WILLIAMS' STATEMENT ON RELEASE OF DRAFT WHITE PAPER

Issued by: Ministry for Welfare and Population Development

10/10/95

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR WELFARE AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT, MR ABE WILLIAMS, WITH REGARD TO THE RELEASE OF THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER ON WELFARE POLICY.

I should like to add to the comments that I have already made with regard to the status of the Draft White Paper on Social Welfare.

The present draft white paper contains much that is praise-worthy and that can make an important contribution to the improvement of our welfare services in line with the objectives of that Government of National Unity and the Reconstruction and Development Programme.

I have throughout stated that as Minister I have a duty to present a White Paper to the Cabinet that is responsible:

• In the first place I must ensure that the proposals in the draft white paper will be affordable. I have already been requested by the Department of Finance to provide further information on aspects of the draft White Paper with a view to establishing whether there will be adequate funds for the implementation of the policies and approaches proposed in the White Paper.
• In the second Place, I have a responsibility as a Minister in the Government of National Unity to ensure that the White Paper complies with the letter and spirit of the constitution. The present draft gives clear and welcome recognition to some of the basic rights and principles contained in the constitution - such as the need for equality and non-discrimination. However, it ignores other such as "the collective right of self-determination in forming, joining and maintaining organs of civil society, including linguistic, cultural and religious associations on the basis of non-discrimination and free association."

It is my view that an effective approach to the delivery of social services in South Africa must be affordable, non-discriminatory and must make provision for the practical realities of our multi-cultural society. I have not submitted the present draft to the Cabinet because I am not yet satisfied that it can comply with all of these requirements. We are working as rapidly as we can on improvements to the present draft that I shall submit to Cabinet at the earliest possible opportunity.

Abe Williams (Minister for Welfare and Development)