21 June 2002
Chairperson
Honourable Members
MECs of Social Development
Distinguished Guest
Ladies and Gentlemen
INTRODUCTION
In my budget vote speech to the National Assembly in March this year I pledged to proceed with the delivery of social development programmes and grants to the millions of poor citizens of South Africa. I also indicated that owing to their particular needs and vulnerabilities, the children of our country would be the focus of our efforts. The primary theme of our work in social development this year has been and continues to be "Children First".
In motivating this focus on children, one does not need to look far to realise the critical importance of providing care and support for children in South Africa. About two out of every five members of the population are children aged less than eighteen. Of these, almost half are poor in material terms.
On the 27th of May the official launch of the Week in Pretoria was attended by children from several schools and children's shelters situated in and around the city. The children were given the opportunity to ask questions and I was saddened to hear about the issues that concern them. The children voiced their concerns about sexual abuse, poverty and hunger, family disintegration and their distrust of adults.
For as long as this situation exists, we are obliged to double our efforts to alleviate and ultimately to eliminate this extreme level of material and social deprivation. We need to give children real hope for a better life today and not vague ideas of a better life some time in the distant future.
It is this urgency to address the plight of children that drives our social development programmes.
SOCIAL GRANTS FOR CHILDREN
I am pleased to announce that as of this week, a total of 2 103 875 children are receiving one of the three types of social grants for children. The majority, about 1.9 million children are receiving the Child Support Grant.
I am however deeply concerned that many children who are eligible for these grants are not receiving them. The reasons for this could be that their parents or guardians do not know about the grants or if they do, are not aware of the procedures required to access them. We are therefore embarking on a national campaign to register all those who are eligible for social grants and in the first year of the campaign we are focusing our efforts on children. We aim to reach another 1 million children by the end of this financial year and I have called on our partners in various sectors of civil society to support the campaign.
CHILDREN AND HIV/AIDS
The impact of HIV/AIDS on our children is devastating. In many instances, the children of families affected by the epidemic are unable to attend classes because they are obliged to take on the caring and other roles that their parents can no longer fulfil. The finances of households are affected and their purchasing power is invariably decimated. The nutritional levels of children thus decrease and their physical and emotional health deteriorates. Sadly, there are reports of communities that shun and marginalise families affected by the disease. Such reactions are based on irrational fears and misconceptions and as a nation we need to counteract them.
This year we will expand significantly the Home-Based Care/Community-Based Care programme for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS. The Provincial Departments of Social Development have been allocated a total of R46.5 million for the programme this year and the National Department has received R1.5 million. This is a significant increase over the R13.4 million allocated last year. Last year about 50 000 vulnerable children benefited from the programme and we expect to increase the number of children significantly. We will be working with Faith-Based Organisations, Community-Based Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations to reach as many children as possible.
It is essential to increase co-operation amongst all involved so that resources are not wasted through duplication of efforts.
As part of Child Protection week the department hosted a national conference to enhance co-ordination amongst roleplayers working with children affected by the epidemic. Many constructive proposals emerged from the conference and the social department is committed to implementing these proposals. Joining hands in the war against HIV/AIDS will expedite the victory.
OTHER CHILD PROTECTION AND YOUTH ISSUES
Honourable Members, the South African Law Commission is drafting the new Child Care legislation, which I hope will be introduced into Parliament later this year. Key to this legislation is the comprehensive protection of children from all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation.
The issue of youth must remain high on our agenda if we are to secure the future of our country. This week, beginning with National Youth Day, the Department co-hosted an international conference on youth development in Africa. The conference highlighted the many challenges faced by youth, such as poverty, unemployment, HIV/AIDS, limited access to quality education and family disintegration. The key message from the conference is that we must involve the youth themselves in developing solutions to the problems that confront youth. This year we will expand our youth development initiatives, which we commenced under the Urban Renewal Programme.
I remain concerned about the number of children and youth awaiting trial in police cells and in adult correctional facilities. It is therefore essential that we expand the diversion programmes as envisaged under the Probation Services Amendment Bill and also expand secure care facilities.
IMPROVING SOCIAL SECURITY
Honourable Members, as you are aware, the Committee of Inquiry into Social Security submitted its report to Cabinet in April this year. The report has been distributed for public comment and we are now in the process of reviewing the inputs received. The recommendations contained in the report have far-reaching implications for the country and Government will therefore be deliberating very thoroughly on the issues raised.
It is however imperative that we continue with the improvements to the current system so that we meet the needs of those who are eligible for social security. In addition to the National Registration Campaign, we will progressively implement norms and standards for social security, streamline procedures and develop the skills of social security officials. Provinces have begun to establish assessment panels to expedite the processing of disability grant applications. This will alleviate the misery experienced by many applicants, especially those living in rural areas with no access to district surgeons.
Earlier this year Government set aside R2 billion to pay grant beneficiaries who had been disadvantaged by the three-month limitation on the accrual of arrears. The Provincial Departments of Social Development have begun with arrears payments for Child Support Grants. This will be followed by the other grant types during the coming months. Government's decision was based on our belief that beneficiaries should not be penalised for the shortcomings in the legislation and administration of our social security system. Every beneficiary who is entitled to the arrears payments will receive payment.
Many of the improvements made in the area of social security respond to the recommendations made by the Ministerial Committee on the Abuse, Neglect and Ill-treatment of Older Persons. This year we will expedite the implementation of outstanding matters raised by the Committee as well as develop a National Action Plan on Ageing in keeping with the declaration made at the Second World Assembly on Ageing, which was held in Spain in April.
INTEGRATED AND SUSTAINABLE POVERTY RELIEF
Our Poverty Relief Programme will place increasing emphasis on building and strengthening community structures to ensure sustainability of poverty relief initiatives. This will require us to work collaboratively with other departments as well as with local government in the manner envisaged by the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme. The National Development Agency (NDA) was transferred to my ministry late last year and is expected to play a critical role in supporting civil society organisations in the fight against poverty.
Last year we established 365 projects and already this year we have established 52 projects. In the current financial year the Poverty Relief allocation has doubled to R100 million. We will continue with our efforts to support the social and economic empowerment of women. The Women's Flagship Programme is gaining momentum and is showing signs of sustainability. The programme has been rolled out in all provinces and there are 22 projects. To complement the Flagship Programme 104 women's income generation projects have also been established to benefit 10 400 households.
The Victim Empowerment Programme provides support to women victims of domestic violence and the Department works closely with the Department of Justice and the South African Police Service on all forms of violence against women.
PARTNERSHIPS
The theme of partnerships is an important one in many areas of our service delivery. In achieving the objectives of the ambitious programmes of the department, we count on the support of many civil society partners.
I take this opportunity to thank the business sector, the numerous faith-based and non-governmental organisations that have responded to our calls for support. Your efforts and generosity are making a difference to the lives of many.
I know that there are many ordinary citizens right across the country who share our concerns about the plight of poor people and children. Many of these people work tirelessly and often on a voluntary basis and I am most appreciative of your commitment. There is still much work to be done. I appeal to others to join hands with us to become part of the solution to the challenges we face.
Honourable Members, I would like to remind all organisations that receive funding from Government that they must comply with the requirements for accounting and reporting on the use of the funds. These accountability requirements apply equally to large Non-Governmental Organisations and to small Community-Based Organisations. They have a legal and moral responsibility to spend taxpayers' money on the programmes for which they receive funding. The national and provincial departments make extensive use of consultants and I am concerned that the quality of work delivered does not always represent value for money for Government. I would also appeal to service providers to observe the principles of Batho Pele, especially in the payment of social grants to the elderly.
BUDGET ALLOCATION
Honourable Members, the Department's allocation increased from R190 million in 2001/2002 to R409 million in the current financial year.
Most of the increase in the allocation is for transfer payments to benefit communities in the Poverty Relief Programme, the Home-Based/Community-Based Care Programme, and to fund the projects of the National Development Agency. Funding has also been allocated to improve the social security system and to strengthen the capacity of the Department. The provinces have received an increased allocation this year, from R23.9 billion to R28 billion. The allocation for social grants is R25.2 billion and the grant increases took effect from 1 April this year.
This increased budget together with the substantial allocation for social grants reflects this Government's commitment to the poorest sector of our society and once again I repeat, with the emphasis on our children.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I would like to thank my colleagues the Members of the Executive Committee in the Provinces for their sterling efforts in implementing this very challenging programme of social development "Siyabonga". I also wish to thank the members of the Select Committee of the NCOP for their continuous guidance on important policy and legislative matters. The children of South Africa have hopes and dreams. They want to have enough to eat, they want to go to school and they want to live in a safe and caring environment. They ask for nothing more than their basic human rights. We have a moral and legal duty to ensure that our children enjoy their human rights and live to become good citizens. We must work together to make South Africa a place fit for all children.
I thank you.