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The Standing Committee on Appropriations conducted public hearings on Wednesday (24 May) on the 2017 Appropriation Bill.

The Bill provides for the appropriation of money from the National Revenue Fund for the requirements of the state for the 2017/18 financial year and provides for subordinate matters incidental thereto.

The Committee received written submissions from Equal Education, the Pietermaritzburg Agency for Community Social Action (Pacsa), the Khulumani Support Group, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the Khayelitsha Development Forum. On the day of the public hearings, the community of Khayelitsha and surrounding areas were given an opportunity to make oral submissions.

On comments dealing with social developments, Pacsa proposed a social grant increase. It believes that the grant system is the most effective instrument currently to delivery more money into the pockets of low income households. Pacsa proposed that the old age grant should be doubled to R3 200, the child support grant increased to R1 000 and a 13th cheque be provided in December to all old-age pensioners receiving grants as well as caregivers receiving child support grants.

The community complained about illegal deductions from social grants and asked the Committee to inform government that there should be an increase in pension grants as the money is not sufficient to support their families. Presenters said they support approximately five of their grandchildren and children on the grants and stay in two-roomed houses built by government.

Members of the community appealed that the matter of social grants needs to be urgently addressed and were in agreement with the Pacsa submission that there should be an increase.

During the public engagement process, the Committee heard that people over the age of 40 struggle to find employment and that this age group does not qualify for social grants. Members of the community asked the Committee to make proposals to government of a social grant to be introduced that will address the problem.

A view amongst young people was that a white or wealth tax should be introduced in the country. They said that the social grant is a social provision that affects black people. The community appealed to the Committee that victims of human rights abuses committed during apartheid are yet to be compensated and most of them are poor and cannot work due to the abuses they suffered. The government needs to look into something similar to that of the German government, which implemented a policy to redress the victims of the Jewish Holocaust.

On issues of health and human settlement, the community voiced their displeasure with the use of chemical toilets in informal settlements. Presenters said proper toilets should be built as these give dignity. The safety and health of chemical toilets was also raised as an important issue. The Committee heard that some women become victims of gender-based violence and get infections through the use of chemical toilets.

During the hearings, the Committee presented budget allocations that National Treasury has allocated in all the three spheres of government and amongst the government departments to address service delivery. The community indicated that whilst the money is there it is not filtering through the community and doing the job it is intended for. The community said the government needs to build more houses as living in shacks is not safe and informal settlements are often destroyed by fire and floods.

The community said they welcome the parliamentary public participation process and appreciate the fact that they have an input on issues that affect them. However, some community members said that in the past various government departments have heard the community’s complaints and proposals, but nothing has been done to address their issues and no proper report has been received from government.

Members of the community said that they did not have much faith in this round of public hearings, but indicated the importance of attending to raise their concerns. The community appealed to Parliament that it should take complaints seriously as the community continues to vote for them to ensure that their service delivery needs are met based on the promises presented by politicians.

On education, a community member asked the Committee to intervene on the issue of grade 12 learners who are not allowed to repeat after they have failed. Furthermore, a student from a technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college complained about the issue of unemployment amongst young people who study at TVET colleges.
Responding to the submissions, the Committee said it heard the complaint about lack of feedback from the state and promised that this time would be different. The Committee made a commitment that each challenge and problems raised will be addressed and responded to.

Members of the Committee said it is important that such processes involve direct participation by communities. They said that the community must attend them so that government and Parliament knows what the needs of communities are. The Committee said a report will be tabled and that this will mould future budgets and how the money should be spent

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Appropriations, Ms Yvonne Phosa