Parliamentary press briefing by Minister E. Pahad

Meeting report

ADHOC JOINT COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN, YOUTH AND DISABLED

19 AUGUST 1999

BRIEFING BY MINISTER ESSOP PAHAD

Documents handed out:

National Programme of Action for Children in South Africa: 31 May 1996.

Unicef's First Call For Children

Initial Country Report - South Africa - Convention on the Rights of the Child: November 1997.

MINUTES

The meeting was chaired by Ms Bogopane, and attended by the Chairperson of the National Youth Commission, Ms Mahlengi Bengu and a fellow commissioner, Mr Goodenough Kodwa; the Director of the Office on Children, Mr T Mkhwanazi; the Director of the Office on Status of Disabled Persons, Mr S Chalken.

The Minister of the President's Office, Mr E Pahad said that the Office of the President would focus on issues empowering children, youth and the disabled as well as women.

The National Youth Commission had been set up in terms of an Act of Parliament and is independent of the government. The task of the Youth Commission is to monitor government as a whole with regard to the development of youth. Minister Pahad has been given the responsibility of working together with the National Youth Commission.

On the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, the Minister reported that the White Paper on an Integrated National Disability Strategy had been completed in 1997 and he regards it as one of the best documents in the world regarding disabled people.

This white paper is to enhance public awareness and to give disabled people back their human dignity. The Minister added that his aim is to organise large support for assistance devices, such as wheelchairs, and to ensure that people who need operations, have access to the necessary facilities.

Regarding the Office of the Children, he said that a campaign had been started in November 1998 to promote the rights and status of children. He said that he intended involving other government departments such as the education and welfare. The minister informed the committee that he would be meeting tomorrow with Minister Asmal to address the issue of early childhood development.

Questions asked by committee members

A committee member asked about the status of the R50m funding which has been made available for the development of youth employment?

Minister Pahad: The R50m was made available from the poverty relief fund. The Youth Commission, together with the co-operation of the Ministers dealing with the job summit, made this possible. The R50m has been devoted to improve access to buildings for people with disabilities. This project will focus on the poorer areas, such as the Eastern Cape, Northern Province and Kwazulu Natal. The aim of this programme is to provide temporary employment to young people, which will train and equip them with the necessary skills required to obtain further employment.

A committee member asked if this committee has set deadlines for their goals?

Mr G Kodwa: We are hoping that this Youth Service project gets off the ground by the 15 September 1999. Progress regarding the White Paper on Disabled is important because it integrates the needs of disabled people over various departments. The primary function of the Office on Disabled Persons is to ensure that departments enforce the policy on disabled people.

Mr S Chalken: We have succeeded in an increased housing subsidy, as well as the provisions made for the disabled in the Employment Equity Bill. Our aim now is to complete Equality Legislation on disabled people.

Mr Pahad proposed that this committee work together with the President's Office, to enable the Office to take these issues to local government. He added that this is not a loose committee but a recognised formal joint committee of parliament. A committee needed a strong core to succeed and its success depends on its members. The minister said that he will ensure that this committee stays because it deals with critical issues across Parliament.