Some heritage sites not disabled-friendly
A NUMBER of heritage and historical sites around Nelson Mandela Bay are no-go areas for people with physical disabilities.
The sites are inaccessible, difficult to navigate and clearly not designed to be disabled-friendly.
This was revealed after a Weekend Post tour of 50 of the city’s more popular sites.
The tour revealed that 15 of the sites lacked the most basic requirements needed for physically disabled people.
Some of the problems include a lack of wheelchair ramps and toilets, no information plaques in braille or rails to assist those who struggle to walk.
Association for Persons with Physical Disabilities director Brian Bezuidenhout confirmed most of the Bay’s heritage and historical sites excluded a large number of the disabled community.
“The sites are significant. We believe the authorities should commit to making changes that will allow accessibility to all people,” he said.
About 70 000 disabled people live in Nelson Mandela Bay, with the number making up 5% of the city’s population.
“The rights of people with disabilities are enshrined in the constitution and on that basis we are legally bounded to implement it.”
He urged the government to take stock and “do something” to fix the problem.
The Weekend Post tour showed that even:
The Port Elizabeth Main Library in Govan Mbeki Avenue does not have a ramp for wheelchairs;
The Rudolph Street Mosque and St Augustine Church in Whites Road also do not have access for wheelchairs; and
The graves of Raymond Mhlaba, Govan Mbeki and the Pebco Three (Sipho Hashe, Champion Galela and Qaqawuli Gondolozi) are not easily accessible for anyone with disabilities.
Physically disabled activist Willie Bosch urged the municipality to start looking into the issue. He said they would resort to court action if the municipality did not fix the problem.
“It is important that we protect our heritage. If they spend so much money on them, why are they not accessible for people with disabilities?
“If they do not know what to do, let them approach us and we will tell them what is required,” Bosch said.
In 2006, Bosch championed the cause of disabled people when he hauled the then South African Police Service Minister Jackie Selebi before the Equality Court.
The minister was compelled to install a lift and ramp at Kabega Park Police Station.
Municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki failed to comment on the issue of heritage and historical sites being no-go areas for people with physical disabilities.