Cape Town, A. K. Dube thanked the company for deploying staff that are knowledgeable about the needs of persons with disabilities. The security personnel have demonstrated a high level of awareness about the needs of persons with disabilities who work in the Pinnacle Building and members of the public with disabilities who visit the building and the Secretariat for various business purposes.

A. K. Dube awarded the Magnum Shield security company a financial contribution to a special occasion associated with the security personnel based at the Pinnacle Building.

He challenged travel agents, hotels and other suppliers who work with the Secretariat to contribute funding and other resources needed to support the programmes that benefit mainstream business.

“For instance, we need our travel agents and airlines to understand that the more than R1.9 million that we spent on travelling was obtained after a lot of hard work in South Africa and overseas. Companies should support us, say by giving us air-tickets and accommodation packages, that enable us to work even harder for the mutual benefit of these established businesses and the Secretariat”, A.K. Dube said.

“Similarly, we have spent huge amounts of money on postal services, courier charges, purchasing of equipment and utilities. We challenge the companies in these sectors to assist the Secretariat as well. It is an opportunity for them to give something back to the disability movement, and to demonstrate a social responsibility.”

“Lastly, big companies are involved in industries such as mining, agriculture, telecommunications and medicine. These are areas in which persons with disabilities have a great deal of interest not only as consumers, but as potential suppliers or employees. We challenge them to utilise this resource. Persons with disabilities are punctual, highly productive, committed and loyal to employers.”

“It is essential that big business and particularly those doing business in Africa, realise and harness this potential and support programmes that unlock the value in persons with disabilities. It will benefit the whole society”, Mr Dube continued.  

The Secretariat runs programmes on capacity building, policy development and implementation, HIV/AIDS and gender. We establish national disability steering committees and support the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“Support to these programmes is crucial to the improvement in the quality of life of persons with disabilities. The inclusion of persons with disabilities in all sectors of society will generate more economic activity and benefit big businesses”, A.K. Dube concluded.

For companies that are ready to take on this challenge, contact AK Dube directly, at

The Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (SADPD)

Tel: 021-426 5858
Email: info@africandecade.co.za or akdube@africandecade.co.za
Address: 8 Burg St, 10^th Floor the Pinnacle Building, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.

For more information, visit www.africandecade.org.za, and click on the Secretariat.

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The media can request high resolution photos from the ceremony at the Pinnacle Building by contacting Lina Lindblom: lina@africandecade.co.za

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The African Decade of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed by the African Union for the period 1999-2009. The main goals of the African Decade are to raise awareness about the situation of the estimated 80 million persons with disabilities in the region, and to identify solutions tailored to the African experience that enhance participation, equality and empowerment of Africans with disabilities.