By Lebone Rodah Mosima
eThekwini Municipality said it has set aside more than R2.1 million for disability sector programmes in its proposed 2026/27 budget, with a further R13 million allocated to sustain the Dial-A-Ride service for people with disabilities.
The city disclosed the funding during a draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget consultation with the disability sector at the Olive Convention Centre this weekend, where officials presented the proposed R74.7 billion budget alongside the municipality’s Spatial Development Framework (SDF) priorities.
The municipality said the funding for disability sector programmes would support “empowerment, awareness, diversity, and education-focused strategic programmes and initiatives”, while the Dial-A-Ride allocation would provide ongoing transport support to persons with disabilities.
Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni said the city was aware of the challenges facing the disability sector and that consultations of this nature helped it develop practical responses, particularly on employment.
“Job creation strategies must actively consider persons with disabilities, not as beneficiaries on the margins, but as active participants in the economy,” she said.
“We have a clear obligation to ensure that development is inclusive, accessible, and equitable.”
The municipality said the SDF prioritises economic development, protection of environmentally sensitive areas, tackling poverty and unemployment, and improving access to jobs, social services and transport.
It said the draft IDP includes an eight-point plan aligned with the budget and aimed at achieving the city’s vision of becoming “the most caring and liveable city by 2030”.
The draft budget was developed with a focus on reforming trading services, addressing service delivery backlogs and upgrading infrastructure, the municipality said.
Myeni said people attending the consultation brought “lived experience, practical insight, and solutions that no document or technical team can fully replicate without their involvement” and urged the sector to identify barriers, service gaps and areas where opportunities could be expanded.
The municipality said participants welcomed the engagement but also raised concerns about accessibility, housing, transport, service delivery, education linked to special schools, and employment qualifying criteria.
INSIDE METROS
