​By Sithembile Sithole
The National Department of Transport hosted the 2024 Transport Summit on Universal Accessibility to chart a way forward in improving access to all modes of public transport for people with disabilities.
 Government has embarked on a process to ensure that transport is sufficiently accessible to all categories of passengers, including persons with disabilities.
President Ramaphosa, Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disability Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga expressed a shared vision on universal access aimed at introducing a public transport system that is accessible to everyone irrespectively of their physical abilities or economic status.
 It is also attended by the forward-thinking minds in the field, from government - the Presidential Working Group on Disability- at the forefront of policy making, the taxi industry to advocates who tirelessly agitate for the rights of those who live with disabilities and the economically disadvantaged.
In her welcoming address, MEC Diale-Tlabela highlighted Gauteng’s responsibility as an economic hub to be aware of “the huge responsibility that the province is equivalent to a hen that lays a boiled egg for South African citizens. Gauteng needs to be among the first to comply with the constitutional requirement to remain on top as the economic hub of South Africa”.
 She added that “one of the key responsibilities is to ensure that in this province no one is left behind. We are particularly conscious of the constitutional responsibility to ensure that discrimination does not negate the rights of the residents of the province on account of sex, gender and disability”.
Minister Dlamini-Zuma outlined the background, context and expectations of her Department and Presidential Working Group on Disability.
She also extended her gratitude to the collective commitment of all present to the protection and promotion of rights of persons with disabilities.
“The rights and dignity of the persons with disabilities are a trend in our constitution”.
 We must ensure that people with disability access the physical environment including all modes of transportation and ensure that affordability as well as safety are considered”.
“Transport is key to the normal functioning of every society, and it is at the heart of the social and economic development of every nation” Transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said.

President Ramaphosa reaffirmed a commitment to build a nation founded on equality and the values of human rights. He said, “through the Presidential Working Group for People with disabilities, we have sought to ensure that the policies, programs and practices are inclusive and that persons with disabilities are able to participate freely in all aspects of our national lives”.