CAPE TOWN Disabled Community- Tensions run high outside the Cape Town Civic Centre as persons with disabilities take to the streets to protest the City of Cape Town’s decision to scale back its Dial-A-Ride transport service. The move, which the city attributes to budget constraints, has sparked outrage, fear, and uncertainty among those who rely on the service daily.
The Dial-A-Ride programme, a lifeline for many in Cape Town’s disabled community, is set to undergo major changes from 8 September 2025. According to the city’s revised plan, only Disabled Community wheelchair users and individuals with severe walking impairments will remain eligible for the service — a drastic shift that excludes a large portion of existing users.
Dozens of demonstrators gathered on Monday morning outside the Civic Centre, chanting, holding placards, and demanding clarity from city officials. Many in attendance expressed concern that the cuts would leave them isolated, without a safe and reliable way to attend school, work, medical appointments, or participate in their communities.
Disabled Community Protests Demand Answers as Access is Threatened
One protester, 39-year-old Nomsa Dlamini, who lives with muscular dystrophy, said she felt “abandoned” by the city.
“I don’t use a wheelchair, but I can’t walk far. The Dial-A-Ride service is my only way to get to physiotherapy. What am I supposed to do now?” she asked, her voice shaking with emotion. “This is not just about transport. It’s about dignity, about being part of society.”
Another demonstrator, Ebrahim Michaels, who uses crutches, added, “They’ve told us they care about inclusion. But now they’re cutting us off completely. How is that fair?”
According to a statement from the City of Cape Town, the changes to Dial-A-Ride stem from ongoing budgetary constraints and an effort to prioritize those deemed most in need. Officials claim that by limiting access to only those with the most severe mobility issues, the service can remain operational — albeit on a reduced scale.
“The City regrets the impact this decision may have on some users,” read the statement. “However, given limited resources, we must ensure that the service remains sustainable and is allocated to those with the highest level of mobility dependency.”
But many believe the city has not done enough to communicate or consult with the Disabled Community.
“We only found out about this a few weeks ago,” said disability rights activist Lindiwe Matshoba. “No consultation, no transparency — just a notice that your mobility is being taken away.”
As the crowd outside the Civic Centre swelled throughout the day, tensions ran high between protesters and security personnel. While the demonstration remained peaceful, there were visible frustrations as community members demanded to meet with city officials face-to-face.
Police and municipal officers were stationed at the entrance to the building, and a few verbal altercations were reported when protesters were denied entry. Chants of “Equal access for all!” and “We won’t be silenced!” echoed through the square.
“This is our right, not a privilege,” shouted one protester through a loudhailer, drawing applause from the crowd.
Several advocacy organisations, including the Western Cape Association for People with Disabilities and the Inclusive Mobility Forum, have pledged to support the protest and are calling for an urgent review of the city’s public transport policy.
While the Dial-A-Ride controversy has brought immediate attention to the needs of disabled citizens, many argue that the issue reflects a larger systemic failure in how public infrastructure is designed and funded.
“This crisis is about more than just one service being cut,” said Dr. Johan Venter, an urban inclusion researcher at UCT. “It’s about the chronic underfunding of accessible transportation and the invisibility of Disabled Community people in public planning processes.”
Venter believes that unless cities adopt inclusive design principles and consistent funding models, vulnerable communities will always be at risk of being sidelined when budgets tighten.
As protests continue, demonstrators and advocacy groups are calling on the national Department of Transport, the Department of Social Development, and the South African Human Rights Commission to intervene.
“We want answers, but more than that, we want solutions,” said Matshoba. “This is not a favour. This is a constitutional right to equal access and freedom of movement.”
The City of Cape Town has not yet confirmed whether it will reconsider the changes or offer alternative transport options for those who will be affected by the reduction in services.
With only weeks remaining before the changes take effect, tensions run high in Cape Town’s disabled community. What began as an administrative adjustment has evolved into a full-blown human rights debate — one that is unlikely to be resolved without public pressure and meaningful dialogue.
Disabled Community as protesters continue to gather and voices grow louder, the question remains: Will the City of Cape Town listen — and act — before it’s too late?
Source- EWN
