Hon Minister, you have exceeded your time. If you like, you can complete this and then we can deduct that time from your reply.
Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon Minister of Social Development and all Ministers present, hon Deputy Minister and all Deputy Ministers present, MECs, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, today we are debating the third Budget Vote of Social Development. It is our Minister's first budget speech and I want to use this opportunity to congratulate her on a job well done. [Applause.]
Vote 19 has a huge responsibility to the citizens of South Africa, especially to the vulnerable groups in our society: our women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities. The mission statement of the department reflects that ethos. It says, and I quote:
To ensure the provision of comprehensive social services which protect the poor and vulnerable within the framework of the South African Constitution and subsequent legislation; create an enabling environment for sustainable development; and deliver ... quality welfare services in partnership with all those committed to building a caring society.
The portfolio committee considered the tabled annual strategic plans, the annual performance plan and the budget allocated to the department and its entities. Discussions were frank and enquiring and the committee made several recommendations, which I will refer to later in my speech.
The budget of Vote 19, when compared with other national departments, is quite impressive. It receives the largest slice of the pie allocated to this cluster. It consists of five programmes, which are: Administration; Social Assistance; Social Security Policy and Administration; Welfare Services Policy Development and Implementation Support; and Social Development and Integrated Service Delivery. This all have a total of well over R104 billion.
The budget received an R8,8 billion increase in nominal terms and a real increase of R3,9 billion from the previous financial year. This is a 4,2% increase. This increase is mainly due to the department's prioritising in order to improve social assistance and developmental welfare services. The biggest portion of the department's budget goes to transfers and subsidies.
The department has received a qualified audit opinion for the first time in over a decade. I hope that the 2011 financial year will result in a different opinion, hon Minister. I want to recommend to you that the Department of Social Development, through its internal audit committees, audits performance information on a quarterly basis. This will greatly enhance programme managers' responsibility with regard to programme information for compliance purposes and accurate financial information for audit purposes. This checks-and-balances approach will greatly enhance the provision of qualitative information and not the stale statements that get recycled without any substance for the sake of compliance. Thus there is still room to improve the performance management within the department.
A word of caution, however, hon Minister - an internal audit unit is only effective when it is adequately resourced and its recommendations are taken seriously in order for them to be implemented by the department and its entities. The accounting officer and the various CEOs of its entities and the programme managers should report to you on a quarterly basis on their progress.
The key priorities as reported are the following. Firstly, there is the reduction in substance abuse, linked to Government Outcome 2, which is a long and healthy life for all South Africans. Next there is the priority of tackling social crime, linked to Government Outcome 3, where all people in South Africa are, and feel, safe. The third one is the promotion and establishment of early childhood development centres, linked to Government Outcome 1, which is quality basic education. Fourthly, there is community development, which is linked to Government Outcome 7, which deals with vibrant, equitable, sustainable rural communities contributing to food security. Number 5 is the provision of comprehensive social security, linked to Government Outcome 4, which is decent employment through inclusive growth. The sixth is strengthening of nongovernmental organisations, which is linked to Government Outcome 1, and also Outcomes 7 and 2 and so on. Then there is number 7, zero hunger, which is linked to Government Outcome 7 dealing with food security.
With regard to Social Assistance, this programme has the largest budget, that is R97,8 billion, which takes a 93% bite of the department's budget for this current financial year. We all know that this programme makes possible the payment of grants to our most needy citizens - all 15 million of them. I am sure by today the number could be different, hon Minister. These grants provide income support to many of the elderly, disabled persons, children and families.
The establishment of Sassa five years ago was an interesting one. Whilst establishing themselves, they also had to focus on a continuous basis on improving service delivery to their clients, and that has remained a priority for them up until today.
Iemand het eendag vir my ges 'n mens wat nie werk nie maak nie foute nie. Die laat indiening van die finansile state en die gepaardgaande gevolge, naamlik in swak ouditeursverslag, is 'n goeie les vir SAAMS. Hulle het hul plig versuim en die komitee is bly dat hulle korrektiewe stappe gedoen het om die leemtes en nalatigheid reg te stel. Die komitee sien egter uit na die volgende verslag van die Ouditeur-generaal. Tog sal ek s dat goeie finansile bestuur, op senior- sowel as intreevlak, 'n goeie begin is en dit skep ook goeie werketiek. Die leemte wat tans bestaan, moet aan gewerk word. SAAMS moet ook begin om mense te werf wat die regte kwalifikasie en bestuurvermo het. Dit sal natuurlik dienslewering op voetsoolvlak, sowel as bestuursvlak, baie verbeter. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Somebody once told me that a person who does not work does not make mistakes. The late submission of the financial statements and the concomitant results, namely a poor auditor's report, have been a good lesson for Sassa. They failed in their duty and the committee appreciates the fact that they implemented corrective steps to rectify the gaps and negligence. However, the committee awaits the next report of the Auditor- General. Yet I would say that good financial management at senior level, as well as at the entry-level, is a good starting point and it also creates good work ethics. The gap that presently exists must be addressed. Sassa should also take steps to recruit people with the right qualifications and management abilities. It will of course greatly improve service delivery at grass-roots as well as management level.]
Hon Minister, I think your vacant funded posts should also be filled timeously.
Die gebruik van konsultante moet verseker dat vaardighede aan bestaande personeel oorgedra word. Maandelikse finansile verslae moet van so 'n gehalte wees dat berekende besluite gemaak kan word wat dienslewering sal bevorder en nie benadeel nie. Rekonsiliasies moet op 'n maandelikse basis gemaak word, veral waar jou betaalrol verskil van jou "accounting system".
Agb Minister, ek is baie bly dat daar gekyk word na maniere waarop die betaling van toelaes kan geskied om koste te bespaar en sodoende meer geld vir toelaes beskikbaar te maak. Dit is beslis vir ons mense by die huis baie goeie nuus. Ten opsigte van die interministerile en interdepartementele proses om pleegsorgtoelaes meer toeganklik te maak met die verlenging van die hofdae of selfs om meer hofdae vir pleegsorgverhore te kry, is ek seker dat dit ook baie goeie nuus vir ons mense by die huis is. Tog sal die komitee ook meer wil weet en ons sal die departement ook graag weer na die komitee nooi. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The use of consultants must to ensure that skills are transferred to existing staff. Monthly financial reports have to be of such quality that well-considered decisions can be taken which will improve service delivery and not detrimentally affect it. Reconciliations have to be made on a monthly basis, especially when your pay roll differs from your accounting system.
Hon Minister, I am very glad that consideration is given to ways in which the payment of grants can be made in order to save costs and, in so doing, making more money available for grants. This is definitely good news for our people at home. In respect of the interministerial and interdepartmental process, making grants for foster care more accessible by increasing the court days or even having more court days for foster care trials, I am sure, is also very good news for our people at home. Yet, the committee would also like to know more and we gladly invite the department to the committee again.]
That is just to talk to us about the plans that you have announced today in terms of the comprehensive social security that the department is busy with at the moment.
Die maandelikse toelaes wat aan ons mede-Suid-Afrikaners betaal word, hou families bymekaar, soos die Minister ges het. Dit sorg dat oumas en oupas kan omsien na hul kleinkinders, sorg dat ons kinders skool toe gaan en stil honger mae van oud en jonk, die gestremdes en die gesondes. Dit gee ons mense waardigheid om die lewe weer in die o te kyk. Tog wil ek die Minister vra, alhoewel die ouderdom van die kindertoelae na 18 verhoog is, of sy nie die Minister van Finansies kan nader om volgende jaar 'n stewige verhoging vir die "child support grant" te gee nie.
Voorsitter, as dit by welsynsdienste kom, wil ek vir u en die Huis s dat die lot van ons ou mense die komitee baie na aan die hart l. Die Amerikaanse Maya Angelou het soos volg oor die oues van dae geskryf - nou, ek het nie so 'n mooi, diep stem soos Maya Angelou nie - ... (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The monthly grants which are paid to our fellow South Africans keep families together, as the Minister said. It enables grandmothers and grandfathers to take care of their grandchildren; it enables children to attend school and fills the hungry stomachs of old and young, those with disabilities and the healthy. It gives dignity to our people so that they can hold their heads high again. Still, I would like to ask the Minister, although the age of the child support grant has been increased to 18, if she could approach the Minister of Finance about substantially increasing the child support grant in this coming year.
Chair, where social services are concerned, I would like to say to you and the House that the fate of our aged is very dear to this committee. The American Maya Angelou wrote about the aged as follows - now, I don't have such a beautiful, deep voice like Maya Angelou's ...]
... but I will try my best. The poem is Song for the Old Ones:
My Fathers sit on benches their flesh counts every plank the slats leave dents of darkness deep in their withered flanks.
They nod like broken candles all waxed and burnt profound they say "It's understanding that makes the world go round."
There in those pleated faces I see the auction block the chains and slavery's coffles the whip and lash and stock.
My Fathers speak in voices that shred my fact and sound they say "It's our submission that makes the world go round."
Daarom voel ek sterk dat die komitee se besluit dat meer ouetehuise regoor die land gebou moet word, veral in ons agtergeblewe gemeenskappe, en dat hul regte prioriteit moet geniet, 'n baie goeie besluit is.
Van kardinale belang is drukgroepe wat baklei vir hul regte en dit is beslis vir ons 'n fris briesie, en hulle moet ondersteun word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Therefore, I feel very strongly that the committee's decision that more old age homes must be built throughout the country, especially in our disadvantaged communities, and that their rights should be prioritised, is a very good decision. Of paramount importance are pressure groups who fight for their rights and to us that is definitely a breath of fresh air, and they should be supported.]
So, I want to say, "Well done!" to the SA Older Persons' Forum. Well done!
The rights of women and children and persons with disability are of paramount importance. How do we ensure that they feel safe and loved? Government cannot compromise on the policies and services that affect these groups. Priority needs to be given to their needs and rights. Disparities in subsidies should be eliminated through the implementation of uniform norms and standards.
When we look at community development, we see that the role of the National Development Agency is to contribute to the eradication of poverty and its causes. This they do through partnerships with NGOs. They have come under tremendous criticism in the past and in the committee for the fact that the organisation is not adequately monitoring beneficiaries of grant funding, and that they are not getting value for money. We will be visiting funded projects unannounced in the future to ensure that grant money is spent appropriately.
Furthermore, we are happy that the new CEO and the new board have committed themselves to a robust engagement process to garner more support to fight poverty through strategic partnerships and innovative grant-funding processes. Increased efforts to build capacity in CBOs and NGOs, etc, so as to improve project management, will greatly enhance the lifespan of these organisations and their projects that our communities so desperately need, as the Minister said earlier.
We need to look at ways to increase the budget of the NDA if we want to have a far greater reach through community development to eradicate poverty.
With reference to welfare infrastructure, I want to say that we need more places of safety for our women and children, more secure care centres in our provinces, more substance abuse treatment centres, more disabled daycare centres and more lively community centres where we can have aftercare services for our children, our youth, women and the disabled.
Last year the committee embarked on a social policy course and I also participated in the Leadership Development Programme, LEAD Programme, sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA. We want to thank the department for facilitating the processes. The UNFPA have kindly offered to bring the LEAD Programme to Parliament and it is currently being processed. The committee has already agreed to participate in the programme. I thank the Minister very much, and also the National Population Unit under the leadership of Mr Jacques van Zuydam, as well as the DG and Mr Wiseman Magasela for all their efforts. I also want to thank the committee members and staff for their hard work and dedication.
Maya Angelou wrote a poem especially for the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations, in which she said:
When we come to it We must confess that we are the possible We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world That is when, and only when We come to it.
Equality. The ANC supports Vote 19. [Applause.]
Chairperson, one had mixed feelings when preparing this Budget Vote speech. It was a feeling of discouragement and hopelessness, especially when one was looking back on and assessing the past financial years. I have honestly asked myself: What have we as the Department of Social Development done better, compared to the previous financial year, despite the abundance of resources that we have as a country to take the poor people out of poverty? Were we all committed to discharging our responsibilities in regard to what we had promised the poor South African people in this House last year? If the answer is yes, why does our strategic plan for this financial year look the same as the previous year?
If we had really wanted to achieve different results in order to better the lives of South African citizens, why did the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, receive a disclaimer, according to the Auditor-General? Why did we not manage to reach or achieve most of the key strategic objectives as stated in our strategic plan for the last financial year? We were caught in a vicious circle of decline, and when things run down it becomes increasingly difficult.
There is a saying that trouble leads to more trouble, and weakness feeds on weakness. As a matter of urgency, all of us must go back and try to see that we get things on the right track as quickly as possible. As we are all seated here today, I strongly believe that there should be no doubt in anyone's mind about the scope of the challenges ahead of us and the urgency of tackling them. It is vital for those responsible for the results to acknowledge the situation and get to grips with what is needed to rectify it.
Hon Minister, on Wednesday last week we had a strategic plan presentation by the senior officials. Their intentions on paper are very desirable, but implementation and monitoring remain challenging issues. Allow me to borrow the words of wisdom of Albert Einstein, who defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". As a department, we have many challenges that are facing us, especially our entities, which are Sassa and the National Development Agency, NDA. The entities' delivery predicament is neither that of too little money nor that of a shortage of good intentions or courageous thoughts. Instead, it comes from a huge mismatch between the promises and the capabilities.
Now, five years after the establishment of Sassa, it is still being set up. When will Sassa become fully operational? For how long are we expected to be patient and wait for Sassa to live up to the expectations that led to its establishment?
I don't think staffing and financial constraints are entirely the problem, as is always said by officials. Presently, Sassa has a vacancy rate of 59,3% despite the norms and standards for staffing. In some areas there are more staff than required. There are still fragmented institutional structures, resulting in the duplication of efforts among units. There is no proper fit between the job demands and the available skills. In the annual report of Sassa it is clearly indicated that many of the key objectives were not achieved because of capacity constraints.
The Auditor-General also said that both financial managers and staff did not have sufficient accounting knowledge to implement the new financial instruments. As a result, they are using consultants to manage the new financial instruments. My question is: for how long are we going to depend on consultants to do the job on behalf of the paid staff?
Sassa also does not have sufficient monitoring controls to ensure proper implementation of overall process reporting, and it is still struggling to manage the performance of the employees.
On the employee costs of Sassa, they have increased from R1,3 billion in 2009 to R1,5 billion in the year under review, including R11,8 million for the remuneration of the key executive and management. This amount has increased by 29,6% in nominal terms from R9,1 million in 2009.
Irrespective of this huge salary, the financial managers did not submit the financial statements to the Auditor-General as required by the Public Finance Management Act. Fraud by staff has become rife. As I am speaking to you, the chief financial officer, CFO, has been suspended on full salary. Minister, it is high time that those who make themselves guilty of these actions are brought to book and go to jail.
The bulk of Sassa's expenditure goes to the cash payment contractors, which on average accounts for approximately 53% of the entire budget, whilst the remaining 20% caters essentially for the operational expenses. Maybe this is the time to be asking ourselves whether the department really needed Sassa to administer the grants on its behalf. Sassa has subcontracted out the very job it was supposed to be doing to the contractors, who are taking the entire budget.
An amount of R2 billion has been lost in irregular grant payments every year, and this is known by the department! Why were the management, the security data and the elimination of fraud not prioritised? Is Sassa a liability or is it an asset to the department? It is clear that the major budget of Sassa does not benefit the poor South African people. Who are the owners of these contractors? Are they some of the political elite who have proceeded to enrich themselves to the great detriment of the poor people of South Africa? If Sassa were a caring entity, why are 70% of our poor people still queuing to receive their grants from cash payments?
Re le mokgatlo wa DA ho fihlela ha jwale re a lemoha hore batho ba rona ba ntse ba ema mela e melelele ka tlasa maemo a hlobaetsang. Motho o ne o nahana hore taba ena e ne e fele nakong ya kgethollo, empa e ntse e ja setsi. [Kenohanong.] (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.)
[We, as the DA, have realised that our people still stand in long queues under difficult conditions. One would think this ended during apartheid, but it still persists. [Interjections.]]
Why don't we accelerate the implementation of an electronic benefit system, to ensure that the eligible are paid and to improve the integrity and data in order to improve the inhumane treatment of our people who have to stand in the long queues?
Motsamaisi wa dipuisano, ntlha e nngwe e hlobaetsang kapa e hlohlontshang ditsebe tsa motho ke ya tsamaiso ya Ejensi ya Ntshetsopele ya Naha. [Chairperson, another worrying or disturbing issue is the management of the National Development Agency.]
We in the DA have during our oversight visits taken note that some nongovernmental organisations, NGOs, have been funded by the National Development Agency but that they have never been evaluated or monitored. As a result, both their contact details and their physical addresses are not known. The NGOs have long closed their doors and relocated out of town without notifying the NDA. The question is: What happened to the assets bought with NDA funds? It is also clear that the officials of the NDA lack capacity. I hope both the new chief executive officer, CEO, and the new board members will really bring hope and strategic leadership.
Hon Minister, about 60% of the social welfare services are rendered by nonprofit organisations, NPOs, on behalf of the department, and all provinces rely heavily on the services rendered by the NPOs. However, the most unfortunate part is when the provinces don't want to pay the NPOs for the services rendered on behalf of the provinces. Is it fair that they must take us to court to demand their funding? Is it fair that some of these organisations have to close down because we don't want to pay them on time? Is it fair that, as a department, we need to be under the supervision or instruction of the High Court on how to handle our financing policy? This is really a disturbing issue. The analysis also indicates that the share of this total programme allocation to the NPOs continues to decline in many provinces.
Maybe we in the department need to ask ourselves whether we have the capacity to assess all the funded NPOs and see whether they deliver as required, which is to assess whether they give value for money. Former President Thabo Mbeki, during his state of the nation address in Parliament on 3 February 2006, said:
We cannot allow that government departments become an obstacle to the achievement of the goal of a better life for all because of insufficient attention to the critical issue of effective and speedy delivery of services.
The DA acknowledges and appreciates the privilege and opportunity that is being given to students to study Social Work as a profession. However, it has come to the DA's attention that in the Free State Social Work students' monthly stipends for books, food and accommodation are not paid on time. In fact, the last time they were paid was in February. In addition, last week they were informed by the department that their accommodation would no longer be covered by the bursary. This is an absolute disgrace.
Poverty remains a deep and daunting challenge. Poverty is closely linked to the structural problems of unemployment and a lack of skills, and unemployment affects poor people severely. If we fail to address poverty, we will fail to build and defend democracy in South Africa. We need to create a good future for our children. [Interjection.] I hope that all the criticism by the DA will be taken in a good spirit.
Hon Minister, let me reassure you that the DA appreciates all the work and commitment shown by you and the Deputy Minister and officials. The DA will do whatever it takes to help build this South Africa to ensure a better future for all. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Ministers who are here and hon members, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister on her new position.
There are those who know nothing about it, have never experienced it, and will never experience it, but are in charge of it! I am speaking about poverty. South Africa is characterised by two distinct problems; inequality and poverty.
I would like to warn the Minister not to take the officials' word that all is well in the department. She will have to go out into the provinces and districts to see for herself if all is really well, in order to avoid embarrassment.
In the OR Tambo region in the Eastern Cape, for instance, there have been power outages at Lusikisiki College, where about seven departments are accommodated, including the Department of Social Development, DSD, and the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, which did not function properly for five months.
The War on Poverty campaign, of linking grants to sustainable livelihoods, does not seem to be making any difference. We believe the entrepreneurship in an activist state holds the best promise of fighting poverty. We also believe that providing a combination of financial and training support, with a built-in exit strategy and positive outputs in respect of training, will be of vital importance.
A University of Johannesburg study has found that 61% of disabled South Africans are living in poverty, without access to government disability grants. Many disabled people interviewed did not know about the disability grant or how to apply for it. We urge Sassa to accelerate the implementation of the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme, ICROP, especially in rural areas at all times, including campaigns for information-sharing with those particular communities. More funds need to be allocated for the maintenance of the mobile trucks that provide services especially to rural communities.
Chairperson, other disabled people cited red tape and poor treatment by officials, and as a result they do not make use of grants. Some disabled people are disqualified and do not appeal to the tribunal because of a lack of information. We would like to urge the department to fast-track the process of redefining disability. We believe 61% represents the number of disabled people who have fallen between the cracks.
The shortage of social workers has been a challenge for many years. We applaud those who work tirelessly for the poor and vulnerable in order to change their lives, but we advise the Minister to allocate more available social workers to the rural areas so as to identify the needs and see the suffering of our people in their homes and communities. In some instances vulnerable people like the disabled are raped, abused emotionally and physically, killed and ill-treated. Sometimes the perpetrators are never arrested, reported or convicted.
Let us take the case of Nozazi Notyhawe of Ngqeleni, a disabled young woman who is one of such vulnerable people. She has been neglected by her mother and siblings, and raped and impregnated by unknown people. She has been left to literally rot in a stinking hut she shares with a brood of chickens. Community members have been aware of this abuse, but have never reported it to either the DSD or the police.
We would like to suggest the appointment of community development practitioners in all areas to disseminate information and also to address the problems of the people with the department at the local service area level. Awareness campaigns will also assist in information dissemination.
I would like to express a word of appreciation to the social worker and their area manager at Ngqeleni Local Service Area, Miss Nompozolo, for their co-operation when I went there to rescue this young woman, and to Miss Levi for taking Nozazi to a home, Ithemba, in Mthatha. They deserve a performance bonus, hon Minister! I request the Minister to intervene so that the perpetrators are arrested, and the police must work hand in hand with the DSD to put an end to this cruelty of raping innocent, vulnerable, disabled people as if they are their victims.
It pains us to note that 753 539 children are accessing early childhood programmes at 443 545 early childhood development centres, but only 17 062 of these centres are registered. We would suggest that registration of the nonprofit organisations, NPOs, as ECD service providers has to be improved.
Cope proposes that assistance be given to NPOs operating ECD centres in the form of intensive training and mentorship. The ECD is also vulnerable to corruption. Cope would also like to propose that the department put in place sharpened monitoring and evaluation mechanisms of the National Development Agency and Sassa programmes and outcomes.
We believe that a review of the means test is urgently needed, because it perpetuates the inequalities. Working married women with unemployed spouses and children are disadvantaged. Lack of full, accurate information puts people at a disadvantage, and some are even embarrassed. People out there think that once one turns 60 years old and older, one automatically qualifies for an old age grant.
Cope would like to express its utter dismay regarding the R234 024 million allocated to administration. Sassa is in many areas squatting in the department's facilities. People visiting these offices are exposed to harsh weather conditions. Cope is of the view that social grants have turned citizens, who should be holding government accountable, into supplicants and recipients ...
Hon member, I am sorry, your time has expired.
Therefore, Cope fully supports the budget, and promises to walk with you the walk until the last mile. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister of Social Development, the mission of Social Development is, and I quote:
To ensure the provision of comprehensive social services which protect the poor and vulnerable within the framework of the South African Constitution and subsequent legislation; create an enabling environment for sustainable development; and deliver ... quality services in partnership with all those committed to building a caring society.
In South Africa the number of social welfare grants is growing at an alarming rate. For example, there has been a 300% growth in the number of social grant beneficiaries over nine years. Treasury estimates that by 2012 we will have 16 million grant recipients in South Africa. Of these, 10 million will be child support grant beneficiaries.
Sassa plays an important role in providing these grants to all beneficiaries in our country. In their presentation this year, the agency spoke about measures it would implement in order to reduce the turnaround time for the processing of applications. These measures seem to be working, especially in urban areas, as many beneficiaries now leave the offices of the agency knowing whether or not their grant has been approved and when they will receive their first grant payment. Most of the agencies in urban areas are operating in this manner, but there is still room for improvement, and more still needs to be done in rural areas.
We are concerned about the fact that Sassa received a qualified audit due to a number of challenges, ranging from missing files to loose correspondence not filed and critical documents missing. We hope for a better audit outcome at the end of the fiscal year.
Sassa has to clean up its act, as its present state of poor organisation renders the agency vulnerable to fraud and corruption. The shortage of social workers is another major problem facing the department. We welcome the Minister's remarks today that retired social workers might be brought back into the system to come and assist, because this is a serious problem. Sassa also faces additional challenges, such as sharing offices with the Department of Social Development, DSD, in certain regions.
Lokho kuyinkinga ... [That is a problem ...] ... Minister, because in some areas there are pigeonholes. The person is sitting there being interviewed, concerned that the next person is listening to their personal life history and health condition, which is unacceptable. Conditions at certain paypoints do not meet the norms and standards. The growing number of social grants is having a negative impact on service delivery, and staff- perpetrated fraud is becoming endemic in some regions.
We are happy to hear that fraud management, good governance and beneficiary maintenance will receive priority attention. The move from a cash-based welfare payment system to an electronically based system is also welcomed and we look forward to its rapid national implementation.
The Central Drug Authority, CDA, also plays a very important role in the lives of all South Africans in combating the scourge of substance abuse in our country. The IFP feels that the CDA and government cannot fight this war alone without the intervention and assistance of the parents and family of those concerned.
The information and resolutions taken at the Anti-Substance Abuse Summit must be disseminated to all members of the communities. More rehabilitation centres are needed and rural communities must be included, as drug and alcohol abuse is rampant in our urban and rural communities. Drug abuse is also complicating our fight against Aids. A new drug called whoonga has been created from antiretroviral drugs. We have heard of cases where Aids patients have been robbed of their antiretroviral medicine.
Gender-based violence against women and children in most cases occurs in conjunction with alcohol and drug abuse. The IFP calls for this matter to be prioritised and urges the DSD to keep working with other departments, such as those of Police and of Justice and Constitutional Development, in order to come up with ways of assisting our communities in this regard.
The mandate of the National Development Agency, NDA, is to contribute to the eradication of poverty by granting funds to civil society organisations for the purpose of carrying out certain projects. Most of these projects have lapsed due to a lack of capacity to run the business for which the project was created. The IFP urges that training should be given to all those who receive government funding in order to ensure that they are all able to sustain their businesses, and thereby achieve the operational objectives and mandates of the agency. The IFP would also like to see more monitoring and evaluation of all NDA-funded projects.
The IFP supports Budget Vote No 19. Thank you. [Applause.]
Thank you, Chair. Hon Minister, you've said that established NGOs will be funded on the basis of a request for proposals based on the need for statutory services as directed by government, and that community- based organisations will be funded on the basis of the submission of an approved business plan supported by information on the community's needs. This sounds positive in that it is an indication that the Minister is mindful of the needs in these areas. However, it is not clear how this will improve the situation on the ground, as we know funds are limited.
Child protection workers are still extremely concerned that child protection, prevention, and early intervention issues are being seriously neglected. From their perspective, there has been a serious deterioration, both in child services and for children in conflict with the law. If we fail children in the developmental stage, we fail to do our best to raise responsible adults capable of serving the nation.
Government knows as well as anyone that in many cases NGOs and private organisations provide a better service for children than government, and less expensively. It is these providers particularly who need more support. Has the Minister considered the benefit of reducing the provision of the direct service in favour of outsourcing to the NGOs, who are delivering optimally, while retaining government oversight? These organisations are able to be more responsive and supply a better quality service, which is desperately needed by the vulnerable children in our nation.
When it comes to our progress or lack of progress in dealing with substance abuse, the ACDP is uneasy with the fact that, although the declared position on substance abuse is an integrated approach towards a drug-free society, the national declaration in March made no mention of tightening law enforcement with regard to drugs or alcohol, despite this having been one of the key policy proposals.
In view of this kind of approach, the ACDP calls on the Minister to ensure that the tightening up of law enforcement becomes a priority in a multisectoral sense and also to ensure that funds are made available for relevant and specific instruction of the SA Police Service, SAPS, and other agencies in their pursuit of law enforcement related to substance abuse issues. Obviously, these issues impact on our budget. Where that is not done, it impacts tremendously on our budget.
The Substance Abuse Summit in March also recognised the importance of education as a means of prevention and reducing the demand for abused substances. Do we have a credible plan of action and will this budget provide adequate funding for its implementation?
The ACDP recognises the enormous task and multiple challenges facing the department and the efforts that are being made to meet these challenges. We will support this Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon Minister, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members of the National Assembly, Members of the Executive Council, MECs, for Social Development, distinguished senior government officials from the Department of Social Development, SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, and National Development Agency, NDA, and NDA Board members, representatives of business and civil society organisations, ladies and gentlemen, sanibonani, molweni, good afternoon, goeiemiddag.
In the 2011 state of the nation address President Zuma stated that we have to link social grant recipients to economic opportunities. This is in line with the general consensus that grants should be seen as hand-ups rather than hand-outs.
One of the responsibilities delegated to me by Minister Dlamini is to give leadership to the community development programmes of the Department of Social Development. In line with this responsibility it is therefore with a great sense of commitment and determination that I stand before this august House to give motivation for the approval of Budget Vote No 19 of the Department of Social Development for the financial year 2011-12.
Ladies and gentlemen, like all previous versions, this Budget Vote is informed by the mandate given to us by the people of this country in successive elections, which is a mandate to better their lives, no more and no less. We will not treat this Budget as an accounting exercise in which to talk about how much money we have received and what we have spent. We have to account for the lives we have touched with the limited resources at our disposal. Have we addressed the enormous social challenges we face as a country? The mandate of the Department of Social Development is to ensure effective protection against vulnerability by creating an enabling environment for the provision of comprehensive, integrated and sustainable Social Development services. This means that, first and foremost, we as a department must play a key role in tackling the major challenges facing our nation and guarantee the appropriate framework, a proper environment and effective assistance in order to achieve the goal of eradicating poverty and improving the standard of living of our people.
As a department, our main priority is to create a stronger society in which our people can engage in meaningful work. But the bigger challenge is how we create a society where citizens have the opportunity to determine for themselves what type of future they desire for their communities. For us to achieve this vision demands that we should all be innovative. We have to think differently, act differently and deliver differently to make a real impact in our communities.
Ladies and gentlemen, we all know that we have to work together. We have to pool ideas, mobilise resources and knuckle down to implementing the plans and resolutions that we have drafted in the many conferences, summits and workshops that we have attended. Parachuting programmes and organisations into communities will not create sustainable projects or add to meaningful change. People know what is happening in their communities and we must give due consideration to their views when we design our intervention programmes. I have seen how the project led by Mrs Evah Malatsi in Meriting, North West, is running successfully.
In line with government's policy of bringing services closer to our people, we will launch the campaign, "Taking the Department of Social Development to communities", in the current financial year. The purpose of this campaign is to consult with our people within the context of community development, with a special emphasis on poverty eradication, ensuring food security and job creation. We are going to visit all the provinces, starting next month. The National Development Agency, will be a key partner in this programme. We will also collaborate with other government departments, state agencies and organisations to ensure that communities benefit practically from this programme.
Let us be practical and start doing the right thing. Our country has a history of community and social mobilisation. That was how we defeated apartheid and I have no doubt in my mind that that is how we can defeat inequality and poverty. In this spirit, and with our renewed determination and vigour to contribute to a winning nation, the focus will be on repositioning our efforts, with a particular focus on early childhood education, community mobilisation campaigns, capacity building of community- based organisations, the establishment or strengthening of community development forums, youth development, and sustaining efforts to combat the scourge of HIV and Aids and also substance and alcohol abuse.
In line with government's priority of developing rural areas, our approach is to build sustainable food security and nutrition programmes at household and community level. Our overarching goal is to build a solid foundation at both the household and the community levels to ensure food security at all times.
This has been achieved through a variety of food security and nutrition programmes, such as household and community food gardens, community nutrition centres, and soup kitchens initiated and supported by the department. I wish to report that during the period under review there has been some encouraging progress. In the last financial year 200 000 people were linked to food security and nutrition programmes.
I can also report that we are making steady progress in the expansion of the food bank model throughout the country. To date, more than 320 000 people have access to food through these food security and nutrition programmes. Vulnerable households now have regular access to diverse nutritious and affordable food.
To strengthen and expand these initiatives, we will explore other food security and nutrition initiatives, including Brazil's comprehensive Zero Hunger Programme. We are learning from the Brazilians.
Hon Chairperson, we remain focused on achieving Goal 1 of the eight Millennium Development Goals. Reducing extreme poverty and hunger is non- negotiable. With this in mind, we in the department will continue our efforts to conduct household profiling as part of the War on Poverty Campaign. To date, over 100 000 households in vulnerable communities have been profiled. We will intensify our efforts by training field workers, including community development workers, to ensure that data gathered during the household profiling is reliable enough to enable better planning.
Hon members, we need to institutionalise and professionalise the training of community development workers so that they do not become too theoretical but can help us to win this war on poverty. In this regard, a National Community Development Policy Framework has been developed and will be finalised during the course of this financial year.
In addition, the process of the standardisation of the training of community development practitioners has been completed with the production and registration of a four-year Bachelor of Community degree. The department will start consultations with all institutions of higher learning offering community development qualifications to adopt this standardised degree. We will put all our efforts into ensuring that this is successful.
Chairperson, I am happy to report that we have improved our services to nonprofit organisations, NPOs. Registration times have decreased. All nine provinces have been assisted with structures for the support of registration of NPOs ... [Applause.] ... and we have developed funding guidelines. We urge members to encourage communities to register their NPOs, not only to access funding, but in order to operate with a sense of integrity.
During this fiscal year the department will double its efforts directed towards the attainment of a long and healthy life for all South Africans. This we will do by contributing to national efforts to arrest the spread of HIV and Aids infections. The focus is on the implementation of prevention and social behaviour programmes, targeting farming communities and informal settlements. We will also continue to implement the community-based home care programme to support individuals, families and communities affected by HIV and Aids. We will continue to conduct community conversations as part of the National Strategic Plan on HIV and Aids, TB and malaria to build Aids-competent communities.
We are working hard to ensure that children affected by HIV and Aids receive appropriate psychosocial and other support through monitoring the implementation of the national co-ordinated response for orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV and Aids. The fact that there are child- headed households in our country causes me many sleepless nights.
Ladies and gentlemen, development strategies cannot overlook the importance of population factors if they aim to contribute to sustainable development, improved quality of life and poverty eradication. Far from being merely a question of numbers, there are critical links between population and sustainable development. Accordingly, the National Population Unit will continue to implement research, capacitybuilding and information, education and communication projects to further promote the implementation of the South African Population Policy. The focus will be on the social sector with a view to integrating population concerns into local government's integrated development plans, IDPs, with emphasis on gender equity, gender equality, women empowerment, youth development, HIV and Aids, migration and environmental concerns, especially in rural areas.
The issue of population is a primary concern for us as a country in the realisation of sustainable development and economic growth. We therefore need to pay special attention to the need to reap the benefits of having a large youth population for the benefit of the country and our young people. South Africa will continue to play a progressive role in international population affairs. Starting this year, the department will be hosting the annual board meeting and conference of the Partners in Population and Development, which represents an alliance of 25 developing countries that promote population development as well as sexual and reproductive health rights.
Hon Chairperson, young people continue to be a major focus for us this year, the year that has been proclaimed the International Year of Youth by the United Nations. The year aims to encourage dialogue and understanding across generations and promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and freedoms, and solidarity. In pursuit of these goals, we will continue to target our youth in all quarters. The Masupatsela Youth Pioneer Programme's prime objective is to empower young people to take an active role in their communities and to be responsible citizens. Sixty per cent of the youth recruited to the programme have been linked to meaningful job opportunities such as community development assistants and youth ambassadors, while others have obtained scholarships to study towards a degree in Social Work.
Hon members, please encourage especially the young women in your constituencies to pursue their education at all costs. There have been alarming reports of teenage pregnancy and we have to do everything in our power to eradicate the factors that give rise to this great challenge. A classroom must be a classroom and not a maternity ward. [Applause.]
The realisation of the strategic priorities that the hon Minister Dlamini and I have outlined here today will require a deep appreciation of the fact that the realisation of national goals will necessarily involve the building of social partnerships in which all stakeholders have a genuine role to play.
We would like to put on record our appreciation for the work of civil society, community-based organisations, CBOs, and all our social partners. Their generosity during the recent natural disasters that befell our country has been a good example of social solidarity.
Before I conclude, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation to Minister Dlamini for her inspiring leadership, to the Director-General, Mr Vusi Madonsela, to the acting CEO of the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, ... [Interjections.] I support the Budget. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Hon members, in case you are smelling a bad smell in here, let me say that I have been informed by the technical people that it is as a result of a small technical fault with the air-conditioning, but it has been attended to. Things will improve as we proceed, so take it easy.
Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister and hon members, Social Development plays a crucial role ... [Interjections.] ... in a country like South Africa, where several social challenges threaten the economy, morale and wellbeing of every citizen. Having said this, let me say social workers play a vital role in the restoration of South Africa's social structures, working within them, and in the fight against crime and poverty. They often work under difficult circumstances.
The ID has over the past few years expressed concern about the decreasing number of social workers throughout the country. Vacancy rates have been a particular concern, especially with the lack of training facilities for this much-needed profession.
The ID have repeatedly told government that efforts to fight crime must go hand in hand with the efforts of social workers in the communities, as this is where the root causes of crime, abuse and the dehumanisation of our people can be dealt with efficiently.
Several backlogs in the department are having a negative impact on the already limited qualified social service providers. For example, social workers are stretched to their limit in trying to process the court applications where these shortcomings affect the sustainability of children in foster care and those dependent on social grants.
Despite this devastating reality, sufficient funds do not seem to be allocated to the various provinces to assist the nongovernmental agencies on which the state so heavily depends. Services such as home-based care and child support should be run through NGOs and community-based organisations, and adequate provision must be made for people's salaries.
In conclusion, the Western Cape has made great strides over the past few months in identifying and tackling issues that seem to be at the root of social injustices. It is the duty and responsibility of this department to provide the necessary structures, to ensure that all needs are met and to provide requirements needed to improve social upliftment. The ID supports this Vote. Thank you.
Voorsitter, dit is uiters tragies dat terwyl ons vandag ons begrotingspos debatteer daar weeshuise - dis die organisasies sonder winsoogmerke, NPO's - ouetehuise en MIV/Vigs-instansies in Limpopo is wat vier maande gelede geen finansiering gekry het nie en wat duidelik weet dat hulle hierdie maand ook niks gaan kry nie. Toe ek vanoggend die oproepe kry, het ek gewonder hoe hulle vandag kos en brood op daardie kinders se tafels sit. Ek wil graag h dat die Minister dadelik iets aan hierdie situasie doen. Dit het verlede jaar gebeur en gebeur nog steeds.
Voorsitter, die agb Minister Trevor Manuel se onlangse aanval op die ANC- regering se diensleweringsrekord is die vierde voorval van hierdie aard in drie maande waarin hy van oorlogsvoering teen die ANC beskuldig word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.) [Mrs H LAMOELA: Chairperson, it is really tragic that while we are debating our Budget Vote today there are orphanages - these are nonprofit organisations, NPOs - old age homes and HIV/Aids institutions in Limpopo that did not receive funding four months ago, which clearly know that they will not be receiving this month either. When I received these calls this morning, I was wondering how they were going to put food and bread on the table for these children today. I would like the Minister to do something about this situation immediately. This happened last year and is still happening.
Chairperson, the hon Minister Trevor Manuel's recent attack on the service delivery record of the ANC-led government is the fourth incident of this kind in three months in which he has been accused of warfare against the