Thank you, Chair. We note the priorities outlined by the department in relation to improved performance monitoring and evaluation; improved access to rights and developmental opportunities for women, children, people with disabilities; and the department's focus on the protection of the rights of persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
It is not clear, however, how existing priorities are specifically aimed at supporting and protecting family life. In the Department's Mandate Implementation Improvement Plan, the first point the department makes is that - Family life is critical for delivery on the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities. Strengthening your family structures is therefore an important element of successful delivery on the rights of persons in these vulnerable groups.
The ACDP believes that the people of South Africa would like to see more being done to prioritise this important aspect. There are approximately 18,3 million children living in South Africa; the allocated budget for the children's programme amounts to an expenditure of R2,65c per child in South Africa. This makes it an enormous challenge. Also, many doubt that figure and say it is much lower.
R7,1 million has also been allocated to meet the challenge of existing disability targets as well as for finalising the draft national disability policy.
The 2070 community survey indicates there are an estimated 1,9 million people living with a disability in South Africa; this constitutes approximately 4% of the total population - another enormous challenge.
In June 2009, the Minister referred to an immediate deliverable of the department being the establishment of the fund for women's empowerment, which is aimed at enabling them to start their own businesses and assisting NGOs in civil society in the undertaking of women's empowerment programmes.
The ACDP would like to know if this fund has, in fact, been established and what financial resources have or will be dedicated to it. Taking into account the limited financial support for the human resources capacity of the new department and the enormous scope of the mandate ... [Time expired.]