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Conference
Summation
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Access
2002 was organised by Omega in association with
Sakaza Communications and on behalf of the Western
Cape Government's Office on the Status of Disabled
Persons (WC OSDP) in the Office of the Premier.
The
two-day conference, attended by over 370 delegates,
was based around the theme of Access for the
disabled in the Western Cape Province of South
Africa, as it relates to economic empowerment,
education and training, mobility, with special
reference to the transport system, as well as social
development. The conference was regarded by many as
being the largest public conference on disability
ever to be held in South Africa and part of the
event's success can be attributed to the
fantastically diverse delegate participation from
the Government, Corporate Sector, NGOs and the
general public.
The
express objective of the event was to explore issues
of Access in the macro sense, to ensure that
society begins to recognise people with disabilities
as capable and productive members of their society,
who can, and do, contribute much to the community
economically, socially and politically. On
the individual level the conference focused on
assistive technologies and the potential to achieve
personal, educational and employment goals.
Other
areas of focus included Access to
opportunities and resources, not just mobility. Access
as it relates to healthcare, education, employment,
transport, resources, sport, housing, recreation,
social welfare, community development, social
security, rehabilitation, etc.
Access
2002, opened by the Premier of the Western Cape,
Marthinus van Schalkwyk, proved a tremendous success
in providing a much needed forum for deliberation
and discussion amongst the disabled communities and
various stakeholders of the province. It is
possible, that given the success of this pilot
initiative, the conference may well be held on a
more regular basis, likely to be bi-annually.
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Supported
by:
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ACCESS
2002
Conference on Partnership in Disability
MONDAY 7th October 2002
DAY
ONE
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08:30-09:00 |
Registration
and Refreshments |
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09:00-09:10 |
Welcome
& Introduction by Conference Chairman:
Jeremy Opperman, Consultant, Omega Investment Research (Pty) Ltd |
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09:10-09:30 |
Opening
address
Marthinus van Schalkwyk,
Premier of the Western Cape |
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Session
1: |
Economic
Empowerment
"How
does one convince employers / corporates that they stand everything to
gain by economically empowering persons with disabilities through
employment, training and business opportunities?
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Session
Chairperson: Andre Ward, Project
Manager: Economic Empowerment, National OSDP |
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09:30-09:50 |
Disability
Equity in the Public Service - A provincial response to the
recommendations from the Public Service Commission report
Dr Gilbert Lawrence,
Director-General, Western Cape Provincial Administration |
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09:50-10:10 |
Corporate
empowerment of persons with disabilities
Paul Myeza,
Senior
Manager: Claims and Underwriting, Momentum Collective Benefits |
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10:10-10:30 |
The
Commercialisation / Transformation of protective workshops
Kathy
Pahl,
National Director, Epilepsy South Africa |
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10:30-10:50 |
Panel
& Open Discussion
Chaired
by Andre Ward - Breaking down the barriers |
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10:50-11:10 |
Morning
Tea/Coffee |
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Session
2: |
Education
& Training
"Appropriate
and accessible education and training will lead to increased employment
opportunity and economic empowerment for both the disabled and abled."
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Session
Chairperson: Roy Silver, Chairperson,
Business for Good |
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11:10-11:30 |
Opening
Address:
Dr Matthi Theron,
Director: Specialised Education Support Services, Department of
Education, Western Cape |
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11:30-11:50 |
Realities
of access barriers to education and training
Dr
C.A. Coetzee,
Deputy Director:
Specialised Education Support Services, Department of
Education, Western Cape |
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11:50-12:10 |
Incentives
for skills development
Beatrice Koopman,
Business for Good |
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12:10-12:30 |
What
education and training incentives, bursaries etc are available and what
is still needed to make it accessible to the thousands of disabled.
1.
Barend Connan, Assistant
Manager: Employment and Skills Development Services, Department
of Labour, Western Cape
2.
Moonira
Khan,
Director HR Department, Department of Health, Western Cape Provincial
Administration |
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12:30-12:50 |
Panel
& Open Discussion
Chaired by Roy Silver |
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12:50-13:50 |
Luncheon
- Sponsored by Momentum Collective Benefits |
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Session
3: |
Universal
Access
"There
is an urgent need for rapid progress in establishing a public transport
system that is flexible and accessible. Without this people with
disabilities will remain
largely invisible and unable to contribute economically or to benefit
from, the services and commercial activities available to most fellow
South Africans."
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Session
Chairperson: Philip
Thompson, Chairman, Federal Council on Disabilities |
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13:50-14:10 |
Opening
Address:
Tasneem
Essop,
Minister of Transport, Public Works, Poverty Management, Western Cape |
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14:10-14:25 |
The
Western Cape - Current Unicity developments
Ron Kingma,
Interim Manager: Public Transport, City of Cape Town |
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14:25-14:40 |
A
sector perspective on Universal Access
Philip
Thompson,
Chairman,
Federal Council on Disabilities |
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14:40-14:55 |
Making
rail transport accessible, safe and convenient for all
Riana Jacobs,
Marketing and Communication Manager, Metrorail Western Cape |
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14:55-15:20 |
Panel
& Open Discussion
Chaired by Philip Thompson, Chairman, Federal Council on
Disabilities |
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15:20-15:35 |
Afternoon
Tea/Coffee |
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Session
4: |
Social
Development
"Persons
with disabilities should have equal access to participate in society as
well as the appropriate support to enable them to realise these
expectations. The social developmental needs of disabled persons should
therefore be recognised and included in strategies that are aimed at the
development and reconstruction of society."
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Session
Chairperson: Sharon
Follentine, Director, Social Services |
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15:35-15:55 |
Inter-sectoral
Response to Social Development
Virginia Petersen,
Head of Department of Social Services, Western Cape |
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15:55-16:15 |
Motivation
for the masses
Advocate Rod Solomons,
Acting Head: Department of Sport, Western Cape |
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16:15-16:35 |
Access,
awareness-raising and the arts
Sandra
Eastwood, Special Needs Museum Consultant |
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16:35-16:55 |
Health
Challenges facing the disabled - Access to health & HIV Aids
education targeting the disabled.
Esme
Kennel,
Deputy Director: Directorate Chronic Care of the Elderly, Home base Care
& Rehabilitation, Directorate Programme Development, Department of
Health Western Cape |
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16:55-17:10 |
Panel
& Open Discussion
Chaired by Sharon Follentine, Director, Social Services |
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17:10 |
Day
One Summary & Closure
Jeremy
Opperman
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18:00-20:00 |
Post
conference Cheese & Wine and Networking Opportunity Sponsored
by Old Mutual |
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ACCESS
2002
Conference on Partnership in Disability
TUESDAY 8th October 2002
DAY
TWO |
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08:00-08:30
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Registration
and Refreshments
Workshop Allocation / Registration
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08:45-09:00
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Address
by Conference Chairman:
Jeremy Opperman, Consultant, Omega Investment Research
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Interactive
Workshops
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09:00-10:00
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SESSION
ONE
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1.1
: Access barriers to employment
opportunities and partnerships - A disability consumer movement
perspective
Facilitator
and leading discussion: Ingrid Daniels, Director, Cape Mental
Health Society
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Manie
Meesterman,
Member, Fountain House
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Anthony
Keenan,
Member, Fountain House
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Tobie
le Roux, Rehabilitation
Worker, Fountain House
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1.2:
Training and Education - a critical ingredient to disability
empowerment (Latest programmes etc)
Facilitator
and leading discussion: Beatrice Koopman, Business for Good
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1.3:
Disability equity in the public service A panel discussion on the
practical challenges
Facilitator:
Bernard
Wentzel,
Commissioner, Public Service Sector- Pretoria/Western Cape
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Berte
Le Roux, Chief
Director: Human Resources Management
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Gerald
Elliott,
Director: Personnel Management Non-Educational Staff, Department
of Education
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Bernadette
Arries,
Chief Director: Human Resource Management and Administration, Department
of Health
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Richard
Petersen,
Deputy Director-General, Property Management and Works,
Department of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Tourism,
Western Cape
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Dr
Ivan Meyer,
Chief Director: Provincial Training, Provincial Administration
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1.4:
The new role of Social Investment Programmes within the disability
sector
Facilitator
and leading discussion:
Amelia
Jones,
CEO, Community Chest Western Cape
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Nazlie
du Toit,
Manager, Community Investment
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Anne
Marie Deas,
Manager Fund-raising Development
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Morning
Tea / Coffee
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10:10-11:10
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SESSION
TWO
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2.1:
Corporate
implications in the transformation of protective workshops
Facilitator
and leading discussion: Andre Ward, Project Manager: Economic
Empowerment, National OSDP
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Wendy
Nefdt,
Regional Director, Epilepsy South Africa Western Cape
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Jennifer
Kamerman, Consultant,
Catalyst
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Gordon
Robie, General
Manager, Training Workshops Unlimited
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Monica
Thompson, Chairperson,
Institute for the Promotion of disabled manpower
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2.2:
HIV/AIDS - what effect is it having on the disabled in terms of access
to information and services?
Facilitator
and leading discussion: Gillian Burrows, Provincial Co-ordinator
DPSA
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Hendrietta
Bogopane, Chairperson,
Joint Monitoring Committee on the Status of Youth Children, Disabled
Persons
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2.3:
The integration of disabled sport into mainstream society
Facilitator
and leading discussion: Alan Boesak, Department of Sports, Western
Cape
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Raphael
Dunn,
CEO, Western Province Association for physically disabled sport
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Rory
Field,
Chairman, Western Province Association for Physically Disabled
Sport
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Jane
Mandean,
Athlete, SCORE
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Lance
de Willers, Owner,
Tribe Safari Adventure Travel
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2.4:
The need for private disability training and education alternatives
Facilitator
and leading discussion: Roy Silver, Business for Good
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11:20-12:20
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SESSION
THREE
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3.1:
Universal Access - What is international best practice? What are
the minimum standards SA should subscribe to? What steps to
force/encourage compliance?
Facilitator
and leading discussion: Benny Palime, Deputy Director: National
OSDP
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Philip
Thompson, Chairman,
Federal Council of Disabilities
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Vincent
Daniels, Chairperson,
DPSA
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3.2:
Success stories towards inclusion through education and training for
persons with intellectual disabilities
Facilitator
and Leading Discussion: Tessa Wood, Co-ordinator, Western Cape
Forum for Intellectual Disabilities
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Caroline
Taylor,
Co-ordinator, Western Cape Resource Centre for Inclusive Education
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Dr
Matthi Theron,
Department of Education, Western Cape
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Princess
Kaya Bavu, Deputy
Chief Education Specialist in the Main Stream, Metropole South
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3.3:
Assistive devices and the role of new technology - How to access
assistive devices
Facilitator
and leading discussions: Elizabeth Pegram, Assistant Director:
Rehabilitation - Department of Health
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Neville
Clarence, Head,
Neville Clarence Technologies
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Lara
Strong,
Manager, Independent Living Center
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Gavin
Maggot,
Mobility Specialist, Rollability
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3.4:
Markets, opportunities and SMME development for all
Facilitator
and leading discussion:
John
Peters,
Deputy Director SMME Department of Economic Affairs, Western Cape
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Ian
McLean,
Project Consultant, Omega Investment Research
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Maryam
Wannenburgh, Consultant,
M&M Unlocking Opportunity
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Isaac
Smith, Director,
Procurement Management
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12:30-13:40
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Luncheon
- Sponsored by Momentum Collective Benefits
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13:50-14:50
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SESSION
FOUR
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4.1:
What are the rights of the Disabled & the role of policing
and monitoring legislation
Facilitator
and leading discussion:
Peter
Strassheim, Independent
Consultant
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Charles
Clacher, Deputy
Director, Department Internal Auditing
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Alta
Rossouw
- Chairperson of the Provincial Standing Committee on womens
rights, youth matters and affairs concerning, disabled persons
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4.2:
Creating and accessing business/employment opportunities and
partnership through government tenders
Facilitator
and leading discussion: Isaac Smith, Director, Procurement
Management
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Lesley
Africa,
Chairperson of the Western Cape Provincial Tenderboard
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John
Peters, Deputy
Director, SMME Department of Economic Affairs, Western Cape
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Gordon
Robie, General
Manager, Training Workshops Unlimited
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4.3:
An overview of the provincial budget focusing on spending
patterns on disability related initiatives in all government departments.
Facilitator
and leading discussion:
Mr N.B. Langenhoven, Director, Expenditure Control, Western Cape
Treasury
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4.4:
Access barriers to education and training for persons who are
deaf, persons who are blind and persons who are deaf and blind.
Facilitator
and leading discussions: Hannl
Cronje (Senior Development Manager and Placement Officer, Cape Town
Society for the Blind
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Wilma
Niewoudt, MP, Joint Monitoring Committee
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Andre
van Deventer, Chairperson: Deafblind South Africa
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Eugene
Pierce, Branch
Manager of S.A. Guide Dog Association
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15:00-16:00
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SESSION
FIVE
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5.1:
Access
to Rehabilitation
Facilitator
and leading discussion: Jenny Hendry, Deputy Director: Metropole
Rehabilitation Centre
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Joseph
Williams, Unicity Desk
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Bridget
van der Merwe, CEO, Cape Town Association for the Physically
Disabled
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5.2:
Accessible awareness raising through education and information
Facilitator
and leading discussion: Undere Deglon, Independent Consultant, Black
Management Forum
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5.3:
Incorporating Disability in the workplace (HR perspective)
Facilitator/leading
discussions: Aneline Rhoda, SA
Employment Equity Manager, Old Mutual
Additional
input from disabled employees
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Rustim
Ariefdien, Director,
Altitude Workforce Solutions
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Ronald
Henry, Changes
Clerk, Old Mutual
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Kevin
Neeson, Old
Mutual
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5.4:
Creating and accessing employment and training opportunities and
partnership in rural areas in the Western Cape
Facilitator:
Vincent Daniels, Chairperson, DPSA
Mzolisi
ka Toni, Secretary
General, DPSA
Dominique
Souchon, National
OSDP
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16:10-17:00
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Conference
Closure
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