Thank you, Chairperson.
Ngithokoze, ngithanda ukuzibuzela kuNgqongqoshe kodwa ngaphambi kwalokho, ngithanda ukuphawula ngokuthi, ukwakha umphakathi onakekelayo, lapho izingane zethu zizoba nogqozi, zibe nentshisekelo, zibambe iqhaza futhi zivikeleke. Lowo umsebenzi engicabanga ukuthi ngowethu sonke kungabi yinkinga kuphela ebhekene nabezokuthuthukisa umphakathi.
Lokhu ngikusho ngoba akufanele lapha sikhulume ngalezo zingane eziswelayo, ngesinye isikhathi zizothatha imali yesondlo kuMnyango Wezokuthuthukiswa Komphakathi. Kukhona izingane, abazali bazo abakwazi ukuzenzela izinto, kodwa nazo zidinga ukuvikelwa ngoba isikole siphuma ligamenxe ihora lesibili emini kuze kushaye ihora lesithupha abazali bangekho basemisebenzini.
Yilapho lezi zingane ziphuza khona utshwala, zidle izidakamizwa, zilalane zikhulelisane, ziphinde zisulelane ngengculazi. Bengithi kuyinkinga yini ukuthi uMnyango Wezokuthuthukiswa Komphakathi uma usuhlangene neminye iMinyango efana noWezobuciko Namasiko, Ezemidlalo, oweMfundo eseMazingeni Aphansi, sengathi kungaba nohlelo olwenziwayo ukuze lezi zingane zikwazi ukuba nezinto ezizenzayo ngalesi sikhathi abazali bazo abangekho ngaso.
UNGQONGQOSHE WEZOKUTHUTHUKISWA KOMPHAKATHI: Ngiyabonga Sihlalo, ngibonge kakhulu nelungu elihloniphekile, ngibona ukuthi uyishaye esikhonkosini le ndaba. Kodwa into esemqoka kakhulu ukuthi vele akuwona uMnyango Wezokuthuthukiswa Komphakathi obheka izindaba zezingane.
Izindaba zezingane zibhekwa nguMnyango Wamaphoyisa ziphinde zibhekwe uMnyango Wezemfundo, Wezobulungiswa Nokuthuthukiswa koMthethosisekelo, uMnyango Wezempilo, uMnyango Wezasekhaya, uMnyango Wezemidlalo Nokungcebeleka kanye noMnyango Wezobuciko Namasiko.
Ngakho-ke sihlanganyela ndawonye nabo bonke laba. Ukuthi ngokomthetho nangokuya ngoMthetho weziNgane yithina esihola noma esihambha phambili ekubhekeleni ukuthi uMthetho weziNgane uyasebenza yini. Ngiyabonga kakhulu. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Thank you. I would like to ask something from the Minister, but before I do that, I would like to make a comment. In order to build a caring society in which children are inspired, motivated, involved and protected - which is the responsibility of all of us - it should not be a problem faced only by the Department of Social Development.
I say this because we are not supposed to talk about those needy children here; they will get their child grant from the Department of Social Development. There are children whose parents are able to take care of them, but who also need to be protected because the school finishes at half past two in the afternoon and the parents are still at work till six o'clock.
That is when these children drink liquor, abuse drugs, infect each other with Aids and girls are impregnated. Would it not be possible for the Department of Social Development to work with the other departments such as Arts and Culture, Sport and Recreation and Basic Education to have a programme that these children can engage in during the time of their parents' absence?