Committee 6th Parliament Legacy Report

Meeting report

Women, Youth & Persons With Disabilities: Key Perspectives And Oversight Implications

Mr Mkhululi Molo, Committee Researcher, presented an overview of the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) between 2019 and 2024, highlighting its evolution from a facilitative to a regulatory role in line with its constitutional mandate outlined in section 9(3). The Department's primary objective was to oversee the socio-economic transformation and empowerment of women, youth, and persons with disabilities. This shift reflected a strategic move towards creating an enabling environment that supports the regulation and implementation of policies aimed at advancing the rights and participation of these demographics.

Under its purview, Mr Molo explained the responsibilities of the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), established in 1996 under the Commission for Gender Equality Act. The CGE's mandate includes leading efforts to promote and protect gender equality through research, public education, policy development, legislative initiatives, and litigation. Similarly, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), established through the NYDA Act (No. 54 of 2008), was pivotal in coordinating national, provincial, and local youth development efforts. It strives to unify approaches across governmental and non-governmental sectors, guided by legislative frameworks such as the National Youth Policy (2009-2014) and the Integrated Youth Development Strategy.

In alignment with national priorities outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030 and the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2019-2024, Mr Molo underscored the Department's commitment to mainstreaming issues affecting women, youth, and persons with disabilities across various sectors. This strategic alignment aims to foster a capable, developmental state; drive economic transformation; enhance social cohesion; and strengthen international relations, reflecting a comprehensive approach to societal development.

Addressing recent State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs), Mr Molo highlighted key themes, such as the urgent need to combat gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), characterised as a significant societal challenge, akin to a second pandemic. The Department had allocated substantial funding towards implementing the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, underscoring its commitment to improving safety, social protection, and economic empowerment initiatives, particularly for vulnerable groups.

Financially, the Department operated within a constrained budget, which was primarily allocated towards transfer payments to entities like the CGE and the NYDA. Despite minimal budgetary increases and occasional decreases over recent fiscal years, the Department had consistently achieved over 80% of its predetermined targets, except the 2020/21 period. While audit reports had yielded unqualified outcomes, concerns persist regarding expenditure management, legislative compliance and internal controls, necessitating ongoing scrutiny and improvement.

Looking ahead, Mr Molo emphasised key areas for oversight, including monitoring the implementation of national youth service programmes, advancing the district development model for enhanced service delivery, combating corruption, and supporting initiatives for gender equality and youth empowerment. Notably, efforts were also being directed towards implementing strategies outlined in the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, and supporting economic empowerment programmes for women.

In conclusion, he acknowledged the Department's commendable performance in fulfilling its mandate during the reviewed period. However, he stressed the need for continued efforts to align budgetary expenditure with performance targets and effectively address audit findings. The NYDA's exemplary audit outcomes reflected a positive operational performance, underscoring the potential for sustained progress through enhanced financial transparency and accountability measures moving forward.

Health sector: Key perspectives and oversight implications

Mr Moses Mncwabe, Committee Researcher: Health, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the National Development Plan (NDP) and its implications for South Africa's healthcare sector, underscoring its role as a strategic blueprint aimed at enhancing the quality of life and addressing socio-economic challenges by 2030. Launched in 2012, the NDP resulted from extensive diagnostic processes involving diverse stakeholders, culminating in its approval by the Cabinet as a government strategy.

The NDP outlines nine long-term health goals for the nation, encompassing improvements in healthcare accessibility and quality. These include achieving universal health coverage, reducing maternal and child mortality rates, enhancing tuberculosis (TB) prevention and treatment, extending life expectancy, and mitigating non-communicable diseases. Moreover, the plan emphasises the importance of filling healthcare positions with skilled professionals and integrating primary healthcare teams into communities.

Mr Mncwabe highlighted seven key recommendations from the NDP for implementation by the National Department of Health (NDOH), including strengthening human resources, implementing the National Health Insurance (NHI), fostering public-private partnerships, and addressing social determinants impacting health outcomes. Collaboration with other government departments, such as Basic Education and Higher Education and Training, was crucial for achieving these goals.

Referring to the State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs) from 2019 to 2024, he outlined health-related priorities and commitments. These included addressing capacity issues in hospitals and clinics, improving ambulance services, and advancing the National Health Insurance (NHI) implementation plan. Efforts were also being focused on combating HIV/AIDS and enhancing healthcare infrastructure and resources to meet growing healthcare demands.

The presentation also covered the findings of the High-Level Panel (HLP) on universal healthcare coverage, and legislative reforms recommended to strengthen the healthcare sector. Recommendations included centralising healthcare resource allocation, expanding healthcare infrastructure, and regulating professional certifications and pharmacy licences to improve service delivery.

In the context of broader governance and accountability, Mr Mncwabe discussed the findings of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, corruption, and fraud in the public sector. While the Commission did not specifically address the health sector, its recommendations underscored the need for robust governance frameworks and transparency in public institutions.

The National Department of Health (NDOH), mandated by the National Health Act of 2003, oversees seven entities, including the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), the Office of Health Standard Compliance (OHSC), and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). Each entity plays a critical role in research, health service oversight, and regulatory functions within the healthcare system.

Key events impacting the health sector during the sixth administration included the COVID-19 pandemic, the monkeypox virus outbreak, and localised health crises such as the Hammanskraal cholera outbreak. These events underscored the sector's resilience and capacity to respond to emergent health challenges.

Regarding budgetary trends, Mr Mncwabe noted fluctuations in the NDOH's allocated funds from R51.4 billion in 2019/20, to R62.2 billion in 2023/24, reflecting adjustments to meet evolving healthcare needs. Despite nominal budget decreases in some years, adjustments aimed at mitigating inflationary impacts demonstrated a commitment to sustaining healthcare service delivery amidst fiscal constraints.

Social Development sector: Key perspectives and oversight implications

Mr Molo provided a detailed overview of the Department of Social Development (DSD), outlining its core mandate and strategic objectives. The DSD's primary function was to deliver social protection services and facilitate partnerships aimed at empowering vulnerable individuals and communities across South Africa. This includes ensuring access to social grants and welfare services to alleviate poverty, reduce inequality, and safeguard the rights of children, women, youth, and people with disabilities.

Key legislative frameworks guide the DSD's operations, underpinning its role in societal development and welfare provision. These legal frameworks were pivotal in shaping policies and standards that govern the Department's activities.

Under the auspices of the DSD, Mr Molo discussed the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), which plays a crucial role in administering social assistance to qualifying beneficiaries. The agency's strategic priorities over the medium term include enhancing financial management, reducing administrative costs, and upgrading its technological infrastructure to combat fraud effectively.

Strategic frameworks such as the Medium Term Strategic Framework (2019 – 2024) and national policy priorities outlined in the SONAs (2019-2025) underscored the DSD's commitment to providing income support, developmental welfare services, and addressing pressing social issues like gender-based violence and substance abuse. He emphasised that these frameworks served as guiding principles in the DSD's efforts to promote sustainable community development.

Financially, Mr Molo noted significant increases in the DSD's budget allocation over recent years, with a predominant portion allocated to social grants, constituting approximately 90% of the departmental expenditure. Despite challenges such as past instances of over-expenditure, the DSD had consistently achieved unqualified audit outcomes, albeit with notable findings concerning entities like SASSA and the NDA.

He highlighted critical provincial issues such as food security concerns, foster care backlogs, and shortages of social workers, particularly in rural areas. These challenges underscored the need for enhanced coordination between the national department and provincial authorities to improve service delivery and address localised socio-economic issues effectively.

During his presentation, Mr Molo also stressed the importance of oversight in key areas such as the recruitment and deployment of social workers, support for Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), poverty alleviation programmes, and the implementation of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant. Ensuring alignment between budget expenditure and performance targets remains a critical focus area, alongside implementing recommendations from the Auditor General to enhance operational efficiency and financial management within the DSD and its associated entities.

In conclusion, he acknowledged the DSD's achievements in advancing social welfare objectives while identifying areas for improvement. He highlighted the Department's ongoing commitment to addressing societal challenges and promoting inclusive development in South Africa through strategic policy implementation and robust oversight mechanisms.

Closure

Due to time constraints, the Select Committee decided to schedule another meeting where Members could engage with the presentations, ask questions and get responses.

The meeting was adjourned.