Dr Praveena Sukhraj-Ely was appointed Acting Director-General of the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on 16 July 2026 by Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, becoming what government news service SAnews described as the first totally blind person to lead a national government department in South Africa. The appointment was confirmed in the government department directory by 11 August 2026 and independently reported by The Post on 21 July 2026.
The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities is responsible for driving national policy on women’s rights, youth development, and disability inclusion across government. Sukhraj-Ely’s appointment places a disability rights advocate at the helm of the very department tasked with advancing those rights.
According to SAnews, Sukhraj-Ely holds four degrees from the University of KwaZulu-Natal — a Bachelor of Social Science, a Bachelor of Laws, a Master of Arts in Political Science awarded cum laude, and a PhD in Public Policy. Government media statements describe her as a legal practitioner and public policy expert with experience in constitutional law, gender-based violence and femicide, and public administration.
“I never knew of a blind person or a person with disability who has occupied this position at a national level,” Sukhraj-Ely told SAnews in a feature published on 29 August 2026. “I want it to become the case that a person who has the potential, qualifications and capabilities must not be discriminated against on the grounds of their disability, but be given the equity and reasonable accommodation based on their diversity and their disability.”
A government media statement said Minister Chikunga praised Sukhraj-Ely’s integrity, legal expertise, and understanding of constitutional mandates in advancing rights for women, youth, and persons with disabilities. The statement was issued from the Minister’s office on 16 July 2026.
The “first totally blind person” designation originates with SAnews, the government’s official news service, and has not been independently confirmed by a second non-government source. Cape Flats News could not verify the claim through separate records as of 30 August 2026.
Sukhraj-Ely’s appointment comes amid longstanding calls from disability rights organisations for greater representation of persons with disabilities in senior government positions, where they remain severely underrepresented. The DWYPD’s mandate includes ensuring that government departments implement reasonable accommodation measures for employees with disabilities, a statutory requirement under the Employment Equity Act.
The department confirmed her acting appointment in its latest media advisories, though the duration of the acting role has not been specified in any public statement. Cape Flats News journalist Thandiwe Nkosi will seek confirmation from the DWYPD on the terms and expected duration of the appointment by 5 September 2026.