Some Capetonians set for peaceful protest to raise concerns over Dial-a-Ride service

CAPE TOWN - Some Capetonians are set to take to the streets in a peaceful protest on Monday to raise their concerns with the city’s Dial-a-Ride service, a dedicated kerb-to-kerb service for people with disabilities who are unable to access mainstream public transport services.

Earlier in August, the City of Cape Town announced it would be changing the eligibility criteria for disabled persons who use the service as a result of budget constraints.

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The new criteria mean that only those with severe walking impairments will be able to use the service to be transported to and from places of work.

Those who stand in solidarity with people living with disabilities are expected to gather at the Artscape’s parking area and march to the Civic Centre.

Cape Town’s MMC for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, said they had approached national government to ask for funding to try to keep the service operating in its current form, but have not received any additional funding yet.

The acting treasurer of the Western Cape Network on Disability, Anthony Ghillino, said that he believes consultations with the city are needed for a sustainable solution.

"There was no consultation and no discussion, so we question where’s the transparency. In the disability sector, there is a very strong saying - nothing about us without us. The sector was not consulted. This has been imposed upon us."

Around 2,000 people are expected to be affected by this decision that will come into effect on 8 September.