Sihlalo Lohloniphekile, Ndvuna yeLitiko Letekutfutukiswa Kwemimango, neLisekela lakho, nine bakagogo, nine boPhunga naMageba, bekunene. [Hon Chairperson, the hon Minister of the Department of Social Development, and your Deputy, the House at large, children of Phunga and Mageba, ladies and gentlemen.]
Minister, as the ANC, we welcome the speech. It bodes well for the war on poverty which was launched in August last year in the Free State. The objective of the operation is poverty. The progress is clear. The War Room on Poverty is structured differently in the provinces.
What is social development? Social development means transforming institutions to empower people. It comprises investment in human and social capital for the advancement of people's wellbeing. This includes actions which expand an individual's capabilities and opportunities; promoting social inclusion and combating social ills; and enriching the social fabric needed for human development.
Successful social development involves supporting individuals, families and communities to develop and deliver their own solutions; focusing on the whole package of needs, strengths and issues for individuals, families and communities; ensuring that social and economic development interventions support each other and are sustainable; taking a whole-of-life perspective; government working in partnership with local authorities and with the private sector to develop local services; developing solid evidence about what works and regularly monitoring South Africans' wellbeing; and ensuring that there is flexibility to respond to regional and local needs.
According to the 2005 United Nations World Summit on Social Development, "the ultimate goal of social development is to improve and enhance the quality of life of all people". The World Summit adopted the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, which was signed by South Africa and more than 100 other nations. The declaration promotes democracy, human dignity, social justice and solidarity, as well as the equitable distribution of income and greater access to resources through equity and equality of opportunity for all.
In terms of an overview of the social development approach, the notion of wellbeing is a useful starting point for describing overall the ANC-led government's goals. Wellbeing is partly a function of a person's ability to make choices and live the type of life they want to lead. Wellbeing is not simply about access to income or resources, but is also related to health and education, and to social, cultural, environmental and political outcomes. It includes participation in formal and informal political processes that constitute governance at all levels in society. It also involves participation in cultural processes that create and sustain individual groups and collective identities.
At a very general level, the objective of the ANC-led government is to improve both the overall level and the distribution of wellbeing. In other words, while policy focuses on improving the average wellbeing of all members of society, it is also constrained by a need to ensure that all individuals achieve some level of wellbeing above the basic minimum level; have the opportunity of a fair chance to achieve their potential; and that the wellbeing of future generations is protected.
We are happy that the Department of Social Development is working closely with the Department of Trade and Industry in determining opportunities and coming up with a draft concept document of social development co- operatives. We are indeed pleased that the department is trying to explore opportunities through which social grants can be complemented in order to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable livelihoods. Thank you [Time expired.] [Applause.]