Date: 01/10/2003
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Moerane-Mamase: Conference on older persons & launch of Social Development Month in E Cape
OPENING SPEECH BY THE EASTERN CAPE MEC FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, MS NEO MOERANE-MAMASE, AT THE 3-DAY CONFERENCE ON OLDER PERSONS, East London, 1 October
Honourable Minister of Social Development
Distinguished Guest
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is indeed a great honour and privilege for us to host such a historic conference to mark the International Day of Older Persons. This also marks the beginning of Social Development Month. This is therefore a very important milestone for us as a province particularly because it comes at a very significant period. A time when the provincial Department of Social Development (DSD) is doing all in its power to make sure that we do indeed improve the conditions of the most vulnerable sectors of our society particularly the older persons, people with disabilities and children.
The province is faced with huge and complex socio-economic challenges. Census SA 2001 estimated that out of the 6,4 million people living in this province over 60% live in poverty. Over 54% are unemployed whilst about 20% are infected with HIV/AIDS. Furthermore it is estimated that about 700 000 people cannot read or write. In fact this province is said to be having the highest levels of poverty in the country despite its rich history and heritage as well as economic potential. What has made the situation has been the continuing problem of service delivery and corruption that had afflicted the DSD.
I am happy to say that that situation is being addressed decisively and will soon be history. Over the last year, and thanks also to the Turn Around Plan introduced by the President and Premier Stofile, we have taken decisive steps to improve service, delivery and the efficient management of the department as well as root out corruption.
Some of the milestone achievements we have made through our Turn Around Plan implemented jointly with the Interim Management Team include:
* The introduction of the Integrated Community Registration Campaign. I am happy to announce that we have now reached the milestone mark of over 1 million people receiving grants in the province. Working closely with the Departments of Home Affairs, Education, Health, the Independent Electoral Commission and local authorities, we are also intensifying this campaign, targeting children under nine years of age for the Child Support Grant (CSG), registration of children for birth certificates and also registering those eligible for
* The introduction of the first-ever central electronic filing system for social grant beneficiaries in the country. Over 2 million files are kept and processed there. This has resulted in quicker processing of grants the drastic reduction of litigations. Even more importantly it has resulted in an improved detection and reduction of corruption and fraud. I am also happy to announce that working together with other law enforcement agencies, we are making arrests and will soon be making even more arrests
* We are taking drastic measures to recoup moneys meant for the poor, which are being fraudulently stolen, by thieves and criminals
* Through the pilot on the Food Emergency Scheme introduced by the national Department in July last year, we were able to distribute food to 36 513 poor households within thin three months, including child-headed households and those affected by HIV/AIDS. This was at the total cost of R32 million
* We are also strengthening our monitoring capacity of services provided by the payment contractors and the public servants. We are demanding that they be compliant with the set norms and standards. We want to say are very sick and tired and our patience is fast coming to an end with those that do not respect the dignity of our people, particularly older persons.
However, we want reiterate our commitment to work in partnership with all stakeholders to make sure that we deliver quality service, but that cannot be done at the expense of the dignity and integrity of our people
* We have now developed a new structure and organogram for the provincial DSD that will further improve efficiency and effective service delivery
* We are training and developing a new leadership cadre and intensifying the change management process. We want to express our gratitude to Total SA for its commitment to assist us and call on others in the private sector to join hands
* As part of our transformation from welfare to social development, we are strengthening cooperation and partnerships with the various stakeholders
* We are also about to recruit many social workers and other staff to build better capacity of the DSD. I also want to say that together with the national department we are looking at the improvement of the salaries and working conditions of social workers given the difficult conditions that they have to work under. MINMEC recently deliberated upon the matter and will soon be receiving a report from a joint national and provincial Task Team on the matter and will take decisions. We want to say that we consider this matter very urgent and critical matter.
Ladies and gentlemen, it will be remiss of me not to mention that for the first in many years, the provincial DSD was able to receive a qualified report from the Auditor-General. In short, our management systems, particularly those of the finances, are becoming healthier and that augurs well for the future.
Distinguished guests, this year we have set ourselves the daunting challenges of registering over 250 000 children under nine years for the CSG. We also want to distribute over 97 000 food parcels to poor households at the total cost of R94 million, starting in October this year. We also have plans to root out corruption and fraud and strengthen good governance. In essence, we remain committed to push back the frontiers of poverty and build a better life for all, especially children. However, we are fully aware that we cannot do it alone. We need to work closely together with all sectors of society, including traditional leaders, business, labour, community-based organisations, faith-based organisations, non-governmental organisations and communities themselves.
In this regard the DSD will be soon be introducing a stakeholder participation policy at the legislature soon. We have already launched the Plan in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Council and briefed the various stakeholders. During Social Development Month in October, we will also be visiting districts to explain our policies and plans to the communities and all stakeholders including the Turn Around Plan, which we call Sisonke Siyanqoba. We are overwhelmed by the support that we are receiving and would like to express our profound appreciation for that support. It reflects that we are on the right track.
Even more importantly, it clear testimony that what the President called for in his State of the Nation Address i.e. "building a social contract for a better life for all" is fast becoming a reality in our province. We would like to call on the collective wisdom of older persons gathered in this three-day conference, as well all older persons throughout the province, to guide and counsel us so that all of us can truly contribute meaningfully to the our common goal of building a better life for all especially older persons and even most importantly, our children. I therefore declare this conference officially open and wish you all fruitful deliberations.
Ilanga Liphumile e Mpuma Koloni.
I thank you
Issued by: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
1 October 2003
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Moerane-Mamase: Conference on older persons & launch of Social Development Month in E Cape
OPENING SPEECH BY THE EASTERN CAPE MEC FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, MS NEO MOERANE-MAMASE, AT THE 3-DAY CONFERENCE ON OLDER PERSONS, East London, 1 October
Honourable Minister of Social Development
Distinguished Guest
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is indeed a great honour and privilege for us to host such a historic conference to mark the International Day of Older Persons. This also marks the beginning of Social Development Month. This is therefore a very important milestone for us as a province particularly because it comes at a very significant period. A time when the provincial Department of Social Development (DSD) is doing all in its power to make sure that we do indeed improve the conditions of the most vulnerable sectors of our society particularly the older persons, people with disabilities and children.
The province is faced with huge and complex socio-economic challenges. Census SA 2001 estimated that out of the 6,4 million people living in this province over 60% live in poverty. Over 54% are unemployed whilst about 20% are infected with HIV/AIDS. Furthermore it is estimated that about 700 000 people cannot read or write. In fact this province is said to be having the highest levels of poverty in the country despite its rich history and heritage as well as economic potential. What has made the situation has been the continuing problem of service delivery and corruption that had afflicted the DSD.
I am happy to say that that situation is being addressed decisively and will soon be history. Over the last year, and thanks also to the Turn Around Plan introduced by the President and Premier Stofile, we have taken decisive steps to improve service, delivery and the efficient management of the department as well as root out corruption.
Some of the milestone achievements we have made through our Turn Around Plan implemented jointly with the Interim Management Team include:
* The introduction of the Integrated Community Registration Campaign. I am happy to announce that we have now reached the milestone mark of over 1 million people receiving grants in the province. Working closely with the Departments of Home Affairs, Education, Health, the Independent Electoral Commission and local authorities, we are also intensifying this campaign, targeting children under nine years of age for the Child Support Grant (CSG), registration of children for birth certificates and also registering those eligible for
* The introduction of the first-ever central electronic filing system for social grant beneficiaries in the country. Over 2 million files are kept and processed there. This has resulted in quicker processing of grants the drastic reduction of litigations. Even more importantly it has resulted in an improved detection and reduction of corruption and fraud. I am also happy to announce that working together with other law enforcement agencies, we are making arrests and will soon be making even more arrests
* We are taking drastic measures to recoup moneys meant for the poor, which are being fraudulently stolen, by thieves and criminals
* Through the pilot on the Food Emergency Scheme introduced by the national Department in July last year, we were able to distribute food to 36 513 poor households within thin three months, including child-headed households and those affected by HIV/AIDS. This was at the total cost of R32 million
* We are also strengthening our monitoring capacity of services provided by the payment contractors and the public servants. We are demanding that they be compliant with the set norms and standards. We want to say are very sick and tired and our patience is fast coming to an end with those that do not respect the dignity of our people, particularly older persons.
However, we want reiterate our commitment to work in partnership with all stakeholders to make sure that we deliver quality service, but that cannot be done at the expense of the dignity and integrity of our people
* We have now developed a new structure and organogram for the provincial DSD that will further improve efficiency and effective service delivery
* We are training and developing a new leadership cadre and intensifying the change management process. We want to express our gratitude to Total SA for its commitment to assist us and call on others in the private sector to join hands
* As part of our transformation from welfare to social development, we are strengthening cooperation and partnerships with the various stakeholders
* We are also about to recruit many social workers and other staff to build better capacity of the DSD. I also want to say that together with the national department we are looking at the improvement of the salaries and working conditions of social workers given the difficult conditions that they have to work under. MINMEC recently deliberated upon the matter and will soon be receiving a report from a joint national and provincial Task Team on the matter and will take decisions. We want to say that we consider this matter very urgent and critical matter.
Ladies and gentlemen, it will be remiss of me not to mention that for the first in many years, the provincial DSD was able to receive a qualified report from the Auditor-General. In short, our management systems, particularly those of the finances, are becoming healthier and that augurs well for the future.
Distinguished guests, this year we have set ourselves the daunting challenges of registering over 250 000 children under nine years for the CSG. We also want to distribute over 97 000 food parcels to poor households at the total cost of R94 million, starting in October this year. We also have plans to root out corruption and fraud and strengthen good governance. In essence, we remain committed to push back the frontiers of poverty and build a better life for all, especially children. However, we are fully aware that we cannot do it alone. We need to work closely together with all sectors of society, including traditional leaders, business, labour, community-based organisations, faith-based organisations, non-governmental organisations and communities themselves.
In this regard the DSD will be soon be introducing a stakeholder participation policy at the legislature soon. We have already launched the Plan in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Council and briefed the various stakeholders. During Social Development Month in October, we will also be visiting districts to explain our policies and plans to the communities and all stakeholders including the Turn Around Plan, which we call Sisonke Siyanqoba. We are overwhelmed by the support that we are receiving and would like to express our profound appreciation for that support. It reflects that we are on the right track.
Even more importantly, it clear testimony that what the President called for in his State of the Nation Address i.e. "building a social contract for a better life for all" is fast becoming a reality in our province. We would like to call on the collective wisdom of older persons gathered in this three-day conference, as well all older persons throughout the province, to guide and counsel us so that all of us can truly contribute meaningfully to the our common goal of building a better life for all especially older persons and even most importantly, our children. I therefore declare this conference officially open and wish you all fruitful deliberations.
Ilanga Liphumile e Mpuma Koloni.
I thank you
Issued by: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
1 October 2003
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