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The Standing Committee on Appropriations received submissions from the Women on Farms Project and Amandla.mobi, who made submissions to the committee on their budget proposals. The virtual public hearings were aimed at soliciting comments on the division of revenue as presented to Parliament by the Minister of Finance.
 
Among other things, the Women on Farms submission called for an increase in the division of revenue allocated to rural and farm households on behalf of women farmworkers. The Amandla.mobi’s submission, meanwhile, called for a reversal in budget cuts to health, education, sanitation, and other areas of social spending. Both organisations welcomed the extension of the R350 Social Relief Grant, as announced by the president during the State of the Nation Address in February.
 
The committee informed the organisations that at least 60% of South Africa’s budget goes towards social needs, including school feeding schemes and child support. The committee further said that the main aim of the Child Support Grant is to support the child and it should not be used for any other purposes.

The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Sfiso Buthelezi, reiterated: “Child support grants are issued, but there are people who take the children and leave them with the elderly while the mothers or fathers collect the money elsewhere. The elderly should not be using their indigent grant to support their grandchildren.”
 
The committee recommended that the departments of Basic Education and Social Development should be brought on board to address issues related to children of farm workers, so that they receive educational and other support from these departments. These engagements should also be extended to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, which should liaise with the Women on Farms Project to assist farm workers find land where they can be provided with suitable housing.
 
The committee commended the young people involved in the two organisations, who are at the forefront of tackling issues around the plight of farm workers, children and the elderly.

Issued by The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Appropriations, Sfiso Buthelezi