Thank you, Chair. Hon Minister, you've said that established NGOs will be funded on the basis of a request for proposals based on the need for statutory services as directed by government, and that community- based organisations will be funded on the basis of the submission of an approved business plan supported by information on the community's needs. This sounds positive in that it is an indication that the Minister is mindful of the needs in these areas. However, it is not clear how this will improve the situation on the ground, as we know funds are limited.
Child protection workers are still extremely concerned that child protection, prevention, and early intervention issues are being seriously neglected. From their perspective, there has been a serious deterioration, both in child services and for children in conflict with the law. If we fail children in the developmental stage, we fail to do our best to raise responsible adults capable of serving the nation.
Government knows as well as anyone that in many cases NGOs and private organisations provide a better service for children than government, and less expensively. It is these providers particularly who need more support. Has the Minister considered the benefit of reducing the provision of the direct service in favour of outsourcing to the NGOs, who are delivering optimally, while retaining government oversight? These organisations are able to be more responsive and supply a better quality service, which is desperately needed by the vulnerable children in our nation.
When it comes to our progress or lack of progress in dealing with substance abuse, the ACDP is uneasy with the fact that, although the declared position on substance abuse is an integrated approach towards a drug-free society, the national declaration in March made no mention of tightening law enforcement with regard to drugs or alcohol, despite this having been one of the key policy proposals.
In view of this kind of approach, the ACDP calls on the Minister to ensure that the tightening up of law enforcement becomes a priority in a multisectoral sense and also to ensure that funds are made available for relevant and specific instruction of the SA Police Service, SAPS, and other agencies in their pursuit of law enforcement related to substance abuse issues. Obviously, these issues impact on our budget. Where that is not done, it impacts tremendously on our budget.
The Substance Abuse Summit in March also recognised the importance of education as a means of prevention and reducing the demand for abused substances. Do we have a credible plan of action and will this budget provide adequate funding for its implementation?
The ACDP recognises the enormous task and multiple challenges facing the department and the efforts that are being made to meet these challenges. We will support this Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]