Chairperson, Acting Chief Whip, members of the provincial executive councils, permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, sanibonani, ake nginibingelele egameni leNkosi [greetings; let me greet you in the name of the Lord].
The last time I debated in the NCOP I was the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry. Now I am in the Department of Social Development.
I also want to register the fact that I received the report only yesterday. However, that does not matter - I have perused it and must commend the members of the NCOP for exercising their oversight role in a diligent manner.
On behalf of Minister Dlamini and myself, I thank all hon members under the leadership of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Chief Whip for bringing to our attention challenges faced by our communities. We as Social Development have to start somewhere, and the report is going to assist us a great deal in fighting poverty. This is a tool for us.
The theme of the report, "Working together to ensure faster improvement in the delivery of services and the living conditions of our people", is exactly how we want to do our work. It is you, members of this House, who must act as our eyes and ears in bringing matters to our attention. We are there for you - we are available. More importantly, it is you who must hold us accountable as a department. Ask tough questions and demand honest answers. Do not hesitate to instruct us and direct us to where the challenges are.
Minister Dlamini will be tabling the ministerial budget, probably in April, where detailed plans will be outlined, and I would not like to pre-empt what we will say as a department. However, I have noted some challenges in the report, mainly those related to social workers, projects for youth at risk and early childhood centres that are struggling.
What I missed in the report, especially in the area where I know there is a major problem, is the issue alcohol and substance abuse. This is a major problem and I expected a stronger focus on these two very serious social ills. The Western Cape report does refer to a few programmes aimed at targeting the youth in addressing substance abuse issues, things like tik, wonga, nyaope and dagga. Our children are dying and we need to rescue them from this deadly disease called drugs.
The reason I am so concerned is that, in the 2011 state of the nation address President Zuma said:
We will work with communities and other key stakeholders to deal with drug peddling and drug abuse, which are tearing some communities apart.
He went on to say:
My visit to a drug rehabilitation centre in Mitchells Plain on Tuesday convinced me that we need more energy in the fight against drug abuse and drug peddling in our communities.
He said, furthermore:
I have directed our police force to deal decisively with people who sell drugs to children in Cape Town and other areas. We will also not tolerate tavern owners who sell alcohol to children.
While I acknowledge that this report is from the previous year, this problem has been escalating for years, therefore prompting the President to mention it. If we do not fight alcohol and drug abuse, we have no future. Our children are dying one by one.
The Department of Social Development is supporting the Soul City, Phuza Wize campaign, as well as the Soul Buddyz campaign, the latter being an intervention for children from their pre-teens. We launched that campaign late last year.
From the report it is obvious that not only hon members but all of us - Ministers, Deputy Ministers and, more so, officials - must get out of our offices and go into the communities to see what is happening on a regular basis.
In this way we will not let good community initiatives, like the early childhood centre started in 1984 by the Roman Catholic Church in Makwateng, or the one founded in 1995, experience the difficulties they do. Let us not become spectators. This is an open invitation to join us at any time and play in whatever position you are in. I will now personally intervene and take officials from provincial and national offices to see if we cannot come up with a better solution than to say that the three facilities must amalgamate, because such a move will result in unemployment.
We need collective wisdom to tackle social problems. We need all the spheres of government, together with communities and community-based organisations, and even the private sector, to deal decisively with the social challenges as mentioned in the report. This is a campaign for all of us.
In this regard I have indicated to the officials that we have to embark on a programme of taking the department to the people. As soon as the budget is tabled, this programme will commence. [Applause.] I will, personally, lead this initiative on behalf of the Ministry. As I said last time when I was at the DTI, I am not an office Minister, and I am saying it again.
Phumani emahhovisi. [Ihlombe.] [Get out of the offices. [Applause.]]
These visits will complement visits made by others, like the visits that gave rise to this report. For these interactions to be successful, I will call for the assistance of hon members to guide us where necessary. It would probably assist us to visit those communities and facilities mentioned in the report as a start.
We acknowledge that there are serious capacity challenges that are related to social workers. We also acknowledge that there are dedicated individuals who continue to do their best under difficult circumstances. In order to address the challenge of a shortage of qualified professionals, the Department of Social Development has a bursary scheme for those who want to become social workers.
Niwuhlabe niwulawule, bangene bafunde. [Ihlombe.] [Spread the word, they must come and study. [Applause.]]
Minister Dlamini has also met with veteran social workers and asked for their assistance in mentoring the ones starting off in the profession. This is an ongoing process in our endeavour to ensure faster improvement in living conditions and the delivery of services to our people.
The President has urged us to link welfare grant recipients with economic opportunities. We have every intention of doing just that, by encouraging the creation of social co-operatives and giving information and assistance to communities to start engaging in economic opportunities. Since this is not our core business as a department, we have to link up with departments in the economic cluster to assist. We are not removing grants but we are saying people must augment what they are getting.
We once again thank the NCOP, including officials who participated in this provincial visit, for the report. I will ensure that we engage in some follow-up activities, during which we can report back to the House on matters brought to our attention. It will not only be follow-ups but also start to deal with the challenges.
Sithathe izinyathelo sisebenze bakwethu. Sesikhulumile kwanele, sesidinga ukuthatha izinyathelo sisebenze. Sidinga uk uthi sibaphucule abantu bakithi lapho behleli khona sibasize baphume osizini bakwazi ukuziphilisa nokuzenzela ngoba banalo ikhono lokuzenzela.
Ngimema wonke umphakathi ukuthi silwe nobubha, silwe notshwala; utshwala obuphuzwa ngabantwana, utshwala obuphuzwa yintsha esakhula, utshwala obuphuzwa omama abazithwele. Silwe nabo sibabonise ukuthi ikhona indlela engcono yokuphila. Silwe nezidakamizwa; izidakamizwa zibhenywa abantwana bethu abasesikoleni, ikakhulukazi emphakathini ompisholo ngoba abantwana bethu uma bebhema izidakamizwa bayafa engqondweni.
Ekugcineni thina uma singasakwazi ukuzoma kule Ndlu sizoswela abaholi abazoma kule Ndlu ngoba bona bazobe balahlekelwe yingqondo. Ayihlome-ke bakwethu, ayihlome ihlasele. Ngalokhu engikushilo manje ngisho ukuthi siyawusekela lo mbiko sizoqhubeka siwufunde. Sizoqhubeka futhi senze lokhu esibona ukuthi kuyizinselele ezivela kulo mbiko. Sizoqhubeka sisize abantu abaphansi emakhaya ukuthi baphendule izimpilo zabo, ikakhulukazi kuguquke isimo sengqondo. Ngiyawusekela lo mbiko. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.) [People, we must take steps and work. Enough has been said; we now need to take steps and work. We need to develop our people where they are and haul them out of poverty so that they are able to do things for themselves and make a living because they have the skills to do that.
I invite every community to fight against poverty and alcohol abuse - alcohol abuse by children, the youth and pregnant women. We must fight against it and show them that there is a better way to live. We must fight drug abuse - drugs are taken by schoolchildren, especially in black communities - because when our children take drugs they become mentally disturbed.
In the end, when we can no longer stand before this House, we will not have leaders who will stand before this House because they will be mentally challenged. Let us be ready; let the gloves come off. Having said that, we support the report and we will continue to read it. We will carry on and deal with what seem to be the challenges cropping up in this report. We will continue to help in transforming people's lives in the rural areas, especially in respect of a mental transformation. I support this report. [Applause.]]
UMntwana M M M ZULU: Sihlalo, amaPhini oNgqongqoshe akhona kule Ndlu namhlanje, omele i-SA Local Government Association, i-Salga, ngokwami ukubona iSonto lezifundazwe yisonto elibalulekile ukuze kubhekwe ukuthi kwenzekani ezifundazweni njengoba simele izifundazwe kule Ndlu.
Kuyinto encomekayo ukuthi oNgqongqoshe beziFundazwe noNdunankulu beziFundazwe bathole ithuba lokusitshela ukuthi yiziphi izinkinga ezikhona. Kodwa kunezinto ezimbalwa ezingikhathazayo njengomuntu nanjengesidalwa esingumuntu. Uma ngabe uhulumeni esekhethwe yithina bese uzothi wena lapha ku-Salga - lapho kunesakhiwo somphakathi - uma sicele ukubona umasipala othile, kuvele kuthunywe umsebenzi osesikhundleni esiphansi kakhulu ongeke ukwazi ngisho ukumbuza ukuthi into ethile yenzeke kanjani njengoba umasipala ungasebenzi kahle.
Yikho-ke lokhu okungikhathazayo, ukubukeleka phansi kwalabo bantu abasuke bethunyiwe ukuba bazothola ukuthi kwenzekani. Sisuke singekho enkantolo lapho kugwetshwa khona abantu kepha sisuke sifuna ukwazi ukuthi imali kahulumeni isebenze kanjani.
Ngibonga iPhini likaNgqongqoshe wezokuThuthukiswa koMphakathi, umama uMphemba, futhi ngiyajabula ngokuthi athi umbiko uzowulandela kanye nazo zonke izinselele ezihambisana nawo ukuze kusizakale abantu bakithi. Ngiyasibonga nesimemezelo senu esithi bonke abafisa ukuba ngosonhlalakahle mabahambe baye esikoleni; lokhu kuwumbono ocace bha ukuthi indlela iqonde kuphi nokuthi kuyiwaphi nawo.
Kodwa-ke, enye into engiye ngiyibhekisise, izisebenzi zikahulumeni wethu ziziphathisa okosombusaswe, uma sifikile sizokwenza umsebenzi wokuqapha ukusebenza kukahulumeni, zenzisa okosombusazwe nosopolitiki kanti zona njengezisebenzi zomphakathi kumele zisebenze ngokwethembeka zilalele. Njengoba nathi kungafanele siphazamise ukusebenza kweminyango kahulumeni, kodwa kufanele senze umsebenzi wokuqapha ukusebenza kukahulumeni ukuze sibeke imibono yethu ekutheni abantu bangasizakala kanjani. Hhayi ngoba sisuke sizobelusa, asizona izinduna zabo, asinawo amalungelo obuduna, Njengoba mina ngingazange ngilibhade esikoleni, angikwazi ukuphatha amadoda afundile, abantu abakhuluma ngezinto ezithize. Ngakho ngiyakubonga Ngqongqoshe ngokuthi ukubeka lokhu kube sobala nokuthi uzokulandela.
Nginenkinga ngodaba lwezindawo zokuhlaliswa kwabantu, njengoba sekuyiwa okhethweni, sekunabantu abathembisa abantu ukuthi bazobakhela izindlu, kodwa abawona ngisho amakhansela. Ngisho izinduna lezi zasekhaya laphaya komkhulu aziwona amakhansela, futhi azinayo intuthuko. Ngisho iNgonyama umnewethu akanayo intuthuko ngoba akanaso isabiwomali esiqondene nentuthuko. UMnyango weziNdawo zokuHlaliswa kwaBantu kufanele uyibheke leyonto ngoba ukukhohliswa kwabantu bakithi kubasa umlilo ngoba uma kungasenzeki lokho abakuthenjisiwe bazolwa. Lezi zinto zifuna ukweluswa.
Nami-nje uma ngingaya eKapa bese ngibuye ngiye kwaZulu ngithi ngizokwakha izindlu, kufanele ngiboshwe ngoba ngiyisiboshwa futhi ngoba anginaso isabiwomali. Isabiwomali sikuNgqongqoshe naye usibheke emnyangweni wakhe othile. Omunye-ke umuntu onjengami oyiLungu lePhalamende noma oyiLungu loMkhandlu weziFundazwe akanaso isabiwomali sokuhamba ethembisa abantu izinto ngaso. Lezi zinto kufanele zibhekwe ngoba yizinto ezikhona, abantu bafile ukukhohliswa ekugcineni labo bantu bayosishisa bathi naba abantu abangafuni ukusinikeza intuthuko.
Nami ngiyaweseka lo mbiko ngoba umbiko osemqoka futhi lo mbiko ukuvezile ukuthi zikhona izinselele okubhekenwe nazo. Futhi, ngiyathemba mhlonishwa Ngqongqoshe - ngoba uyazivumela wena ngokwakho ungaphoqwe muntu - ukuthi uzozibheka lezi zinselele ngoba kungenzeka ukuthi mhlawumbe awenzi kahle. Ngiyabonga. [Kuphele Isikhathi.] (Translation of isiZulu speech follows.)
[Prince M M M ZULU: Chairperson, Deputy Ministers in our midst, the representative of the SA Local Government Association, in my view, Provincial Week is important in order to look at what is happening in the provinces. After all, as we are representing the provinces in this House.
It is appreciated that the Ministers and the premiers in the provinces get the opportunity to tell us what challenges the provinces face. There are a few things that worry me as a human being. When the government that we elected requests to see a representative from the municipality, then Salga sends an employee who occupies a very low position and whom we can't even ask why the municipality doesn't perform well.
This is what is worrying me - the undermining of the people who are sent to find out what is happening. When we are there, we are not in a court of law where people are prosecuted, but we only want to know how the government's funds are being spent.
I thank the Deputy Minister of Social Development and I'm happy that she said she would follow up on the report and all the challenges that come with it so that our people can be assisted. I also thank you for saying that all those who wish to become social workers must go to school. This is a clear indication of where we are headed.
But then I sometimes notice that our government employees behave like politicians. If we come to monitor how government operates, they behave like politicians. As public servants, they are supposed to work with loyalty and to listen to people. We are also not supposed to disturb the running of government, but observe how government works in order to make some suggestions on how the people could be assisted. We do not go to the police because we are not their supervisors. We do not have the right to be supervisors. As I am uneducated, I can't manage educated men, who talk about certain things. Therefore, I thank the Minister for clearly mentioning this and that you will follow up. I have a problem relating to human settlement. As we are approaching the elections, there are people who are promising to build houses for some people, but they are not even councillors. Even the traditional leaders in the rural areas in the royal homestead are not councillors and therefore cannot promise development. Even the king, who is my brother, cannot promise development because he has no budget specifically for development. The Department of Human Settlements must address this, because the deception of our people fuels their anger when they don't get what was promised to them. These issues need to be addressed.
Even I can go to Cape Town and then to KwaZulu-Natal and say that I will build houses, but I must be arrested because I'm a criminal and do not have the budget. The Minister is also expecting a budget from a certain department. Not every person - I, for example - who is a Member of Parliament or of the provincial legislature has a budget. These things need to be addressed because they exist. People are tired of being deceived and those people will end up burning and blaming us for not wanting to give them development.
I also support this important report and it has indicated that there are some challenges facing you. I also believe, hon Minister, that you will address these challenges because you voluntarily admitted that it might be that you are falling short in some respects. Thank you. [Time expired.]]