Chairperson, in South Africa we have a situation in which 82% of the population is classified as being poor, with poverty levels ranging between 50% and 80%. Unemployment is the root cause of poverty in our country. Inequality is another issue driven more by wage disparity than unemployment.
By 2010, over 13 million people would have received social aid assistance. The question of sustainability is of concern, with some economists saying that South Africa is already the largest welfare state in the world. The problem that we are currently vexed with from a social assistance point of view is how to create a situation in which self-reliance will be promoted and not sole dependency upon state social aid relief.
However, social security is a socioeconomic right that is underwritten by our Constitution. Therefore, we are duty bound to ensure that it fulfils its purpose of financially assisting our most vulnerable and poverty stricken. The Department of Social Development is at the forefront of poverty alleviation and must have the correct legal instruments with which to fulfil its mandate, both effectively and efficiently to the poor and poverty-stricken of our country.
The current Amendment Bill seeks to provide the applicant with greater powers in terms of the appeals procedure, as well as empowering the beneficiaries of social aid grants with the right of appeal to the agency for reconsideration of its decision in respect of a grant, before appealing to an independent tribunal.
The addition of the beneficiaries to the appeal procedure is most welcome because it enables beneficiaries to institute appeal proceedings independently or on behalf of the applicant, thus, once again ensuring a "cover all" clause for social aid relief.
When people living below the poverty line apply for social aid, they are already in a desperate state of affairs. These amendments allow for the expediting of appeals in such matters, thus enabling the government to provide real-time assistance to people in need.
Enjoyment of the right to an adequate standard of living and social protection is of critical importance to the people of South Africa. Regulating the appeals to independent tribunal will also greatly assist in streamlining the procedure, thus providing more effective delivery of aid by the department.
The above is in line with the international norms and conventions, such as the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and certain constitutional imperatives of our own Constitution, such as Section 33, which ensures just administrative action. This accordingly makes the amendment of this Act a very necessary one.
The IFP supports the amendment to the Social Assistance Bill. I thank you. [Applause.]