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Date
: 29/06/2004
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: N Rasmeni: North West Social Development Prov Budget Vote
2004/2005
BUDGET SPEECH BY THE MEC FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTH WEST
PROVINCE, MS NOMONDE RASMENI, North West Legislature, 29 June
2004
1. Introduction
Honourable Speaker,
The Honourable Premier,
Colleagues in the Executive Council,
Members of the Provincial Legislature, MPs and NCOP
delegates,
Executive Mayors, Mayors and Councillors,
Traditional Leaders of our communities,
The Acting Deputy Director General,
Officials of the Department,
All our stakeholders,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
The day has dawned. Honourable Speaker the day has dawned for the
unleashing of a new focused social development agenda in the
North-West Province. Madam Speaker and Honourable Members the
Premier has provided a rare opportunity for the development of an
institutional framework to adequately service the children, the
aged, people with disabilities, families, youth and women.
Our mandate this year is compounded by the fact that this is an
international year of the family as declared by the United Nations.
May I take this opportunity to call upon our compatriots to value
their families and actively play their individual roles.
In this regard, men must be good husbands and fathers, women must
be good wives and mothers and children must be good children who
listen to their parents. Those of us who have extended families
must continue to do a good job of taking care of nephews and
nieces, grandchildren, grandmothers and grandfathers.
To children who found themselves heading families, our message is
that government will play its part to provide care and support for
you. All of us must therefore note that it is only through strong
families that we can build a strong nation based on acceptable
morals, ethics and norms.
We are therefore honoured to form part of this exciting challenge
of laying a firm foundation for the transformation of welfare
services to a new agenda of social development in the North-West
Province. We do so also recognising meaningful progress in
alleviating poverty within the province over the last ten
years.
I need to personally thank my predecessor, MEC Mandlenkosi Mayisela
for a job well done more especially since our second democratic
elections. We shall consolidate on the milestones registered in
this regard.
2. The New Social Development Agenda
Madam Speaker our government has consistently contested that it is
not presiding over a welfare state. In order to give practical
expression to this contest, the national department of welfare and
population development was renamed the Department of Social
Development in July 2000.
Let me recapture key strategic thrusts that make us the Department
of Social Development.
Accordingly, we are a department committed to the ongoing social
transformation of our country. We are therefore committed to the
agenda of social transformation that is embodied in the principle
of social justice and the Bill of Rights as contained in our
Constitution.
Our strategic goal is to create a better life for the poor,
vulnerable and excluded people in our society. Embedded in this
goal is the transformation of our services to respond adequately to
the plight of these social groups.
We are also called Department of Social Development because 'our
task is to reduce poverty and promote social integration'. We
therefore have a twin task of developing and monitoring the
implementation of social policy that both creates an enabling
environment for and leads to the reduction in poverty. Within this
context, we ensure the provision of social protection and social
development services to all the people who reside in our
province.
It is also incumbent upon us to conduct socio-economic research
that develops the social indicators necessary for programme
implementation and public accountability. This mandate provides us
with an opportunity to have latest social development information
that will inform our planning processes.
Within the context of a developmental state, driven by our
liberation philosophy that says people are not spectators in the
unfolding theatre of social transformation, our department strives
to build partnerships with organs of civil society. We work in
partnership with NGOs, faith-based communities, the business
sector, organised labour, and other role players.
All our work therefore requires extensive and on-going consultation
with all sectors of our society. This is informed by the fact that
our department is a conduit of all government efforts to build a
people's contract to fight poverty and create jobs.
Social development approach by its nature is integrated
development. As such our programmes are integrated with those of
other government departments and all spheres of government. In this
regard we shall continue playing a meaningful role within the
Executive Council's social development cluster committee.
All of our programmes and policies shall be intended to compliment
the national and local developmental imperatives within the context
of cooperative governance as enshrined in the constitution of the
republic.
Madam Speaker we are also social development 'because our actions
are based upon solidarity and engender self-reliance' within
individuals and communities. As social service professionals, we
act on the basis of human solidarity.
We seek to empower communities and engender self-reliance by
creating conditions for sustainable livelihoods. This involves
expanding the range of choices available to communities as the
United Nations Development Programme identified ability to make
choices as one of the indicators of development.
To summarise, as already indicated our services are all-rounded
because we provide social protection and social development
services that span the entire life cycle of human life. This
encompasses advocacy, promotion, prevention, mitigation and
care.
Madam Speaker let me conclude this section by stating our strategic
approach to social development. This approach is informed by the
developmental state that we are building at a macro level.
Our approach to social development is derived from the monumental
piece written by James Midgley (1995), which asserted that unlike
other approaches, social development 'links social policies and
programmes to a wider process of economic development'.
Midgley articulated a perspective to social development called
institutional perspective. Accordingly, institutional perspective
'seeks to mobilise diverse social institutions including the
market, community and state to promote people's development
welfare'.
Through this perspective, we shall be able to mobilise all and
sundry for embracing social development as the most comprehensive
approach to an all-round societal development.
The mobilisation of these institutions is a path that our
government has chosen over the last ten years in ensuring that we
actively build a popular movement for thorough going social
transformation. It further found propagation during our third
democratic elections when the African National Congress called on
business, civil society, all and sundry to work together with
government in a people's contract to eradicate poverty and create
jobs.
Our departmental programmes are therefore geared at cementing this
contract with the people of the province. Paradoxically, government
will play an active role in managing and coordinating the
implementation of social development in the province.
As it is a requirement of the institutional perspective, we shall
continue to create and strengthen existing formal organisations
that we shall partner with in managing social development in the
province. We shall also pay a particular attention to skills
development required and inherent within the management of social
development for personnel working for these organisations.
Honourable Speaker there is a need for us to deploy appropriate
personnel to manage the new agenda of social development in the
province. Although there are two opposing views on the kind of
personnel required to manage social development, our approach is
that different types of personnel are required to implement social
development, as it is inherently integrated, but also diverse in
terms of strategic approaches.
We will have to recruit economists, social workers, public
administrators, project managers, development practitioners,
statisticians, information planners, public policy practitioners,
community workers etc.
Therefore, our recruitment strategy must focus on
'multidisciplinary social science training with specific
preparation in social policy analysis and planning techniques
required for the implementation of social development
programmes'.
Madam Speaker we are under no illusion in terms of deployment of
resources for the attainment of social development in the province.
We are primarily concerned about needy communities in poor
inner-city areas, low-income rural communities and far-flung
regions of our province.
Fortunately for us, we are guided by the rural and urban strategies
developed by our national sphere of government and complimented by
the provincial government. We shall therefore be biased to these
areas within the context of positive discrimination in order to
ensure that resources are deployed mainly in communities that
experience abject poverty.
3. Departmental Strategic Plan
Honourable Speaker, emanating from the new social development
agenda that we summarised earlier on there are key challenges that
the department must face over the next five years. These challenges
form part of our strategic plan as presented and discussed by our
standing committee. They include:
* the acceleration of policy implementation through development of
integrated programmes and services,
* the deepening of the human rights approach to service delivery to
ensure reconstruction and social transformation,
* the enhancement of government interventions to maximise impact
and intended purpose,
* the facilitation of the building of communities to protect,
cares, develops and supports their members,
* the strengthening of capacity of the most vulnerable groups in
society to be self-reliant,
* the promotion of inter-sectoral collaborations with
international, regional and local communities as well as other
spheres of government and the private sector, and
* the improvement of capacity of programmes to respond to service
demands.
Madam Speaker for the year 2004/2005 we have identified the
following key focus areas to further consolidate our achievements
and start a journey towards the achievement of social development
in our province:
* design comprehensive integrated programmes to promote youth,
women, and older persons, people with disability, family and
community development,
* mechanisms to improve grants access fight fraud and abuse of
grants and pay point development. Under pay point development, we
have set aside an amount of four million rands (R4 million) to
improve the conditions of grants payment. To compliment this
project, we shall also implement the mobile pay points
infrastructure improvement programme in all our districts. During
this financial year we have already started with the registration
of children aged nine and under eleven for the child support
grant.
Our human resource directorate will consolidate on the recruitment
of three hundred matriculants and graduates last year by ninety
five more young people to assist in the registration of grants,
especially the child support grant. The positions of the Provincial
Project Manager and four District Coordinators have already been
advertised in this regard.
* The department will also register about sixty unemployed
graduates for learnerships and internships in our various
programmes for this financial year
* frameworks of engagement with other departments, local
governments, civil society and the private sector,
* improve baskets of service to orphans, other vulnerable children
and households,
* implement recommendations of the ministerial inquiry into older
person's abuse,
* strengthen social integration and protection to address issues of
abuse and crime,
* develop a programme to promote early childhood development
(ECD),
* develop a programme to transform social development
institutions,
* champion the implementation of expanded public works programme
(EPWP),
* develop information system for social development planning,
* mainstream HIV/AIDS in all our department's areas of work by
caring and supporting those infected and affected. All our funded
community and home-based care programmes shall receive funding of
two hundred thousand rands (R200 000) to provide for the purchasing
of winter school uniform for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS,
* sponsor inter-provincial and country visits to learn on
alternative care and support models for vulnerable children and
families,
* improve the conditions of services and expertise of social
development personnel and partners,
* develop a support programme for the non-profit sector including
community based organisations and faith based organisations. Within
this context, three savings cooperatives for the elderly will be
initiated in Ventersdorp, Wolmaranstad and Maquasi-Hill for service
club members
* Continue with the National Food Emergency Scheme. In this
connection, we shall recruit unemployed matriculants and train them
to identify and profile beneficiaries. We shall also intensify our
income generating projects by focusing on food security,
* implement of the performance management system at all levels,
and
* finalise decentralisation model at both district and service
office levels.
Madam Speaker over and above these key focus areas there shall be
new national legislative mandates that the department must respond
to. They include the Child Justice Bill, the Older Persons Bill,
the South African Social Security Agency Act, the Children's Bill
and the Social Assistance Bill.
We are therefore not exaggerating when we content that the mandate
of social development is expanding in South Africa. What we are
presently involved in is to lay the foundation for the actual
implementation of real social development agenda.
4. Structural Realignment
Madam Speaker we have stated the social development paradigm and
its agenda. We have also thanked our Honourable Premier for this
opportunity to fashion a new social development approach in the
province.
We are in the same vein requesting support in developing an
adequate structural design for us to implement social development
in the province. We do so humbly recognising competing provincial
priorities and the concomitant financial constraints.
Aware of these factors, let us briefly provide our structural
realignment necessitated by the new configuration of provincial
departments. It would be important for us to indicate that our
structural proposal must be given a maximum of five years in order
for us to be consistent and test its applicability in its
entirety.
In this regard, we are aware that we cannot fill all vacancies once
the structure is adopted and approved by relevant bodies of our
provincial executive.
We therefore request a phase-in approach based on prioritisation of
social development programmes as per each financial year. May I
take this opportunity to highlight key issues emanating from our
departmental structure.
We have capacitated both the Office of the Executing Authority to
perform my constitutional obligations. This includes placing
communication in my office in line with the COMTASK Report.
We have also implemented Exco Resolution that has called for the
setting-up of security in departments by establishing the Minimum
Information Security Standards (MISS). In addition, we have
capacitated our legal services to ensure that the executive
complies with all legal obligations attached to it.
In the same breath, we have also capacitated the Office of
Accounting Officer; particularly with regard the development,
implementation, monitoring and the reporting on the departmental
strategic plan. In this connection, there is now a Directorate
attached to the Accounting Officer that deals with Strategic
Planning and Monitoring. We have also implemented an Exco
Resolution that called for the establishment of Gender Focal Points
in the Head of Department's office. We shall establish this unit
during this financial year.
At programmatic level, the new department has four programmes for
now because the social assistance programme shall in due course be
implemented through an agency called the South African Social
Security Agency.
We therefore have (a) developmental social services, which
objective is to develop caring, supportive and integrated systems
and services that facilitate human development and strengthen
capacities of individuals and households. Sub-programmes under
developmental social services include families, children, special
needs and restorative justice.
Secondly, we have (b) community development, which objective is to
facilitate the development of capacity of vulnerable groups and
communities to be self-reliant and continuously improve their
quality of life.
Sub-programmes under community development include sustainable
livelihood, HIV/AIDS, partnership development and youth
development.
Thirdly, we have (c) social assistance, which objective is to
provide an appropriate administrative support for the delivery of
an integrated social security programme in the province.
Sub-programmes under social assistance include legislative
compliance, customer care and benefit delivery planning.
Lastly, we have (d) information planning and development, which
objective is to monitor processes in order to provide accurate
social development information for planning and resource
mobilisation. Accordingly, planning gives expression to the idea of
intervention, and it is a central notion in social
development.
Sub-programmes under this programme include demographic monitoring,
policy coordination and research, social development information
planning, and project management.
In order to provide adequate corporate support to these programmes,
we have also capacitated this area by separating corporate services
from the Chief Finance Officer (CFO).
This is done to ensure that the CFO can concentrate and focus on
what the post was conceptualised to do; namely financial
administration, budget, controls, revenue and supply chain
management.
Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members we are therefore
convinced that we have developed a structure that shall assist us
to roll-out social development in the province. We request support
in this endeavour, both in financial terms and otherwise to
implement our strategic goals and plan.
Lastly, our department is rooted within the masses of our people.
As such and as already indicated, we favour a more decentralised
management model that touches base with our communities. In this
regard, we have adequately provided for the radical improvement of
the present district management model.
We have also ensured that our service offices are in line with
local municipalities including cross border municipalities. We have
catered for sub-offices in instances where a municipality is very
vast geographically and in terms of population spread.
5. Budget Allocations - 2004/2005
Honourable Speaker our budget outlook for this financial year is
influenced largely by the previous configuration of the department.
As such there is a disjuncture between it, the strategic plan and
the proposed organogram of the new department of social
development. We hope to deal with these contradictions during the
budget adjustment period.
However, we shall be able to give practical expression to some of
our structural changes during this financial year. The picture will
be clearer as we prepare for the 2005/2006 financial year. Our
2005/2006 financial year budget framework shall meaningfully
reflect all our new programmes as informed by the new configuration
and the new departmental structure.
Honourable Speaker may I make an appeal that we should not be
tempted to conclude that as a result of the operation of the social
security agency from next year as the Minister indicated, there
will be no need for the continuation of the department of social
development. We have regrettably witnessed this in provinces such
as Mpumalanga.
We are certainly aware that as a result of the agency, our budget
will be reduced from the present figure of approximately four
billion (R4, 043,407) to approximately two hundred and eighty
million (R280, 177) using the present financial year
estimates.
However, social development is not about rands and cents alone, it
is about interventionist services that we provide to the poor and
the vulnerable groups in our communities that justify its
continuous existence in the province.
Nonetheless, we are acutely aware that at the end of the day it is
incumbent upon us to provide both quantitative and qualitative
reasons why we should continue as a department of social
development beyond the introduction of the agency.
Madam Speaker we have already started developing narrative
explanations of our organogram in order to give practical meaning
to the new agenda of social development in the province.
Safe to indicate Honourable Speaker that in the past all our
developmental social services that were called social work
programmes have been suffocated.
We could not provide comprehensive services to children, families,
restorative services, older persons, people with disabilities and
substance abusers. We have now created space for government to
provide these services particularly to far-flung rural communities
where there are no social workers, probation officers and community
liaison officers.
5.1 Explanations of Budget Allocations
Honourable Speaker we also have to highlight that programmes as
reflected below and their allocations will change as a result of
the adoption of the new organogram of the department. However, we
request the legislature to approve budget estimates for the year
2004/2005 as reflected below:
5.1.1 Management and Administration
The total amount allocated to the management and administration
programme is seventy nine million, thirty two thousand rands (R79,
032 000). The objective of this programme is to provide strategic
leadership to the department by amongst other things instil proper
good governance and support all departmental programmes to reach
their objectives.
5.1.2 Social Assistance
Madam Speaker the bulk of our budget goes to the social security
programme for the payment and administration of government grants.
For this financial year this programme has been allocated 3.7
billion rands (R3, 763, 230 000) to disburse cash and other
payments methods to deal with income poverty in the province.
5.1.3 Social Welfare Services
Our social welfare services programme has been allocated one
hundred and nineteen million, three hundred and seventy five
thousand rands (R119, 375 000). This allocation has been broken
down into the following sub-programmes aimed at targeted groups who
need social development services:
5.1.3.1 Treatment and Prevention of Substance Abuse; an allocation
of two million and ten thousands rands (R2, 010 000).
5.1.3.2 Care for the Aged; an allocation of twenty three million
and seventy three thousand rands (R23, 073 000).
5.1.3.3 Crime Prevention, Rehabilitation and Victim Empowerment; an
allocation of nine million and eighty thousand rands (R9, 080
000).
5.1.3.4 Service to the Disabled; an allocation of sixteen million,
one hundred and sixty eight thousand rands (R16, 168 000).
5.1.3.5 Child Youth Care and Protection; an allocation of thirty
four million, four hundred and thirty five thousand rands (R34, 435
000).
5.1.4 Development and Support Services
The development and support services programme has been allocated
an amount of eighty one million, seven hundred and seventy thousand
rands (R81, 770 000). It has been broken as follows:
5.1.4.1 Youth Development; an allocation of six million, five
hundred and twenty one thousand rands (R6, 521 000).
5.1.4.2 HIV/AIDS; a total amount of nine million, two hundred and
seventy thousand rands has been allocated, (R9, 270 000) included
is a conditional grant to the value of eight million and seventy
thousand rands (R8, 070 000).
5.1.4.3 Poverty Alleviation; an amount of forty seven million, one
hundred and two thousand rands (R47, 102 000) has been set aside to
push back the frontiers of poverty. Included in this amount is a
conditional grant of forty one million, six hundred and fifteen
(R41, 615 000) earmarked for food security.
5.1.4.4 NPO and Welfare Organisation Development; an amount of
three million, two hundred and twenty one thousand rands (R3, 221
000) has been allocated.
5.2 Summary of Budget Allocations
Programme (R'000)
1. Management and Administration
4. Development and Support
2004/2005 MTEF: 81,770
2005/2006 MTEF: 87,613
2006/2007 MTEF: 93,427
TOTAL
2004/2005 MTEF: 4,043,407
2005/2006 MTEF: 4,836,104
2006/2007 MTEF: 4,836,104
6. Conclusions
In conclusion, I take this opportunity to thank the Honourable
Premier, Ms. Edna Molewa, for her consistent support, colleagues in
the Executive Council, the Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker,
the Chairperson of our standing committee and her colleagues and
all members of this house.
As this was my first budget speech in our third provincial
legislature, I did not obviously make big promises. This was
deliberate as we are inwardly looking at institutional arrangements
that are necessary for us to deliver on the African National
Congress Election Manifesto. We remain guided by this document,
particularly Vision 2014.
We shall therefore develop specific programmes designed to give
expression to this vision during this financial year and report in
subsequent years on progress made to build a people's contract to
eradicate poverty and create jobs.
May I also thank our Acting Deputy Director General, Mr. Seth
Ramagaga for his unwavering support ever since I joined this
department?
Same goes to all senior managers who worked tirelessly to review
and develop our new strategic plan, prepare for the split and
develop a new organogram for the new department of social
development.
I also want to thank all staff members who received me with warm
hands as I moved office to office to introduce myself to them.
Together we are starting an exciting but challenging journey of
laying the foundation for the implementation of focused social
development programmes in the province.
Lastly, my heartfelt gratitude goes to my husband, Solly, for his
support and encouragement. To our children, we say thanks for
understanding that Mom and Dad will always not be there every time
you need them. We love you.
Thank you Honourable Speaker.
Issued by: Department of Social Development, North West Provincial
Government
29 June 2004
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