EDS4801
ASSIGNMENT 1 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 6 MAY 2025
, 1.1 Historical Development of Disability Rights in South Africa
(30 Marks)
Apartheid Era: Exclusion and Institutionalized Care
During the apartheid period (1948–1994), South African government policies promoted
deep social divisions based on race, and these also negatively affected individuals with
disabilities. At the time, disability was mainly seen through the lens of the medical
model, which treated it as a personal problem or a condition to be "fixed" by doctors. As
a result, many people with disabilities were removed from society and placed in
institutions.
These facilities were not only racially segregated but also under-resourced, especially
for Black South Africans with disabilities, who faced multiple layers of discrimination.
Access to education, job opportunities, and public life was limited or non-existent. This
exclusion reinforced negative societal attitudes and pushed people with disabilities to
the margins.
Political activism for disability rights during apartheid was very limited due to the
oppressive regime. Still, some notable voices began to emerge. One such figure was
Vic Finkelstein, a South African activist who later moved to the UK. There, he helped
form the Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) and
promoted the social model of disability, which viewed disability as a result of social
barriers rather than individual impairments.
Democratic Transition: Rise of Disability Rights Advocacy
The late 1980s and early 1990s marked a turning point for disability advocacy in South
Africa. As the country moved toward democracy, people with disabilities began
organizing to ensure their voices were heard in the new political landscape. One key
development was the formation of Disabled People South Africa (DPSA) in 1984. This
ASSIGNMENT 1 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 6 MAY 2025
, 1.1 Historical Development of Disability Rights in South Africa
(30 Marks)
Apartheid Era: Exclusion and Institutionalized Care
During the apartheid period (1948–1994), South African government policies promoted
deep social divisions based on race, and these also negatively affected individuals with
disabilities. At the time, disability was mainly seen through the lens of the medical
model, which treated it as a personal problem or a condition to be "fixed" by doctors. As
a result, many people with disabilities were removed from society and placed in
institutions.
These facilities were not only racially segregated but also under-resourced, especially
for Black South Africans with disabilities, who faced multiple layers of discrimination.
Access to education, job opportunities, and public life was limited or non-existent. This
exclusion reinforced negative societal attitudes and pushed people with disabilities to
the margins.
Political activism for disability rights during apartheid was very limited due to the
oppressive regime. Still, some notable voices began to emerge. One such figure was
Vic Finkelstein, a South African activist who later moved to the UK. There, he helped
form the Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) and
promoted the social model of disability, which viewed disability as a result of social
barriers rather than individual impairments.
Democratic Transition: Rise of Disability Rights Advocacy
The late 1980s and early 1990s marked a turning point for disability advocacy in South
Africa. As the country moved toward democracy, people with disabilities began
organizing to ensure their voices were heard in the new political landscape. One key
development was the formation of Disabled People South Africa (DPSA) in 1984. This
