Disability sector presents accessible transport petition to Parliament

Today, the Western Cape Network on Disability (WCND) presented its petition calling for urgent amendments to the National Land Transport Act (NLTA) to Parliament, marking an important step forward in the national campaign for accessible public transport for persons with disabilities.

The presentation took place following the Network's formal handover of the petition to Parliament on 3 December 2025, International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The petition calls for legislative amendments to ensure equitable, reliable, and accessible public transport services for persons with disabilities across South Africa.

The Network was invited to present the petition and its proposed legislative amendments to the Portfolio Committee on Transport in Parliament earlier today. The presentation was delivered by WCND Chairperson Anthony Ghillino, Executive Board Member Notukela Makohliso, and Executive Board Member and Head of Stakeholder Engagement Lilley Berrington.

The response from Members of Parliament was overwhelmingly positive, with representatives from across the political spectrum expressing strong support for strengthening accessibility in South Africa's transport system. Members engaged constructively with the proposals and recognised the urgent need to address the systemic barriers that continue to exclude persons with disabilities from public transport and the opportunities it enables.

Parliament has indicated that the matter will now be taken forward within its parliamentary processes for further discussion and consideration. WCND will be formally informed of the next steps and how the petition will proceed within the parliamentary framework.

The petition and its proposed amendments call for several key changes to the National Land Transport Act, including making accessibility requirements mandatory for all transport authorities and service providers, establishing enforceable national standards for accessible public transport, and legally requiring consultation with organisations representing persons with disabilities in transport planning and design.

The proposals also call for stronger oversight and accountability mechanisms within the Department of Transport, clearer enforcement provisions, improved standards for vehicles and infrastructure, and the establishment of a National Land Transport Accessibility Fund to support implementation. In addition, the amendments propose updating the language and definitions used in the Act, aligning the definition of disability with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and introducing concepts such as Universal Design and Reasonable Accommodation, to ensure that the law reflects a broader and more inclusive understanding of disability.

At its core, the petition recognises that freedom of movement is a fundamental right. Accessible transport underpins many other rights, including access to employment, education, healthcare, political participation, and social life. Without reliable and accessible transport, these rights remain out of reach for many persons with disabilities.

“Some of us may not be able to hear, but you cannot be deaf to our needs. Some of us may be blind, but we need you to see and share our vision. Some of us are unable to walk, so we need our leaders to not only talk the talk, but to walk the walk with us.”
— Anthony Ghillino, closing the presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Transport

While the petition addresses accessibility in the national transport system more broadly, the campaign itself began as a response to the Dial-a-Ride crisis in Cape Town, where proposed service cuts exposed the severe limitations of the city's only dedicated public transport service for persons with disabilities. What began as a campaign to defend the Dial-a-Ride service quickly evolved into a broader movement calling for systemic reform to ensure accessible public transport across South Africa.

WCND welcomed the positive engagement from Parliament and looks forward to continuing to work with lawmakers and government institutions to advance legislative reforms that will make South Africa's transport system truly inclusive.