Official reply: 15 December 09
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION 185
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
Date of publication on internal question paper: November 2009
Internal question paper no:
Ms S S Chen (DA-Gauteng) to ask the Minister of Social Development:
(1) Whether there has been a delay in the funding of crèches in KwaZulu-
Natal; if so, (a) what is the reason for this delay, (b) when will this
issue be addressed and (c) what are the further relevant details;
(2) Whether these crèches provide adequate meals to children; if not, why
not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) Whether she will launch an investigation into the delay in funding of
a certain crèche in KwaZulu-Natal; if not, why not; if so, (a) when
will she launch the investigation and (b) what are the relevant
details? CW280E [Somopo Community Crèche]
REPLY:
CONTEXT
As determined by the principle of concurrent functions in our Constitution
of the Republic of South Africa, funding projects that gets authorised in
the middle of the year only happens in the subsequent financial year(s).
Only a particular amount being (R103 257 000 for KZN) gets allocated to
funding of ECDs. It does occur that more ECDs or less gets authorised and
accredited during any financial year. If more ECDs than the budget
provision allows for, get accredited in the middle of the financial year,
such ECDs funding flows into the subsequent year.
The National Department of Social Development is responsible for the
development of uniform norms and standards for Early Childhood Development
and the provincial departments of Social Development are responsible for
implementation.
The National Department of Social Development also conducts a Public
Expenditure Tracking Study (PETS) with National Treasury and UNICEF. PETS
aims at examining the quality of services provided and to propose measures
to strengthen the internal information and monitoring systems of the ECD
programmes implemented by the Department of Social Development.
SPECIFIC
ECDs would then be fully accredited and therefore funded when all the
requirements are met. It is therefore our wish and obligation to ensure
adequate and timeous funding for all our ECDs. There are unfortunately
times when very small necessities hamper speedy accreditation. We do want
to work with the relevant parties to resolve such issues as speedily as
possible.
1) Yes, there has been a delay.
a) The reason for the delay is that the KZN Province had to wait for
the MEC to present his budget speech for the subsequent year before
the budget was allocated. The MECâs budget speech was on the 5th of
August 2009. In addition, the requirements of Section 38 (1) (j)
of the Public Finance Management Act had to be adhered to as per
request of the Auditor-General. A check list was compiled and the
completion of the service level agreements that needs to be signed
by both parties was also delayed. The files for the service level
agreements are still being quality checked before the actual
signing.
As I alluded to under âcontextâ above, another issue that caused the
delay was the limited budget allocated to the Provinces for transfer
payments. There is an obligation to remain within the existing
allocation. The Province has already prioritised ECD centres that
are fully compliant for provision of the subsidy.
(b & c) The service level agreements for accredited ECD centres that the
province has a budget for were signed during November 2009. The
Province requires additional funds to meet the requirements for the
other newly registered ECD centres, to enable the province to manage
the process.
(2) Yes. Monitoring visits are undertaken in respect of all ECD centres.
These include two scheduled and two unscheduled visits per year.
From these visits it is noted that meals are provided in funded ECD
centres. In unfunded ECD centres, especially in rural and under-
resourced areas it is extremely difficult for the ECD centres
committees to provide meals. Parents provide packed meals for their
children as they are unable to pay attendance fees that cover meals.
(3) There has been no investigation launched into the Somopo Community
Crèche as this ECD centre is unknown to the Provincial Department of
Social Development in the Midlands Region. The Honourable Member of
Parliament is therefore kindly requested to provide the necessary
details so as to enable the Provincial Department of Social
Development to trace the location of the above ECD centre and assist
where we can.