By Nangamso Mabindla
4 July 2005

TWO more branches of Buffalo City's Disability Forum have been launched by the municipality - in King William's Town (inland) and Mdantsane (coastal).

The branches were formally launched last week. Disabled people from the area filled the war memorial in King William's Town for the launch of a forum that will be their voice in local government.

After the formalities, there was entertainment in the form of choral music and jazz from local choirs.

In April the City launched the forum in East London, later deciding to open sub-forums for inland and coastal regions. All the branches fall under the greater Buffalo City Forum.

By having such a platform for the disabled, the City is adhering to the government's policy of special programmes catering for designated groups within the municipalities.

The City recently launched its Special Programmes Unit, a strategy aimed at involving young people in municipal affairs.

Similarly, the municipality aims to include disabled people in the City's development programmes through the Disability Forum.

It will, among other things, look at the needs of disabled people, assist the municipality to develop its integrated disability strategy, and implement development programmes for people with disabilities.

Most importantly, however, it will represent disabled people in the Integrated Development Plan stakeholders' meetings.

The City will work with the Amathole District Municipality and the provincial government to ensure the success of the forum.