Chairperson, I would like to take this opportunity and applaud the Minister for her visibility to communities in distress as well as on the stance that she takes on wrongdoing by the department officials and not hiding scandals but instead exposing them and giving out correct information to the public. [Applause.]
On behalf of Cope I would also like to applaud Mr Khaya Ngcelwane of Qawukeni area in the Eastern Cape. As the manager of the Flagstaff of the Lusikisili district, he assisted the department and the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, to save thousands of rands. More than 2 000 grant beneficiaries cancelled their defrauded grants. This poses a challenge to other provinces to do likewise by disseminating information and educating communities on corruption. For a beneficiary to get a grant when they are not supposed to, is corruption.
As the Minister stated, our country is engulfed by various social ills. Rape has an effect on children. One of the ills is the gruesome and brutal rape of children by gangs. The rape of a mentally challenged girl in Soweto is just the tip of the iceberg.
Take a map of South Africa today and juxtapose it to that of 2000. What you will see is a picture of the highest incidences of child and baby rape in the world. South Africa's 2012 map is pockmarked with thumbtacks of rape attacks. These attacks leave children and young girls with mental and physical scars. There is an increased need to address the problem socially, politically and legally. Teachers are also raping learners with impunity, for example the one in Grahamstown. The challenge is on the President as the head of the state to condemn rape attacks.
When it comes to the issue of elderly abuse Cope calls on government to strengthen interdepartmental relations to avert elderly abuse and violation of the Batho Pele principles. Ntombentsha Pama of eDutywa is an 84-year-old grandmother of six children, who was verbally abused by a ward councillor, mayor and politicians. Her crime was a visit by SABC's Touching Lives programme that reported and televised her plight.
She lives in a dilapidated and leaking house and that exposed and angered officials. They gave her a tongue-lashing, asking her why she did not go to them. This led to her collapse because her blood pressure shot up, and she had difficulty in breathing. They left her with just two blankets and a business card. Another victim of abuse is Mr Somkhala, who was brutally raped by young boys and killed in Palmerton Administrative area, in Lusikisiki.
On behalf of the Congress of the People, I would like to reiterate the review of "Ke Moja" drug awareness programme and other programmes funded by the department. Ke Moja is not visible in rural areas and townships where they are needed most. There are also taverns close to the schools, as the Minister has stated already, and the government does not seem bothered by this. I can cite Khotso Junior Secondary School where a tavern is situated right at the gate of the school.
I would also urge the hon Minister to intervene and stop the shops from selling an insect pesticide which is used to control moths in the maize tanks. People, even professionals, are using this insecticide to commit suicide in the Eastern Cape, especially in Pondoland. They leave children behind, and the department is obliged to take care of them. Prevention is better than cure. To remind the department, in 2007, Ms Mfiki of Mtambalala used this insecticide to kill herself and her four children. The department had to bury those five bodies.
I would like also to state the call I have made early this year. I called on the government to give clarity on the policy of pauper burials. When someone dies and there is no one to take responsibility for the body, the hospital where death occurred will arrange for a simple funeral. Jongikhaya Mpayipheli of Lady Frere died in hospital here in Cape Town, on 1 May 2011. Instead of a simple funeral and burial, the hospital handed his body to the funeral parlour. The parlour donated his body to Stellenbosch University. His family found him made a cadaver without their consent. This gives an impression that there are many people who died and their deaths are not known by their families. They never get a proper and dignified burial but are donated to universities as cadavers for research.
Who in this House can accept such an act to be done to his or her family member? I would like to urge the department responsible for this to apologise to Mpayipheli's family on behalf of the government. I understand that the government cannot authorise anyone to donate the corpse of any person without the consent of his next of kin. Even if a person is unknown, either the hospital or parlour has a responsibility to bury the corpse. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa respects cultural life and choices of people. Cope believes it is time for the Constitution to reign. Access to information is a right, not a privilege, and this must be enacted to give effect to this right. In conclusion, Cope supports the Budget vote. I thank you. [Applause.]