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by Khaya Magenu
05 March 2010
The Disabled People’s of South Africa are calling for taxis and buses to install alarms for people with disabilities.The call follows many incidents in which disabled people have been unable to communicate effectively with drivers or assistant drivers when using public transport, especially deaf or blind people.
The appeal was raised when the Department of Transport conducted a sign language awareness campaign for bus and taxi operators at Mount Ayliff taxi rank recently. Disabled People’s of South Africa Chairperson Bulelani Ndamse said that deaf or blind people are not recognised as a community with specific needs by some sectors of the public transport service.
“Sometimes, disabled people are instructed to sit at the back, but when you want to get out, nobody notices what you are trying to say when using sign language,” said Ndamse. He said that for this the reason, they asked government to install alarms in all public transport and sign languages must be learned by drivers and assistant drivers. Ndamse revealed that some public transport drivers are demanding that passengers with disabilities should pay double because of their wheelchairs.
The campaign for sign language awareness among bus and taxi operators has been launched and linked to the Department of Transport’s exhibition programme, seeking to take government to the people. The programme serves as a guide to eradicate all forms of marginalisation and discrimination against people with disabilities, in the public transport system. The main objectives of the programme are to create awareness through workshops, targeting taxi and bus drivers regarding a friendly and accessible public transport system towards people with disabilities’, especially those who are deaf and blind and to look to enhance sign language interpretation. This follows deliberations with Disabled South Africa, which concluded that shortcomings exist in communication with bus and taxi operators in regard to people with disabilities.
The Alfred Nzo Regional Taxi Chairperson, Sandile Sifolo said they are very happy about the workshop to seek solutions facing disable people. He said their owners, drivers and assistant drivers are ready to learn sign languages. With the 2010 Soccer World Cup fast approaching, the department believes that the project can assist to prepare public transport services providers, because people from all walks of life will be in the country and our province. Meanwhile Director of PublicTransport’s Phumzile Mayaphi says that they have identified factors, including operators not understanding sign language of terminal points for deaf people, negligence and not obeying disability loading and parking bay regulations, protection and courtesy towards disabled commuters and road safety signs for the deaf and blind. He also said that the training programme will start soon for taxis and bus operators.
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