Coming back to the debate on social matters, in November 2010 the department hosted a spectacularly successful international conference on behalf of the International Social Security Association. It was the first time in the association's 87-year history that our country hosted this event. This unique global event gathered over one thousand leaders, administrators, policy makers and representatives of international organisations, including cabinet ministers from several foreign countries. The forum provided an exclusive platform to analyse and debate a range of key issues facing social security today. The conference again emphasised the significant progress that South Africa has made in moving towards a system of comprehensive social security, as well as the gaps that remain in the system.