Deputy-President Jacob Zuma addressed a large crowd of about 8 000 people at a mass rally at Polokwane's Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday, to mark Limpopo's provincial celebration of International Disabled Persons Day.

He was greeted by a guard of honour comprising people in wheelchairs and on crutches as he made his way to the rostrum, accompanied by premier Sello Moloto and other dignitaries.

It was clear that the stadium, earmarked as a 2010 Soccer World Cup venue, needed vast improvements to make it more accessible to spectators with disabilities.

Zuma welcomed the fact that people with disabilities were being given increased opportunities to assert themselves in various spheres of society. He paid tribute, in particular, to those involved in improving the quality of life of this sector of society.

"During our first decade of democracy, we have seen the transformation of parliament and government departments, to reflect the fact that we are a society with a large number of people with disabilities, who have a right to serve in these institutions," Zuma said.

These days, South Africans often elected persons with disabilities, to represent them at all levels of government, and this signalled real progress.

"We come from a past which did not treat people with disabilities with respect, which did not recognise them as full citizens of this country, and did not accord them the status they deserve in society - this has all been changed," he added.

The Deputy President pointed out that the nation's responsibility in this regard stretched beyond its borders, as it was necessary to advance the cause of people with disabilities throughout the continent.

The past decade had seen great advances made to ensure this sector's access to free primary health care, he said.

The country had also come a long way towards addressing the educational needs of disabled people, by using a more integrated approach, as opposed to the special schools concept that existed before, he explained.

However, much still remains to be done. Zuma said he hoped the end of the next decade of democracy would see the achievement of employment equity targets, and greater participation of disabled persons in the economic growth of the country.

Limpopo Premier Sello Moloto said his government was committed to the increased integration of disabled persons into all aspects of community life.

He pointed out that the province had made good progress with the implementation of employment equity, as 385 people with disabilities were now employed in government departments, some in senior positions.

In addition, 56 government buildings in the province had facilities which made them easily accessible for disabled persons, he said.