15 March, 2001
The Minister of Social Development Dr Zola Skweyiya has established a high-powered Task Team to urgently look at the acceleration of the transformation of the welfare financing policy such that the previously disadvantaged communities have easier access to financing and services of the Department.
Members of the Task Team are the Social Development MEC's viz.
Ms Anna Buthelezi-Phori from the Free State (Chairperson)
Ms Ncumisa Kondlo from the Eastern Cape
Ms Busi Coleman from Mpumalanga and
Mr Sello Moloto from the Northern Province
The Task Team will do the following:
"I together with provincial MEC'S are very worried about the pace of the implementation of the financing policy. We consider this policy very critical in ensuring that the NON-Government Organisations (NGOs), the Community Based Organisations (CBO), civil society as well as faith-based organisations that do a lot of work in helping the most vulnerable of our society, do not have adequate and equitable access to finance from the Department," said the Minister.
"During my visit to the provinces from July 2000, which ended in Gauteng on Tuesday (13th March 2001) two days ago, I came across many institutions and organisations working with the elderly, the disabled, children and the poorest of the poor, who said that they still do not have adequate access to finance. This issue must be addressed as a matter of extreme urgency if we are to impact on poverty in the country, and this Task Team and the process is precisely designed to address that," Further said the Minister. The Task Team is expected to report to the MIN/MEC of Social Development before the end of May 2001.
The Financing Policy being reviewed was promulgated in 1999 and is targeted for full implementation in the year 2003/4.
Meanwhile on the 20th March 2001, the Minister will hold a one-day consultative workshop in Pretoria, with all the stakeholders in the social welfare and development sector to discuss how best to work in partnership in accelerating the delivery of services in the fight against poverty, HIV/AIDS and other social ills.
Expected in the workshop are the representatives of the private sector, the CBO's. NGO's, Faith based Organisations and the government representatives.
Issued by : Ministry of Social Development
Enquiries : Mbulelo Musi
Cell : 083 602 5795