Date: 25/08/2003
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: A Motshekga: Tabling of Gauteng Social Services & Population Development annual report
ADDRESS BY SOCIAL SERVICES AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT MEC ANGIE MOTSHEKGA ON THE TABLING OF DEPARTMENTAL ANNUAL REPORT, Provincial Legislature, Monday, 25 August 2003
Speaker,
Premier Mbhazima Shilowa
Fellow MECs
Honourable Members
Ladies and gentlemen
We are turning the tide against poverty and are living to our commitment of being a caring government. We care indeed!
Here we are, once more, reporting on the work we have executed in the past year as we march towards the 10th year of people's power in action.
For the first time since 1994 the Gauteng Department of Social Services and Population Development was given an unqualified report by the Auditor-General. The Annual Report outlines the healthy financial status of the department.
We are indeed happy at our financial achievement, which simply means what was meant for the poor has gone to the poor.
We were allocated R3, 8 billion to execute our mandate. In doing so we reached more of our people with R3, 9 billion expenditure. In simpler terms what was given was used.
Even though the Auditor-General has given us a clean health bill there are still some matters to follow on which the Auditor-General identified.
In particular, Debtors Control and Bas (Ledger Account) not reconciling. A team is currently busy rectifying this matter.
The department has also surpassed its target by paying more than 750 000 people social grants every month. Children receive more than 350 000 of these grants.
Never before, in the history of our country has the poor, vulnerable and the destitute occupied the centre machinery of government. What we have done in the past year, we did so because the poor, the vulnerable and destitute masses dictated the course of our action. In the process we are proud that we have:
* Opened 13 more offices closer to our people, i.e. in Alex, Vosloorus, Thokoza, Ratanda, Alra Park, Dobsonville, Orlando, Diepkloof, Daveyton, Kempton Park, Eldorado Park, Zonkisizwe, Lenasia
* At the end of last year we had 590 000 beneficiaries but by today we provide social grants to 750 000 families in Gauteng. Over above that all our beneficiaries have the right to access banking facilities at no cost to the beneficiary
* We have concluded an audit of our social grants beneficiaries by clamping down on syndicates that provide medial certificate to healthy people. By now we have nabbed more than 3000 people who faulted on our grants system
* Our National Food Emergency Scheme has provided food and hope to more than 5000 families in Gauteng. By October 2003 we will start to dispatch food parcels to more 28 000 families in distress
* Our poverty relief programme is now rearing dividends. We are on track to finalise the opening of the remaining 10 development centres. These centres remain the key instrument in re-skilling and providing hope to our people
* Our school uniform programme, which is intended to provide support of school uniform to orphans in distress as well as child headed families, has now provided a summer and winter school uniforms to 1 500 children while by the end of this year we will reach 7000 children. Our process to track down all orphans and child headed families in Gauteng is now reaching its final conclusion
* More than 788 organisations that serve the weak and vulnerable in our society were funded to the tune of more than R295 m
* In partnership with organised formation for the aged, people with disabilities and women, worked very hard to empower them and defend their cause
* We put plans and programmes in place to ensure that indeed the province is fit for children by registering more than 139 places of care for children
* We have completed a modern children centre in Van Ryn, on the East Rand
* Consolidated the service level agreement for NGOs so as to ensure that we broaden our funding model to incorporate all those formations committed to serving the poor and vulnerable
* Entrenched the fight against HIV/AIDS as we broadened governments funding and support to people affected and infected with HIV/AIDS
* We have concluded our restructuring and transformation process according to resolution 7 and 8 of 2002. This paves way for us to fill all remaining vacancies as identified from the national vacancy database. We have modelled our skills development plan, employment equity targets, HIV/AIDS workplace plan and are filling critical posts as well as repositioning the departmental machinery to face the new challenge confronting it. We have resolved or targeting institutions with people with disabilities to provide us with people capable of joining our department. We do so because we are still lacking behind in the employment of people with disabilities in the department
* We continue to refine our poverty alleviation programme to be focus oriented and integrated with other poverty programmes in the province. We have established GIDU as a specialised unit to focus on the integration of government and civil service programmes
* We have enhanced our partnership with the private sector and organs of civil society. In great numbers, succeeded in mobilising volunteers who helped implement governments mandate beyond the normal call
* We are proud that we have touched the lives of so many citizens in the province through visits to various communities and the work of the volunteers. One of the pillars of our democracy is information that enables our people to know their rights. With our communication outreach programme, we have restored this citizenry to our people by providing all the available information to our people
* Speaker, chapter 7 section 152(1) c under objectives of local government has to promote social and economic development and in line with chapter 5 of the constitution under provincial functions and the assignment of functions, the constitution in section 125 state that members of the Executive Council of a province many assign any power or function many assign any power or function that is to be exercised or performed to a municipal council in terms of an agreement between the relevant Executive Council member and the municipal council.
* As part of enhancing our partnership with other government departments, we have concluded our role clarification with the Department of Correctional Services in dealing with children in prison, we have just emerged out of a key summit with Organised Local Authorities under the banner of Salga - Gauteng, we are also working with the department of Home Affairs in providing documentation that will allow our people access to grants, jointly with the dept of safety and liaison we will work in partnership on Ekhaya Le Themba, which cares for abused women.
Our staff members remain the pillar of our delivery machinery. We salute all those who continue to uphold the Batho Pele principles as we continue to strive for a better life for all.
The cause for the poor has been served. Whilst more still needs to be done, however, the road to eradicate poverty and provide care, support and love to the vulnerable has been paved.
We forever remain committed to a fight for a better life for all.
We indeed care for our people.
I thank you.
For more information contact Panyaza Lesufi on (011) 355 7873 / 082 469 0822
Issued by Gauteng Provincial Government
25 August 2003
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: A Motshekga: Tabling of Gauteng Social Services & Population Development annual report
ADDRESS BY SOCIAL SERVICES AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT MEC ANGIE MOTSHEKGA ON THE TABLING OF DEPARTMENTAL ANNUAL REPORT, Provincial Legislature, Monday, 25 August 2003
Speaker,
Premier Mbhazima Shilowa
Fellow MECs
Honourable Members
Ladies and gentlemen
We are turning the tide against poverty and are living to our commitment of being a caring government. We care indeed!
Here we are, once more, reporting on the work we have executed in the past year as we march towards the 10th year of people's power in action.
For the first time since 1994 the Gauteng Department of Social Services and Population Development was given an unqualified report by the Auditor-General. The Annual Report outlines the healthy financial status of the department.
We are indeed happy at our financial achievement, which simply means what was meant for the poor has gone to the poor.
We were allocated R3, 8 billion to execute our mandate. In doing so we reached more of our people with R3, 9 billion expenditure. In simpler terms what was given was used.
Even though the Auditor-General has given us a clean health bill there are still some matters to follow on which the Auditor-General identified.
In particular, Debtors Control and Bas (Ledger Account) not reconciling. A team is currently busy rectifying this matter.
The department has also surpassed its target by paying more than 750 000 people social grants every month. Children receive more than 350 000 of these grants.
Never before, in the history of our country has the poor, vulnerable and the destitute occupied the centre machinery of government. What we have done in the past year, we did so because the poor, the vulnerable and destitute masses dictated the course of our action. In the process we are proud that we have:
* Opened 13 more offices closer to our people, i.e. in Alex, Vosloorus, Thokoza, Ratanda, Alra Park, Dobsonville, Orlando, Diepkloof, Daveyton, Kempton Park, Eldorado Park, Zonkisizwe, Lenasia
* At the end of last year we had 590 000 beneficiaries but by today we provide social grants to 750 000 families in Gauteng. Over above that all our beneficiaries have the right to access banking facilities at no cost to the beneficiary
* We have concluded an audit of our social grants beneficiaries by clamping down on syndicates that provide medial certificate to healthy people. By now we have nabbed more than 3000 people who faulted on our grants system
* Our National Food Emergency Scheme has provided food and hope to more than 5000 families in Gauteng. By October 2003 we will start to dispatch food parcels to more 28 000 families in distress
* Our poverty relief programme is now rearing dividends. We are on track to finalise the opening of the remaining 10 development centres. These centres remain the key instrument in re-skilling and providing hope to our people
* Our school uniform programme, which is intended to provide support of school uniform to orphans in distress as well as child headed families, has now provided a summer and winter school uniforms to 1 500 children while by the end of this year we will reach 7000 children. Our process to track down all orphans and child headed families in Gauteng is now reaching its final conclusion
* More than 788 organisations that serve the weak and vulnerable in our society were funded to the tune of more than R295 m
* In partnership with organised formation for the aged, people with disabilities and women, worked very hard to empower them and defend their cause
* We put plans and programmes in place to ensure that indeed the province is fit for children by registering more than 139 places of care for children
* We have completed a modern children centre in Van Ryn, on the East Rand
* Consolidated the service level agreement for NGOs so as to ensure that we broaden our funding model to incorporate all those formations committed to serving the poor and vulnerable
* Entrenched the fight against HIV/AIDS as we broadened governments funding and support to people affected and infected with HIV/AIDS
* We have concluded our restructuring and transformation process according to resolution 7 and 8 of 2002. This paves way for us to fill all remaining vacancies as identified from the national vacancy database. We have modelled our skills development plan, employment equity targets, HIV/AIDS workplace plan and are filling critical posts as well as repositioning the departmental machinery to face the new challenge confronting it. We have resolved or targeting institutions with people with disabilities to provide us with people capable of joining our department. We do so because we are still lacking behind in the employment of people with disabilities in the department
* We continue to refine our poverty alleviation programme to be focus oriented and integrated with other poverty programmes in the province. We have established GIDU as a specialised unit to focus on the integration of government and civil service programmes
* We have enhanced our partnership with the private sector and organs of civil society. In great numbers, succeeded in mobilising volunteers who helped implement governments mandate beyond the normal call
* We are proud that we have touched the lives of so many citizens in the province through visits to various communities and the work of the volunteers. One of the pillars of our democracy is information that enables our people to know their rights. With our communication outreach programme, we have restored this citizenry to our people by providing all the available information to our people
* Speaker, chapter 7 section 152(1) c under objectives of local government has to promote social and economic development and in line with chapter 5 of the constitution under provincial functions and the assignment of functions, the constitution in section 125 state that members of the Executive Council of a province many assign any power or function many assign any power or function that is to be exercised or performed to a municipal council in terms of an agreement between the relevant Executive Council member and the municipal council.
* As part of enhancing our partnership with other government departments, we have concluded our role clarification with the Department of Correctional Services in dealing with children in prison, we have just emerged out of a key summit with Organised Local Authorities under the banner of Salga - Gauteng, we are also working with the department of Home Affairs in providing documentation that will allow our people access to grants, jointly with the dept of safety and liaison we will work in partnership on Ekhaya Le Themba, which cares for abused women.
Our staff members remain the pillar of our delivery machinery. We salute all those who continue to uphold the Batho Pele principles as we continue to strive for a better life for all.
The cause for the poor has been served. Whilst more still needs to be done, however, the road to eradicate poverty and provide care, support and love to the vulnerable has been paved.
We forever remain committed to a fight for a better life for all.
We indeed care for our people.
I thank you.
For more information contact Panyaza Lesufi on (011) 355 7873 / 082 469 0822
Issued by Gauteng Provincial Government
25 August 2003
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