Disability Inclusion and Pandemic Policymaking in South Africa: A Framework Analysis

A growing body of research demonstrates the disproportionate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with disabilities. Existing inequities, especially in healthcare, were deepened during this period, highlighting the need for policymakers to consider the specific needs of people with disabilities during crises. We conducted a framework analysis of health-related policy in South Africa during 2020, investigating the extent to which the country’s pandemic response was disability-inclusive. Our findings demonstrated the limited conceptions of disability reflected in decision-making, and the general failure to consider people with disabilities in lockdown and other measures. One government department made positive statements about disability-inclusive services and support, but these were unactionable in the context of existing infrastructure and resources. In spite of South Africa’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability, this study demonstrated the inadequate buy-in and capacity across government to implement disability inclusion.