Examining self-employment policies for persons with disabilities in South Africa: Perspectives from policy actors

The research revealed a complex policy landscape where the absence of self-employment-specific policies for persons with disabilities coexists with potentially leverageable inclusive frameworks. These coexist with potential policy actors who have the potential to facilitate implementation. Leveraging existing policies through effective implementation and targeted policy reforms would ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities in self-employment. Key policy actors should familiarise themselves with the existing legal framework and emphasise enforcement and consequence management to ensure policies are implemented effectively. Furthermore, a coordinated approach is necessary, involving: a single or integrated system or database to streamline policy implementation and monitoring; a targeted approach that prioritises persons with disabilities in self-employment; and policies that allow for target setting, accurate measurement of targets, and effective monitoring and evaluation. Thus, a policy brief outlining the key findings should be considered, drafted, and submitted to the relevant government department (e.g., Department of Employment and Labour) for further action.