Question NW41 to the Minister of Social Development

Reply:

1. (a) The Minister of Social Development did not visit New York in November 2016, however, the Minister and the delegation from the Department visited Mexico to attend the High-Level Meeting on the Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network held in Acapulco, Mexico. The delegation used the opportunity to visit PROSPERA program which is a comprehensive social program initiative implemented by the Government of Mexico. The study visit to Mexico’s PROSPERA program has been outstanding since September 2015 and therefore the Ministerial invitation to participate in the High-Level meeting presented a unique opportunity for the Department to streamline its international programme with the aim to minimize expenditure associated with travel. In the interest of saving costs the Ministerial delegation undertook a visit to the State of Maryland (Baltimore) in the United States of America (USA) to cement bilateral cooperation with the State of Maryland and begin direct interaction with Howard University.

(b) The Minister was accompanied by the following delegation to Acapulco:

• Mr Abram Phahlamohlaka: Chief of Staff;
• Ms Mayibuye Mbatha: Private Secretary to the Minister; and
• Mr Daniel Shivuri: Ministry Administrator.

The study visit to PROSPERA program was conducted in Mexico City and Mr Xolani Khumalo, Director: International Relations joined the delegation for the purpose of preparing for such assignment. In Maryland, USA, the Minister was joined by Ms Constance Nxumalo, Deputy Director-General: Welfare Services and Mr Sipho Shezi: Special Advisor to the Minister to provide political support to the Minister.

(c) In the efforts to contain expenditure of the visits, it must be noted that the Ministerial hotel accommodation in Mexico was catered for by the host country while the Minister and the delegation used standard rooms in Baltimore (State of Maryland). In Mexico, the delegation also shared one vehicle with the Minister. The full breakdown of all costs is as follows:

Item	Total Cost
Flights ticket	R562 547.38
Subsistence &Travel allowance (i)	R89 251.25
Vehicle hire & Hotel accommodation (ii) & (iii)	R118 931.25
Total Cost	R770 729.88

2. Indeed a comprehensive report of the visit may be presented to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on the date that is mutually agreeable to both parties. As the outcome of the visit please receive a copy of the draft Bilateral Agreement with Mexico (annexure A) as well as the draft Agreement with the State of Maryland in USA (annexure B).

3. Visit to Mexico: The study visit to Mexico’s PROSPERA program has been outstanding since September 2015 and therefore the Ministerial invitation to participate in the High-Level Meeting on the Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network presented a unique opportunity for the Department to undertake the much anticipated study visit. The visit also dealt with elements related to the provision of social grants, South Africa could learn good practice from certain aspects of PROSPERA program which is implemented by the Mexican Government. PROSPERA is designed to be inclusive of education and health in addition to social grants. It was revealed to the delegation that the grants system in Mexico is administered by state-owned social bank which eliminate a number of administrative challenges that are experienced in the current South African context.

South Africa is part of the global community and the socio-economic challenges that are encountered in South Africa are similar to those of Mexico and other developing countries of the world. The Mexican social program i.e. PROSPERA has been proven to be working in the Mexican context and South Africa may replicate certain aspects of PROSPERA program for the benefit of impoverished South African population. In pursuit of this, the Department has undertaken a process of concluding a Bilateral Agreement with Mexico on the areas of social development which will provide the basis and legal framework for the implementation of future exchange programs between South Africa and Mexico. The Minister and the delegation also met with the Under-Secretary of SEDESOL (Deputy Minister of Social Development) in Mexico to conclude outstanding political interaction with regards to the draft MOU.

Visit to USA’s State of Maryland: As part of the international cooperation, the Department of Social Development has been negotiating Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with both the State of Maryland and Howard University. Despite the fact that Ministerial delegation did not incur additional flight costs for the visit in question, the opportunity was also utilized to concretize the areas of cooperation with the State of Maryland. The MOU (attached as annexure B) has now been agreed upon and it will be signed via the diplomatic channels. The MOU areas of cooperation include the following:

• Capacity building within the Department of Social Development social service policy, practice and professionals focused on behavioral health, including mental health;
• Establishment of partnerships with colleges, universities, and other academic training institutions, in priority areas including social work and early childhood education;
• Exchange of expertise in the design and rollout of Alcohol and Substance Related Disorder prevention, treatment, after care and reintegration programs. Both parties will seek to collaborate in advocating for early intervention and a more integrated approach with other role players in addressing the challenges of drug abuse;
• Sharing of good practices that address the needs of foster youth and vulnerable youth between the ages of 19-23 years. This will include youth that graduate out or age out of Foster Care System and Child and Youth Care Centers or facilities;
• Sharing of good practices that address the needs of the population in the most impoverished communities and the rural areas by initiating DSD programs using various mechanisms, including Non-Profit Organizations (NPO) and Faith Based Organizations (FBO);
• Sharing of good practices that will assist in developing center and non-center based early childhood programs with parenting training and development, including strengthening family programs;
• Exchange good practices that will enhance existing youth development, engagement, and delinquency prevention programs to include the use of technology training as well as link to other models, such as entrepreneurship programs; and
• Jointly work towards strengthening management of monitoring and evaluation of systems that ensure policies are well designed and have the desired impact on programs and services.