March 25: The South African Disability Alliance (SADA) will march to the Safa House on Thursday to demand that the LOC ensure a safe and equitable environment for all spectators with disabilities during the World Cup.

In a statement issued by SADA, the organisation raises concerns about what it calls the lack of information about the accessible transport infrastructure to and from the World Cup stadiums.

The statement reads as follows:

"The South African Disability Alliance (SADA) members would like to bring to your attention (LOC) the urgent concerns on accessibility and operational issues relating to the World Cup offering for people with disabilities.

"SADA has taken the responsibility of engaging with the 2010 LOC for over two years. We have, firstly sensitized the LOC on disability and issues of reasonable accommodation.

"Secondly we deployed our own technical expert to assist the LOC in assessing the accessibility of the stadia to spectators with disabilities. Thirdly, that the stadia complies with the FIFA regulations on stadia accessibility and ensure access to information. A full report on all the stadia was produced by our technical expert and was presented to guide the LOC on how to address the gaps with regards to universal access.

"A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the LOC and SADA as part of both parties commitment to address the outstanding issues. To date, none of the obligations of the LOC have been met.

"Most of the stadia do not have the required number of spaces for wheelchair users and it is compromising the opportunity for our people to be able to acquire tickets.

"The FIFA guidelines for wheelchair accessible spaces is between 1,0 and 0,5% of all the seats in any stadium this information was conveyed to the host cities in the guidelines prepared by the LOC, but has not been complied with. The result is that there are no more tickets for wheelchair users (only available for Polokwane and Mbombela games). Many of the stadia have large elements that are not accessible and have inadequate evacuation procedures and toilet facilities as well as other elements of the stadia which do not comply with the National Building Regulations.

"Furthermore, we are concerned about the lack of information about the accessible transport infrastructure to and from the stadium.

"The facilities for Deaf spectators have been ignored and communication services do not exist.

"Visually impaired persons are also not fully accommodated are not allowed to bring a guide free of charge ? they have to find someone who can afford to buy a ticket to accompany them.

"Many of the requirements in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities have been contravened and these are clear reasons that could force us to seek legal recourse and cause for public protest.

"We are very proud, as members of the South African Disability Alliance to have provided the technical input to the LOC at our own cost, and for this we have had very little response from the LOC regarding putting action to our recommendations.

"Our trust in the LOC partnership has been seriously undermined and therefore compromising the opportunity of creating a legacy for the future.

"These are some of the immediate concerns that we have and considering that there are less than 90 days to go.

"SADA demands immediate attention to the stadia shortcomings and that the LOC insist that the Host cities comply with their own guidelines, not only to ensure the adequate amount of seats, but to ensure a legacy thereafter.

"SADA demands that the LOC ensure a safe and equitable environment for all spectators with disabilities including Fan Park facilities.

"SADA demands that an accessible transport plan be approved and implemented by all Host cities, facilitated by the LOC.

SADA calls on the CEO of the LOC to take responsibility for an equitable environment for persons with disabilities in the World Cup as well as accessible stadia as a legacy for all South Africans."

Posted By Aqeel Qureshi