Strategic Plan & Budgets: briefings by Department and SA Social Security Agency
NCOP Health and Social Services
08 May 2007
Meeting Summary
A summary of this committee meeting is not yet available.
Meeting report
SOCIAL
SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE
8 MAY 2007
STRATEGIC PLAN & BUDGETS: BRIEFINGS BY DEPARTMENT AND SA SOCIAL SECURITY
AGENCY
Chairperson: Ms J
Masilo (ANC, North West)
Documents handed out:
Department of
Social Development: Strategic Plan 2007-2010 presentation
South African Social
Security Agency: Strategic Plan 2007/8- 2009/10
Audio Recording
of the Meeting
SUMMARY
The Committee was briefed by both the Department of Social Development and
South African Social Security Agency on their strategic plans and budgets for
2007 to 2010. The Department set out the challenges facing the sector as
poverty, unemployment, inequality and absence of essential services, which in
turn led to social ills. Both skilled social workers and community development
practitioners were in short supply. The core clients were the poor, vulnerable
and the marginalised.
The Department aimed to put an integrated system in place that would enable it
to understand its clients better and to assist society both in dealing with the
results of poverty and attacking the factors leading to poverty. The Department
aimed to invest in social and human capital, social integration, good
governance, a comprehensive social security system and socio-economic
development. Key performance areas were also tabled and explained for each
programme. The Medium Term Expenditure Framework priorities were set out. The
outputs for each programme were tabled. Funding and non availability of
resources were frustrating progress, and the financial administration was
posing some challenges due to dual responsibilities between the Department and
the Social Security Agency. The budget's increased allocation would be R683
million. It was growing on average at 8.3% per annum. The social development budget, excluding
transfers to SASSA and National Development Agency (NDA) was growing on average
at 27%. Preliminary outcomes of the 2006/07 financial year indicated that there
was likely to be 99.35% spending and 99.8% transfer of social assistance
grants. Members indicated that because they had received the presentation late
they would prefer to defer the question and answer session to 21 May. The only
questions noted thus far, to be answered on that date, related to the status of
food parcels, the developments in youth work, the procedure for stipends, the
inadequate facilities in Eastern Cape and the effect of Grade R tuition.
SA Social Security
Agency gave an overview of the Agency, which was to provide
comprehensive social security services against vulnerability and poverty within
the constitutional and legislative framework. He noted that it aimed to address
all challenges and was working to foster better relationships with Department
of Home Affairs. Members' questions were to be answered in writing. These
questions included the delays in rural payouts, the number of pay points, the
facilities available at those points and the reasons for and increase in
temporary disability grants. Further questions were asked on the merger of zones,
the development of a better system that would eliminate delays, especially for
the elderly, and the increase in litigation which showed that people were
becoming better informed of their legal rights.
A further
meeting would be held to address outstanding issues on 21 May at 14:00.
Budget and Strategic Plan 2007-10: Department of Social Development (DSD)
Briefing
Ms Vuyelwa Nhlapo, Deputy Director General, DSD, noted that there were
varying challenges facing the sector, but those most common were poverty,
unemployment, inequality and absence of essential services which in turn led to
social ills. Developmental social services were labour intensive and depended
upon skilled social workers and community development practitioners, both of
whom were in short supply. The core clients were the poor, vulnerable and the marginalised. The
Department aimed to put an integrated system in place that would enable it to
understand their clients better. Services would be offered that dealt with
assisting society, and strategies would be produced to assist society in
dealing with the results of poverty, as well as dealing with the factors giving
rise to and maintaining poverty
The strategic points of the Department were to invest in social and human
capital, social integration, good governance, a comprehensive social security
system and socio-economic development. Several programmes focus on
administration and co-ordination of top management and all support services,
comprehensive social security and community development and strategic
governance. The functional areas per programme were fully set out. Key
performance areas were also tabled and explained.
The Medium Term Expenditure Framework 2007/8-2009/10 focused on three priority
areas that aimed to consolidate services to children through legislation such
as the Children’s Act 2005, Children’s Bill (Section 76 portion) and the Child
Justice Bill. She raised concern as to why the Child Justice Bill had not been
promulgated for a long time and hoped its status would change soon. Older
persons would be addressed through the Older Person’s Act 2006 and cross
cutting legislation such as the Domestic Violence Act and the Social Assistance
Act would be focused upon. However, the DG was quick to state that for these
plans to become a reality there had to be enough personnel to deal with the
consolidation plans. MTEF priorities therefore also included increasing the
number of social services professionals.
Ms Nhlapo then went on to describe the strategic outputs in each programme, as
fully detailed in the presentation attached. Comprehensive social security
would deal with the disabled, children, income support for families and youth,
re-engineering of the social relief funds, social insurance and the social
budget. Social welfare services covered vulnerable children, victims of crime
and domestic violence, and programmes to promote functional families.
Legislation needed to be developed on social services and substance abuse
legislation would be tabled in parliament. Minimum service standards for those
with disabilities would be set and reintegration programmes set up. Capacity
needed to be developed and there must be implementation support.
The Community Development programmes aimed to address anti-poverty strategies,
community development, improve the governance and institutional capacity of non
government organisations (NGOs), achieve registration and compliance of NGOs
and enhance institutional capacity in the sector. A framework would be
developed to link DSD programmes with the sustainable livelihoods approach, and
promote and support youth development. The Expanded Public Works Programme in
the social sector aimed for sector coordination. Strategy and Governance would
deal with governance and oversight of public entities, development, business
and programme performance, monitoring and evaluation, policy development and
coordination and promotion and implementation of a population policy. There
were constructive debates around the values attached to social security, and redressing
the historic under funding remained the greatest challenge.
Ms. Nhlapo stressed
that the Department was striving to fulfill a progressive realisation of all
social rights but funding and non-availability of resources frustrated progress. In addition to this the
role of social workers, field workers and home caregivers was pivotal in the
Department's endeavours’ to boost social services. She
stated that community development aims to develop anti poverty strategies in
the short term. More emphasis needed to be placed on uniformity of norms and
standards and salary levels. Financial administration of the social assistance
function posed some challenges due to dual responsibilities between the South
African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the Department. Lack of effective
management information systems hindered the ability to monitor and evaluate.
The budget over the MTEF was then tabled. The total additional allocation over
the MTEF was R683 million. The budget grew on average at 8.3% per annum. The
social development budget, excluding transfers to SASSA and National
Development Agency (NDA) was growing on average at 27%. Additional allocations
were mostly for integrated welfare services and social worker scholarships.
Full tables were given breaking down the budget and giving analyses across the
programmes. The preliminary outcomes of the 2006/07 financial year were tabled.
These indicated that there was likely to be 99.35% spending and 99.8% of social
assistance grants had been transferred. The provisional provincial department
outcomes showed between 96 and 102% spending across all provinces.
Discussion
Ms H Lamoela (DA,
Western Cape) was unhappy with the fact that the Committee received the
strategic plan documents late and as felt that insufficient justice would be
done to them if they were not properly studied and scrutinised before discussion. The lack of a
proper opportunity to engage would be a waste of both time and money. She
proposed that discussions or comments should be held on a later date.
The Chairperson responded that during the dates suggested the Committee would
be in recess and she would be unable to attend.
Ms Nhlapo (DG) responded that the Strategic Plan was tabled in March and
members should have had access to the document in March.
Mr T Setona (ANC, Free State) said that this was a late stage of the meeting to
be raising technicalities that should have been raised before the meeting even
commenced.
Ms N Madlala-Magubane (ANC, Gauteng) also suggested that the discussion should
be postponed, or rescheduled until members have had a chance to go through the
documents.
The Chairperson stressed that such delays were not only frustrating but had a
huge financial impact on everyone as the presenters had to fly down to Cape Town.
The deliberations, questions and comments would be dealt with fully on 21 May
2007 at 14:00. However if any of the members had burning questions they were
free to ask them now.
Ms Nhlapo (DG) agreed with the suggestion.
Mr T Setona (ANC, Free State), commended the Department on a robust document
which dealt with major issues, but felt that the document could be confusing if
read out of context. He asked about the status of food parcels and asked what
ground breaking work had been done in the area of youth work since its professionalisation.
Finally, he sought clarity on the issue of stipends, whether there was a
certain procedure that ought to be followed or whether different provinces
could use their discretion on the matter.
Ms A Qikani (UDM, Eastern Cape) stated that the Eastern Cape had no facilities
and inquired as to when the situation would be improved.
The Chairperson enquired how Grade R had affected communities.
The Chairperson ruled that these questions would be answered at the meeting to be
held on the 21 May 2007 at 14:00. Additional questions could also be raised
then.
Strategic Plan and Budget 2007: SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) Briefing
Mr Fezile Makiwane,
Chief Executive Officer, SASSA, gave an overview of the Agency and outlined the
mission of the organisation, which was to provide comprehensive social security
services against vulnerability and poverty within the constitutional and
legislative framework. He was very proud to present the theme for SASSA, which
is “Paying the right social grant, to the right person, at the right time and
place, NJALO!” This theme highlighted the structure's aim to address challenges
that had previously bedeviled the social services sector.
Mr Makiwane indicated that the priorities of the SASSA were to improve service
delivery quality and organizational capacity, payment services, grant process
integrity and financial management integrity. In 2006 staff had worked on
establishment and operationalisation of SASSA. The process had proceeded in line
with expectations. SASSA had taken over responsibility and accountability of
the administration in all provinces.
He highlighted that partnerships and relationships with the Department of Home
Affairs need to be fostered, as that was where SASSA had its information base.
Discussion
Ms H Lamoela stated that she was impressed with the report. However, she
was worried about the one to two month delays that people in rural areas
experience in getting their pay outs as opposed to those in urban areas. She
enquired as to how many pay points there were through out the whole country and
how many had facilities such as water, electricity and toilets as these were
previously major problems in the past. In addition to this she asked why there
was an increase in the number of applicants for temporary disability grants.
The Chairperson added to Ms Lamoela’s question by stating that the current
merger of zones was causing havoc at pay points and asked how SASSA aimed to
deal with the problem.
Mr T Setona, strongly felt that SASSA needed to develop a payment system that
incorporated human dignity, as at times the elderly had to queue up for hours
in harsh conditions to receive their payouts. He asked whether the foster care
backlog would be dealt with. He was very impressed with the growing awareness
in communities of their rights to petition and to seek litigation. In his view
members should be impressed with the litigation costs of R134 850 000, which
showed that people were getting to know of their democratic right to challenge
certain processes.
Mr Makiwane and his
delegation stated that they would provide the committee with a detailed report
that would answer all their questions. In response to the questions around the
conditions of pay points he stated that all pay points must be protected from
the elements, must have seats, toilets and security. In most cases it was
impractical to build permanent structures and thus the Department would liaise
with local government to rent certain building for a few days for the exercise
to be a success. In rural areas where it was problematic and at times
impractical to have fixed structures there were 90 mobile offices that offered
services to clients and high levels of technology such as satellite that result
in quicker service delivery.
The Chair thanked SASSA for the presentation and expected to receive the
written responses soon. She noted that SASSA would not be participating in the
meeting on 21 May.
The meeting was adjourned.
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