Disability in South Africa is becoming a key milestone, where its force is being recognised in the employment equity. As a result to this Siyakha Consulting is embarking to tackle disabilities in the workplace.
Various research has been undertaken and statistics compiled on the status of disability in South Africa.
In the region, five million South Africans are disabled. This equates approximately to one in ten South Africans, despite this, less than 1percent of all people employed in this country are those with disabilities.
According to a media statement issued by Siyakha Consulting, the Chief Executive Officer Dionne Kerr says: “Although often unclear and sometimes contradictory, the fact remains that a significant number of people in SA are living with a disability.”
The accepted legal definition of disability is “a condition caused by an accident or trauma or genetics or disease, which limits a person's mobility, hearing, vision, speech and intellectual or emotional function.”
In terms of the employment equity act, as it stands now, the definition of disability is, “people with disability are people who have a long-term or recurring physical, including sensory, or mental impairment which substantially limits their prospect of entry into or advancement in employment.”
Further in the statement Kerr says, “The current guideline on disabled persons in a company's workforce is 2 percent. However, in terms of anticipated legislation due out this year, we are expecting the guideline to become legislated and to be increased to 4 percent.”
Siyakha Consulting therefore offers key services in this arena to its clients. It also runs regular workshops where it provides a full outline of disability in the South African workplace, feedback from which is that these are imperative for any human resources professional.
Kerr added that “We are a market leading, disability recruitment company with a wide database of candidates which is updated on a regular basis.”
“Siyakha sources candidates through our relationships with many disability organisations, as well as directly, ensuring that we are able to offer our clients suitable candidates on an ongoing basis,” she adds. – IOL