Honourable members of the media, Members of the diplomatic corps, Ladies and gentlemen,
In line with President Nelson Mandela's address during the opening of Parliament, I wish to reiterate that the year 1997 will significantly advance the process of restructuring the country's welfare system. A system that is accessible, fraud-free, efficient and that respects the dignity of our people is what the Ministry for Welfare has committed itself to.
The starting point for the whole Committee for Restructuring of Social Security was the acceptance that there are major problems in the social security delivery system which bring into question the legitimacy and credibility of a very valuable programme.
In view of this the cabinet mandated me to conduct an investigation into social security. The committee for the Restructuring of Social Security has completed its report.
The Cabinet and the members of the executive councils of the provinces responsible for Welfare have acted on the recommendations of the CRSS report and have agreed in principle that a national social security system be established.
This is an extremely significant policy decision as it will mean that uniform management, administrative, computer and information systems with controls at the right levels can be developed. A national system will be able to reduce cross-provincial multiple claims and fraud.
A national system will still allow for provincial variations and provincial delivery of grants. We anticipate that a national system will be phased in 1998 and be fully operational by the year 2000. A lot of detailed technical work is being commissioned and this whole process will be done in collaboration with provincial departments.
It is against that background that today I formally accept the report of the Committee for Restructuring of Social Security. This report is significant because social security is the most extensive poverty alleviation programme of the government.
One of the major processes under way which is a prerequisite for establishing a fraud-free and efficient, customer service orientated programme is the amalgamation of the 14 separate systems we have inherited from the past.
The amalgamation process started in 1995 and currently nearly two-thirds of the three million beneficiaries have been processed on to the new computer system. As a result of the amalgamation, savings during 1996 amounted to an estimated R240-million due to the removal of 46 000 deceased beneficiaries. This was possible due to the link between Home Affairs and the Department of Welfare to verify ID numbers.
But, this is a very complex process which has been fraught with many problems. For example, the data on the various systems is not reliable and requires a lengthy process of verification. The other complexity is that a new system is being created while we are at the same time operating the old systems to ensure that we pay the three million beneficiaries every month.
You will appreciate that this is not only complex but a very daunting task. We are committed to doing everything possible to meet our deadline at the end of April.
I think the CRSS report will go a long way in meeting our objective of putting an efficient social security delivery system into place. I wish to thank the Committee for the Restructuring of Social Security led by Reverend Frank Chikane, task group leaders Advocate Wim Trengrove, Professor Pieter le Roux, and Mr Honey Meteya for its comprehensive report.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FOR 1997
Lund Report on Child and Family Support
The Lund Committee on Child and Family Support has formulated policy options in order to extend the provision of State maintenance to those previously excluded, taking into account the existing constraints. As you are aware, the current maintenance grant programme is ineffectively targeted and poor children in provinces such as the Northern Province, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu/Natal receive the least benefits. This situation has to be corrected.
Our strategic goal is to take forward the extension of Child Support to poor families on the basis of the Lund Committee. Provincial Welfare Ministers and I have discussed how to take forward the issues and options. We're considering various options including:
The Ministers Committee for Social Welfare will be making recommendations to the Cabinet. Further detailed technical work is still in progress.
INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE
One of the issues on which we will focus this year, is that of children in conflict with the law. The IMC, chaired by the Minister for Welfare and Population Development, has completed its investigation into State institution for children and a range of pilot programme on secure care facilities are underway this year. A total of R33 million has
been made available from the Reconstruction and Development funds for secure care facilities. Among secure care facilities to be opened this year is a centre in Hendrina, in the Mpumalanga province, which is being refurbished and will be officially opened on June 16, 1997. The Noordgesig Centre in Gauteng will open in March. Construction has also began at the Enkuselweni Place of Safety in Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape.
A committee, chaired by a chief director of the Welfare Department continues to monitor the implementation of Section 29.
CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Welfare is the lead Department for the development of the Victim Empowerment Programme which is part of the National Crime Prevention Strategy.
This year, special emphasis will be placed on programmes to empower women affected by rape and battering. Special attention will also be given to abused children. The retaining of criminal justice personnel and the promotion of volunteer participation in these programmes will be promoted. Public education on women's rights will be focused on.
UNEMPLOYED WOMEN WITH CHILDREN UNDER FIVE
The Department of Welfare has taken a lead with a Flagship Programme for Unemployed Women with Children Under Five that is part of the strategy to alleviate poverty and to which R3 million has been committed.
The aim is to provide unemployed women with an opportunity to break out of their situation of hardship and poverty and reducing their potential dependency on the State. The focus is mainly on rural women who were previously excluded from services as well as economic opportunities.
The programme has been launched in three rural areas in the Northern, North-West and Western Cape provinces. It will soon be launched in other provinces, to create sustainable economic opportunities for unemployed women, with 1 800 benefiting currently. In the Eastern Cape, two projects are being planned for Elliotdale (a bakery, eco-tourism and child care services) and Bhizana (agriculture). A project (block-making, bakery, daycare and poultry) is being planned at the Bhambanana Village in KwaZulu-Natal. Other projects will also kick off in the Northern, Free State and Gauteng provinces.
RELATIONS WITH NGO's
The Department of Welfare is in the process of replacing the Fund-Raising Act of 1978 which still controls the activities of non-governmental organisations and the not-for-profit sector. The advent of the democratic order, has made it necessary to redefine the relationship between the Government and the NGO sector. It is hoped that by putting a new policy and legislative framework in place for non-for-profit sector, government will be helping to create an enabling environment for NGO's and the not-for-profit sector generally. It is hoped to have this legislation finalised during the current session of parliament. The aim is to have minimum government interference or control over fund-raising but with the necessary checks and balances to protect the public.
As part of the Department's efforts to foster partnerships between government and the NGO sector and to promote the idea of voluntarism, several proposals were made late last year to the Katz Commission on taxation.
Essentially the proposals call for tax concessions for NGO's and for donors to create a more conductive environment in which NGO's can operate and continue to deliver the valuable services they have been delivering up to now.
An important component of redefining the relationship with the non-governmental sector, is the development of new criteria for financing and reprioritisation which will be finalised this year. The main focus is on shifting spending to development, targeting the poor and eliminating discrimination.
CHILD CARE ACT
The Department has also been working on replacing the Child Care Act with a more comprehensive act which will put the best interests of the child above all else. We therefore welcome the decision of the Constitutional Court which declared section 18(4) (d) of the Child Care Act as unconstitutional and which gave parliament two years to correct the provision. For too long this section also discriminated against fathers in black customary unions and fathers in Muslim marriages.
CONCLUSION
In 1997 we will vigorously pursue our developmental agenda. This is an approach based on partnership between government and the non-governmental sector to respond to social problems and community needs in a realistic manner, appropriate to South African conditions.
Issued by Ms Geraldine J Fraser-Moleketi, MP Minister for Welfare and Population Development
Enquiries: Brain Sokutu, Press Secretary, Cell: 082 807 5397