Question NW1409 to the Minister of Social Development
28 September 2016 - NW1409
Ross, Mr DC to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether (a) her department and (b) all entities reporting to her are running development programmes for (i) small businesses and (ii) co-operatives; if not, why not; if so, in each case, (aa) what are the relevant details, (bb) what amount has been budgeted and (cc) how many jobs will be created through the specified development programmes in the 2016-17 financial year?
Reply:
(a) Department of Social Development
- (aa) Not applicable to the department of Social Development
(bb) Not applicable to the department of Social Development
(ii)
(aa) The Department of Social Development facilitates the programme of linking cooperatives to economic opportunities. Cooperatives from poverty stricken wards are identified, profiled and linked to economic opportunities created through the Social Relief of Distress Programme which include supply of vegetables and school uniform to poor and vulnerable families and children. These cooperatives are also linked to economic opportunities created through the Household Food and Nutrition Programme and they supply Community Nutrition and Development Centres with food products and uniform.
(bb) There is no dedicated budget for Cooperatives. Those cooperatives with capacity building needs are referred to the National Development Agency and the Department of Small Business Development and Cooperatives for support.
(cc) not applicable to department of Social Development
SASSA
- SASSA is not running any development programmes for small businesses
(aa) Not applicable to SASSA
(bb) Not applicable to SASSA
(ii)
(aa) SASSA is not running development programmes for co-operatives. However, SASSA utilizes co-operatives for procurement.
The co-operatives are identified and assessed by the Co-operatives Unit
in the Department of Social Development.
Those co-operatives which require development are identified and assisted through the Department of Social Development and the National Development Agency. Once these have met the requirements to register on the Central Supplier database, then SASSA is able to utilize them for procurement of various services, such as social relief of distress, school uniforms, SASSA uniforms and catering, amongst others.
(bb) No dedicated budget for only cooperatives
(cc) Not applicable to SASSA
NDA
The NDA mandate is derived from the National Development Agency Act, (Act No. 108 of 1998). In terms of the act, the primary objective of the NDA is to contribute towards the eradication of poverty.
(i) Small business – the NDA has not supported small business as this function is outside its mandate of supporting Civil Society Organisations.
(aa) Not applicable to NDA
(bb) Not applicable to NDA
(ii)
(aaa) NDA support cooperatives through its capacity building programme as part of its CSOs capacity strengthening interventions. The NDA provides training, mentoring and incubation for CSOs including cooperatives on governance, financial management, conflict management, registration of NPOs and cooperatives. The NDA has planned to capacitate 4950 of CSOs including cooperatives in the 2016/17 financial.
(bbb) The NDA has budgeted R41 147 484.00 for CSOs including cooperatives capacity building interventions in the 2016/17 financial year.
(cc) Not applicable to SASSA