Thank you Chairperson.

The Department of Social Development has become the Department of Smallanyana Skeletons, and it has come at a cost to the poorest of the poor in South Africa.

Last year, Minister Dhlamini was in New York for an extended visit. She and other Cabinet Members of this Parliament were lodged in 5 Star hotels, and on one occasion, other members of South African delegations were forced to sit outside a hall for over an hour, while the Minister and her friends feasted on caviar and very expensive whiskey as South Africa’s poor sat home and suffered.

In fact the Ministry spent R12 million on travel last year. That equates to R1 million per month. The Minister has not responded to written questions, posed by both the DA and other Parties, for an explanation of these costs.

It is unfathomable that in the midst of an economic crisis in SA  and with the rural poor unable to survive, that R1 million per month on first class travel and the luxury of living in 5 star hotels can even be considered.

Delegates were flown from Johannesburg and Cape Town to the NGO summit in November last year. Flights from Johannesburg to Durban, which can be purchased from as low as R500 to R1000, cost R8000 per ticket. Over 96 million was spent on local travel in this Ministry. This is the equivalent of R8 million a month or R270 000 per day….per day.  And the poor sat home and suffered.

There are currently 8.3 million unemployed South Africans.

But the crowning insult to the unemployed was the presentation by the National Development Agency to the Portfolio Committee. The NDA mandate is to carry out projects aimed at meeting the development needs of the poor and strengthening the capacity of CSO’s involved in direct service provision to poor communities. Their job is to establish co-operatives and community projects that will create jobs and aid the poor in keeping food insecurity at bay.

They are under budgeted in their requirements by R292 million.

The R292 million shortfall will be funded via the Provincial Legislatures on a “gentlemen’s agreement” according to the CFO of the NDA. Given most of the Provinces financial records, this is laughable.

In actual fact, the NDA advised that they will have a shortfall of R922 million over the next three year period.

Chairperson, I ask this house, how can this be possible? At a time when 19 000 jobs a quarter are being lost, an opportunity for this Government to make a difference, is thrown down the drain. The Minister of Social Development cannot tell us that she gives one iota for the poor.

In fact, if you look at the budget as a whole, it is an insult, not just to the poor of the country but this portfolio. It is an insult to our intelligence.

The budget is nothing more than a cut and paste of the previous budget with minor increases for inflation.

Absolutely no consideration has been given to the current climate in South Africa, of the plight of the poor or to a realistic strategy of dealing with the crisis.

In fact I wonder if the Minister even saw this budget. Perhaps she was far too busy attacking the Public Protector and defending the broken president or making absurd comments on behalf of the Women’s League.

The new In-house Rehab Centre in Polokwane has not opened, despite being completed over a year ago. Why? Because the operational costs were not budgeted for. Suffer those who desperately need help with addictions.

NGO’s providing statutory services through their social workers, like foster care, child abuse, children in conflict with the law are closing. Their funding has been stopped or not increased in years, making them unable to stay afloat. These files are gathering dust in Provincial Offices….suffer the families needing help. Old Age homes are closing…suffer the elderly.

2800 graduate social workers are unemployed, despite contractual obligations by the Department. Why? Because they were not budgeted for. Suffer the unemployed and those needing social assistance.

Every report on oversight visits by this portfolio says, “the Minister must”, “the Minister should” – there is absolutely no oversight by the Minister of the crises in the Provinces. And the poor and desperate suffer.

The Child Protection Register is way behind. Suffer those trying to adopt and give orphans and the abused loving homes.

And when the people of the Eastern Cape come out and say “enough Minister enough”, the Minister cried. Well, the Minister has ignored the rivers of tears of the suffering poor.

It is a wonder that the Minister sleeps at night. Those many, many smallanya skeletons must make a real racket in her cupboard.

There are a lot of questions coming the way of the Minister, and believe me, if she chooses not to answer them, we will find someone who will. Her inadequacy will be exposed.

Thank you.