Western Cape Association for Persons with Disabilities

Transport remains a challenge to both persons with disabilities and the Association in our efforts towards service provision. While the Branches of the Association do provide very limited transport for those persons employed in our protective workshops or children attending our day care centres, this by no means takes the place of a fully accessible public transport system. The Association was instrumental in the establishment of the Dial-A-Ride service, which makes accessible transport available to people for whom other forms of public transport are not suitable for their special needs. This service has since become a valuable resource in the community.

While the provision of a rebate on the customs duty of an imported motor vehicle, certificates granting access to South Africa’s beautiful beaches and specialized parking bay permits are of great benefit to persons with disabilities who are able to purchase a vehicle, there remains an enormous amount of people who have no access to transport.

Parking permits
The National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in SA (NCPPDSA) and its partners are in the process of developing a national parking disc scheme. NCPPDSA is also researching best practices in other countries, in the hope of incorporating this into the South African version. The position paper has been submitted to the Department of Transport where it is receiving attention.

Beach Access
On 21 December 2002, the previous Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, published regulations prohibiting the use of vehicles in the coastal zone. Whilst these regulations did allow the permissible use by a person with a physical disability of an electrically propelled or manual wheelchair, a permit had to be applied for to gain access with a vehicle such as 4 by 4 or quad bike.
Please note that a permit is still not required to gain access with a wheelchair only.

This application process was a cumbersome procedure and very few permits were granted. Following appeals by Council and QASA, the National Director consulted with the new Minister, Mr. Van Schalkwyk, resulting in the amendment of these Regulations. The amendments were gazetted during December 2004 and publicly announced by the Minister at an International Day for the Disabled function held in Cape Town on 3 December 2004.

Rebate on customs duty on importation of motor vehicle

•	FOR THE IMPORTATION OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED VEHICLES
•	FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF OR TRANSPORTATION OF PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES

The Department of Trade and Industry provides a rebate on the customs duty for the importation of adapted vehicles, either for use by a person with a disability, or by an organisation that transports persons with disabilities. It is advisable to read the information document before proceeding to completing the necessary forms.

IMPORTANT NOTES

•	If the application is approved, an undertaking will be required to the effect that the motor vehicle/s will not be offered, advertised, lent, hired, leased, pledged, given away, exchanged, sold or otherwise disposed of without the prior consent of the Director General : Trade and Industry within a period of 5 years from the date of entry under this rebate item.
•	Any of the foregoing acts with any such vehicle/s during a period of 5 years from the date of entry in terms of this rebate item shall render such vehicle/s liable to payment of duty in accordance with the regulations.
•	Applicant's written motivation in support of the application, which must state that the proposed vehicle/s will be used exclusively for the transport of a person with a physical disability, must be forwarded to "The National Director, National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa, Private Bag X10041, Edenvale, 1610 or 82 Andries Pretorius Street, Eastleigh, Edenvale, 1610".
•	Applicants are advised that it may be necessary to appear personally before a panel of adjudicators who will assess each application. Panels are available at major centres; contact details of which are available from the nearest regional office of the Association for Persons with Disabilities (APD).
•	Applicants must not place orders for vehicles to be imported before the requisite permit is obtained.
•	Please note that an administration fee of R100-00 is levied.

PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATIONS IN THE WESTERN CAPE

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Applicants are requested to complete the documentation as set out below -

•	Application form, to be completed by the applicant;
•	Assessment form to be completed by a panel of adjudicators. The panel in the Western Cape is headed by Mrs Leigh-Ann Richards who may be contacted at (021) 555-2881 for an appointment to conduct the assessment. Applicants are requested to arrange their own appointments.
•	Medical report, to be completed by the applicant's medical practitioner.

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Once completed, the documentation should be forwarded to -
The Provincial Director
Western Cape Association for Persons with Disabilities
PO Box 1544
MILNERTON
7435
Tel : (021) 555-2881
Fax : (021) 555-2888
E-mail : director@apd-wc.org.za

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The Western Cape Association for Persons with Disabilities will forward this documentation to the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa who will in turn forward it to the Department of Trade and Industry. The DTI will liaise directly with applicants.


	•	Mercedes Benz Vito


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