Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister and hon members ...
... agb Minister en Adjunkminister, baie geluk met u aanstellings in u onderskeie posisies. [... hon Minister and Deputy Minister, congratulations on being appointed to your respective posts.]
My humble plea to you is to be very biased towards the poor and frail in society. The mission statement of the Department of Social Development is "to enable the poor, the vulnerable and the excluded within South African society to secure a better life for themselves, in partnership with them and with all those who are committed to building a caring society".
In 2000 is die naam van die departement verander van die Departement van Welsyn en Bevolkingsontwikkeling na die Departement van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling omdat een van die sleutelareas van die betrokke departement is om armoede te verlig en sosiale integrasie te bevorder. Hierdeur het die fokus dus verskuif vanaf welsyn na gemeenskapsontwikkeling deur die samewerking en bemagtiging van gemeenskappe. [Applous.]
Gedurende die afgelope vyf jaar is die anti-armoede strategie gentensifiseer weens beter kordinasie en 'n meer sistematiese en konsulterende benadering. Hierdeur word die missiestelling van die Departement van Gemeenskaplike Ontwikkeling uitgevoer. Hierdie strategie vereis egter ook 'n proses van deurlopende evaluering en assessering sodat die klint en die mense 'n beter lewe deur maatskaplike dienslewering en interdepartementele samewerking kan kry.
Ten spyte van die ANC-regering se intense ingryping, bly armoede, ongelykhede en werkloosheid van die groot uitdagings wat oorkom moet word. Armoede ken geen geslag, ras of ouderdom nie. Daarom moet armoede as 'n nasionale probleem aangepak word. In hoofstuk 2 van die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika word gemeld: "Everyone has the right to access social security, including if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants."
Gedurende dienslewering moet mense, veral kinders en bejaardes, wat die mees kwesbares in die gemeenskap is, eerste gestel word. In sy staatsrede het President Zuma onder meer ges:
... the fight against poverty remains the cornerstone of our government's focus ... For as long as there are women who are subjected to discrimination, exploitation or abuse ... For as long as there are children who do not have the means nor the opportunity to receive a decent education ... We shall not rest, and we dare not falter, in our drive to eradicate poverty.
Die strategiese plan van die Departement van Gemeenskapsontwikkeling vir 2009-12 maak onder andere voorsiening vir die beskerming van kinders deur die infasering van die gewysigde Kinderwet van 2005 en deur die nodige beleide, strategie en programme te ontwikkel om kinderregte te bevorder en te fokus op die beskerming van weerlose kinders.
Die Ke Moja-bewusmakingsprogram, wat beteken "No thanks, I'm fine without drugs", is een van die inisiatiewe wat daarop gemik is om dwelmmisbruik onder die jeug te bekamp en hulle te bemagtig om ingeligte en verantwoordelike besluite teen groepsdruk te neem. Hierdie program moet ook in ander provinsies bekendgestel word.
Die geweldige tegnologiese ontwikkeling van die afgelope twee dekades het kinders verslaaf. Min of geen navorsing is nog gedoen of aan ouers bekendgemaak aangaande die effek wat "Facebook", "chat rooms", SMSe, "MXit", videospeletjies en ander tegnologie op die ontwikkeling van kinders het nie.
Die rook van die okkapyp het ook 'n algemene gebruik geword in baie van ons gemeenskappe. Hoe benvloed dit die gesondheid en ontwikkeling van die rokers? Is dit 'n "stepping stone" vir meer verslawende dwelms? Daar word beweer dat dagga en pille deur di pyp gerook word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[In 2000, the department's name was changed from the Department of Social Welfare and Population Development to the Department of Social Development because one of the department's key focus areas is to alleviate poverty and promote social integration. In this way the focus shifted from welfare to social development through the co-operation and empowerment of communities. [Applause.]
During the past five years, the antipoverty strategy has been intensified as a result of improved co-ordination and a more systematic and consultative approach. In this way the mission statement of the Department of Social Development is implemented. However, this strategy also requires a process of ongoing evaluation and assessment so that the client and the people are able to secure a better life through social service delivery and interdepartmental co-operation.
Despite the ANC-led government's intensive intervention, poverty, inequality and unemployment remain some of the big challenges that need to be overcome. Poverty knows no gender, race or age. Therefore poverty needs to be addressed as a national problem. In chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa the following is stated: "Everyone has the right to access social security, including if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants."
In the course of service delivery people who are the most vulnerable in society, especially children and the elderly, should be put first. In his state of the nation address President Zuma said the following:
... the fight against poverty remains the cornerstone of our government's focus ... For as long as there are women who are subjected to discrimination, exploitation or abuse ... For as long as there are children who do not have the means nor the opportunity to receive a decent education ... We shall not rest, and we dare not falter, in our drive to eradicate poverty.
The Department of Social Development's strategic plan for 2009-12 makes provision for, amongst others, the protection of children by phasing in the amended Children's Act of 2005 and developing the necessary policies, strategies and programmes in order to promote children's rights and focus on the protection of vulnerable children.
The Ke Moja awareness programme, which means "No thanks, I'm fine without drugs", is one of the initiatives aimed at combating drug abuse among the youth and empowering them to make informed and responsible decisions against peer pressure. This programme should also be rolled out in other provinces.
Major technological development during the past two decades has children hooked. Little or no research has been done and not a lot is known to parents regarding the influence that things like Facebook, chat rooms, SMSs, MXit, video games and other technology have on children's development.
Smoking the hookah has also become commonplace in many of our communities. What effect does this have on the health and development of smokers? Is it a stepping stone towards more addictive drugs? It is alleged that marijuana and pills are being smoked through this pipe.]
The foundations of social behaviour are laid in childhood. The early childhood development programme should be accelerated, despite the fact that 50% of the target has already been met.
Daar moet veral gefokus word op die landelike gebiede waar daar nog nie voldoende infrastruktuur is nie. Baie dankie. [Tyd verstreke.] [Applous.] [Specific attention should be given to rural areas in particular where infrastructure is not yet adequate. [Thank you. Time expired.] [Applause.]]