Exciting developments are underway that could transform the lives of persons with disabilities, including our blind and visually impaired community. The Protection and Promotion of Persons with Disabilities Bill, published by the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) on October 1, 2024, is a landmark draft legislation aimed at fulfilling South Africa’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). This Bill is a great development, and we encourage our members to engage with its development.

What Does the Bill Aim to Achieve?
The Bill seeks to create a comprehensive legal framework to ensure equality, accessibility, and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. Its key aims include:

• Eliminating Discrimination: Prohibiting unfair treatment in education, employment, healthcare, and public services, with special protections for vulnerable groups like women and girls with disabilities.
• Ensuring Accessibility: Mandating universal access to public spaces, transportation, and information, including formats like braille, large print, and South African Sign Language.
• Promoting Inclusion: Supporting inclusive education in mainstream schools, workplace accommodations, and access to social services to empower our community.
• Empowering Participation: Amplifying the voices of persons with disabilities in policy-making, ensuring we lead the charge for change.
• Robust Implementation: Establishing clear mechanisms to coordinate and monitor progress across government sectors, addressing past policy failures.

For our blind and visually impaired members, this Bill could mean better access to assistive technologies, inclusive education, and safer, more accessible public transport; a vital step toward independence and dignity.
Retina South Africa made comments to the law reform commission on how this draft bill could be strengthened even further. To Read our comments, please click here.

Timelines
After the comment period, which closed on the 3oth of April 2025, the SALRC will refine the draft based on submissions and present it to Parliament in 2025. While the exact timeline for implementation depends on parliamentary processes, the goal is to enact the law as soon as possible to address urgent needs.

For more information, visit the SALRC website or reach out to our advocacy team.