Hon Speaker, hon Deputy Minister of Social Development, uMama Maria Ntuli, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon Members of Parliament, members of the portfolio committee, more particularly the chairperson, MECs for Social Development, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, at the beginning of 2008 we were warned of dark clouds gathering as the world lurched into an unprecedented crisis. Many commentators viewed the crisis as a financial and economic one. The severe impact was felt by people in countries the world over; by individuals, families and communities. Breadwinners lost their jobs and it impacted on their spouses, their children, their extended families - both young and old. The South African economy shed over 1 million jobs.
In the midst of this crisis this ANC-led government continued to pursue its social policies of creating a caring society by expanding the social safety net through raising the means test thresholds, increasing the value of the various grant types and equalising the age of eligibility for the old age pension; allocating an additional half a billion rand to provide temporary relief to those in distress; leveraging on the social sector initiatives to increase job opportunities; and expanding the reach of welfare services, including taking care services to children, people with disabilities, older persons and those affected by HIV and Aids.
All these measures reinforce the correctness of a view expressed by the renowned scholar and philosopher, Albert Schweitzer, that, and I quote:
The first step in the evolution of ethics is a sense of solidarity with other human beings.
As the world gradually recovers from the global economic and financial crisis, South Africa's social security interventions stand above all measures, globally, as having been the most successful. The positive impact of the social security interventions, especially on the lives of poor children and their families, is underscored by studies undertaken by the Financial and Fiscal Commission, the International Labour Organisation, ILO, and the United Nations Children's Fund, Unicef. The thrust of their findings is that human solidarity, expressed through our provision of social grants, stands out as the hallmark of our interventions. Undoubtedly this has been the bulwark that has staved off total impoverishment, destitution and the consequent social instability.
Hon Chairperson, we are convinced that all our seeds to create a humane society have fallen on fertile ground. I say so because these seeds are beginning to bear fruit. Our efforts are deeply inspired by the aspirations embodied in the Freedom Charter and articulated in the Reconstruction and Development Programme, RDP.
Amongst the first to cultivate the fertile ground is the former Minister Dr Zola Skweyiya, a pathfinder and revered senior citizen who today celebrates his 69th birthday. I send him best wishes for good health in old age.
Sithi akhule akhokhobe. [Iwahlo.] [We say he must live long. [Applause.]]
During the course of the past financial year this House appropriated over R95 billion to Social Development. That budget, we can say without equivocation, was an investment in human development. It enabled us to provide social grants to the poor, and to continue to develop our welfare and community policies aimed at the provision of care and protection services, as well as the pursuance of sustainable livelihood initiatives.
Today we seek the support of this House for the 2011-12 budget. The new budget will continue to embolden our efforts at addressing our social development challenges as we build a more caring and inclusive society. The acid test of our commitment to social solidarity is measured primarily by the extent to which we achieve the social integration of those at the dawn of their lives, the children; those who are in the shadow of life, people with disabilities; and those in the twilight of their lives, the elderly.
In order to achieve this, the 2011 budget grows to R104,7 billion, and up to R122 billion in the third year of this Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period. Social grants expenditure accounts for 93% of this year's budget. Our budget priorities include the following: R244 million for social work scholarships; R166 million for the National Development Agency, NDA, to support our development initiatives; R6,1 billion for the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, management, administration and payment of social grants; over R600 million to support the department's policy, implementation support and oversight responsibilities; and R97 billion for transfers, in the form of social grants, to households.
For the purposes of this budget debate I will focus on comprehensive social security and some of the welfare services programmes. The Deputy Minister will provide details on the Integrated Community Development Programme,