Hansard: Vote No 19 – Social Development
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 08 May 2013
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 1
START OF DAY
WEDNESDAY, 8 MAY 2013
PROCEEDINGS OF EXTENDED PUBLIC COMMITTEE – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
____________
Members of the Extended Public Committee met in the Old Assembly Chamber at 10:01.
Prof L G B Ndabandaba, as Temporary Chairperson, took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
FIRST ORDER
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 1
START OF DAY
APPROPRIATION BILL
Vote No 19 – Social Development:
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Hon Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister Ms M Ntuli, MECs for Social Development here present, hon Members of Parliament, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is with great humility that I rise to present Budget Vote No 19 in this august House. The budget I present today builds on the strong foundation we have laid to date towards a fully democratic and an inclusive society envisioned in the Freedom Charter.
This budget, which is the last in the current administration before the next general elections in 2014, focuses on the journey we have traversed since 2009 and on the work we will be undertaking over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, the MTEF period. The budget takes its cue from the state of the nation address and the ANC's 53th National Conference held in Mangaung in 2012. It is presented under the theme: Protecting and optimising development outcomes for South Africa's children. In line with this theme, we have invited caregivers from Khayelitsha and a group of children from child-headed households who are seated in the public gallery. I would like to extend a very warm welcome to them, and I look forward to meeting and engaging with them this afternoon and in the coming days. [Applause.]
This budget is presented against the backdrop of landmark developments that have given fresh impetus to the work of the social sector and the government as a whole.
In December 2012, the 53rd National Conference of the ANC adopted the National Development Plan, the NDP, to guide united action by all South Africans. The ANC sees the NDP as a common planning framework that will enable us to consolidate our democratic gains and continue to build an inclusive society.
Since 1994, we have embarked on an extensive programme to attack poverty from all fronts. Numerous institutions, amongst them, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the OECD, acknowledged the notable progress we have made.
Today, unlike under the apartheid regime, all our children - black and white - from the young girl in Muyexe, Limpopo, to the teenage girl in Umsinga, KwaZulu-Natal have access to educational opportunities and a safety net. The social assistance programme now reaches over 16 million beneficiaries. I must emphasise that 11 million of these beneficiaries are children. The programme started from a very low base of about 30 000 in 1998, when the child support grant was introduced.
These considerable achievements can be attributed to the extension of the social security cover rate to the previously excluded and marginalised groups in line with the Constitution. We have put money directly in the hands of the poor, particularly women, to empower them to make positive life choices that have improved the lives of South African children, particularly on important matters such as improved nutrition, better educational outcomes, health care and the activation of job seeking behaviour.
These solidarity-based policies ensure that the impact of the ongoing global economic meltdown and the financial crisis become less severe in South Africa.
While more work remains to be done, particularly to address inequality in our society, I am confident that the measures and plans in this Budget Vote represent a solid foundation upon which to consolidate further momentum and success.
This year, the department received a budget of R120 billion, and of this amount R113 billion is allocated for the payment of social assistance grants which comprise 93% of the total budget allocation.
At the beginning of our term of office in 2009, President Jacob Zuma said, and I quote, "For as long as there are children who do not have the means nor the opportunity to receive a decent education; we shall not rest, and we dare not falter, in our drive to eradicate poverty.
Pursuant to this commitment and as part of our quest to fight the root causes of poverty in particular intergenerational poverty, we identified the provision of early childhood development, ECD, as key to our success towards achieving Vision 2030.
The adoption of the first 100 days campaign by the ANC demonstrates a serious political commitment to optimise the development outcomes for millions of our children. This will ensure that we focus on the most critical period of a child's life, beginning with the mother's pregnancy to the age of two years.
In 2010, we committed ourselves to expand the coverage of ECD services. Many of the changes we promised have since been implemented. To date, over 900 000 children benefit from this programme, and we are on course to deliver on our mandate to provide universal ECD services by 2014.
Following the diagnostic report and the resolutions of the ECD conference held in 2012, we have approved a five year integrated programme of action which identified the urgent need to improve rural infrastructure, human resource capacity, a new comprehensive funding model and amendments to the Children's Act. Accordingly, we will finalise a national policy which will define the ECD service package and make it a public good.
Consistent with the theme of this budget, I am pleased to inform this House about the new partnership with the Department of Communication to roll out the information communication technology strategy, targeting 40 ECD sites in rural areas this year. In line with our target of 10 000 child and youth care workers over five years, I am pleased to announce that we have recruited 3 150 child and youth care workers from local communities ... [Applause.]
and have began with the training programme for the roll-out of the Isibindi model in 260 sites.
In May last year, I outlined plans to roll out new biometric-based payment solution for social grants. As part of the transition to the system, we embarked on a national campaign to reregister all grant beneficiaries. Today, I am pleased to report that a total of 20,7 million beneficiaries have been successfully reregistered into the new system. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all beneficiaries, who headed our call, for their co-operation in ensuring a seamless transition to the new system. The SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, will implement this programme in accordance with the provisions of the promotion of access to administrative justice.
I would like to assure all South Africans that no qualifying beneficiaries will have their grants cancelled. To assist us in this regard, I urge all beneficiaries who have not reregistered to visit their local Sassa offices in response to the letters we have sent to them. I also want to ask you, hon members, to please help in spreading the message in your constituencies.
Just a year after the implementation of the biometric payment solution, we are already witnessing its positive spin-offs. For example, through beneficiaries having approached Sassa, over 130 000 social grants were cancelled, and this has led to a saving of R150 million per annum.
In 2010, I promised to root out fraud and corruption in the social security system. We are delivering on this promise. During the 2012-13 financial year, we have registered about 7 700 cases of fraud. More than 55% of these cases have been finalised and closed. [Applause.]
In an effort to clamp down on unscrupulous micro lenders who exploit social grants beneficiaries, in line with the regulations, Sassa will not be processing any other deductions except for funeral deductions that do not exceed 10% of the value of the grant. Once again, I would like to appeal to all social grant beneficiaries that they must not give their Sassa cards and pin codes to micro lenders.
It is worth pointing out that the Supreme Court of Appeal, the SCA, in a unanimous decision, overruled the decision of the North Gauteng High Court, which found that the awarding of the social grants payment tender to Cash Paymaster Services was illegal and invalid. The SCA dismissed the highly publicised allegations of corruption and irregularities which were granted prominence by an all-too-negative segment of the media. The losing bidder has now made an application to the Constitutional Court to set aside the ruling of the SCA. We are opposing this application as there is no merit to their case. We remain determined in our resolve to ensure that no vulnerable person is denied access to their grants due to unnecessary legal challenges.
While celebrating these successes, we cannot be complacent and think that our job is done. Hon members, inde le ndlela esiyihambayo. [This journey we are undertaking is long.] I will be appointing a ministerial advisory committee that will investigate and advise me on the best payment options for social security.
Another important task in this regard will be to address the identified policy gaps in relation to the old age grant. The administration of the means test for the old age grant in its current form has the unintended consequences of penalising senior citizens who had saved for their retirement.
Let me take this opportunity to convey my profound regret and dismay on the tragic loss of life of Ms Elimina Mbhele who lost her life during the attack at a Sassa payout point at Lindelani in KwaZulu-Natal.
We attach great importance to the contributions of older persons to national development, particularly in the context of nation building, promoting social cohesion, strengthening families, and caring for orphans and vulnerable children. For this reason we welcome the recent ruling of the South Gauteng High Court which gave clarity that grandparents who care for their grandchildren are eligible for foster care grants. This will go a long way to providing them with the much needed financial support to undertake their caregiving role. In turn, this will facilitate educational access and achievements for orphans and vulnerable children, as well as improved health outcomes for children under the care of older persons.
Research shows us that families are the building blocks of a strong, stable and cohesive society. The White Paper on Families aims to bring a seamless approach in the provision of services to families, with the particular focus on early intervention and family support services. We recognise that without strong and resilient families our goal to build safer and nonviolent communities will come to nothing.
We will not rest until we succeed in our mission to ensure that all people in South Africa are and feel safe. We must in particular eradicate violence against women and children in our country. To address this scourge, we have established an interministerial committee on violence against women and children. A programme of action on the elimination of violence against women and children anchored on prevention and protection, response, care and support will be presented to Cabinet this year.
Working together with the National Council Against Gender-based Violence, civil society organisations and the business sector, the interministerial committee is mobilising all sections of the South African society to join hands in combating\ this social ill. In this regard, I wish to commend the recent men's dialogue convened by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe which pledged to mobilise millions of men to fight violence against women and girls.
There is a recognised link between violence against women and children and, alcohol and substance abuse. Last year, when I addressed this House, I informed you that the work of the interministerial committee on antisubstance abuse is going on. The interministerial committee approved the draft control of marketing of the Alcoholic Beverages Bill early in February this year. Key amongst others, the Bill aims to restrict the marketing and promotion of alcoholic beverages and will be presented to Cabinet this year before public consultations.
Other matters that the interministerial committee will finalise this year include measures to enhance law enforcement such as the reduction in the hours of selling alcohol, substance abuse workplace interventions and the proposal to completely prohibit a person who has consumed alcohol from driving a vehicle at all.
We have appointed new members of the board of the central draft authority to ensure implementation of the national draft master plan 2013-17, which will be presented to Cabinet for approval before the end of this month. Hon members, each one of these measures is a step towards reducing the heavy health, social and economic burden of alcohol and substance abuse in our country.
Hon members, former President Nelson Mandela said, and I quote, "Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, but an act of justice." In response to this call, the 53rd National Conference of the ANC resolved that we must move with speed in implementing the household nutrition and food security strategy this year. We have made significant progress since the launch of the Food for All campaign in 2011. In partnership with FoodBank SA, we have today distributed food supplies to over 370 000 beneficiaries every month. We have set up 33 community nutrition and development centres in all nine provinces. This includes revitalising centres that were previously closed down by the DA in the Western Cape. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Order hon members; give the Minister a chance to be heard please.
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: To demonstrate our commitment, we have set aside R120 million over the MTEF period to expand this intervention. As part of the department's extension of its work on disability and assisting people with special needs, we will commence interventions with the two highly neglected areas of autism and albinism. Many children and young people in our country who have these conditions and special needs remain without assistance from government.
With this budget, we continue our determination of recruiting and retaining more social work professionals as part of our endeavours to increase access to quality services and deal effectively with various social problems. We have awarded financial assistance to 8 569 social work students. [Applause.] In this current financial year alone, we have awarded bursaries to 2 037 students. The budget allocation for the social work scholarship programme has grown steadily from R50 million in 2007 to R250 million in the current financial year. [Applause.] I am pleased to announce that we have approved the provincial implementation plans to absorb all newly qualified social work graduates.
Government's mid-term review report showed that while much progress has been made since 2009, implementation of policies remains a key challenge, particularly at service delivery level. To address this, the Department of Social Development together with Sassa and the National Development Agency, the NDA, will embark on a nationwide frontline service delivery improvement initiative, focusing on the poorest wards in the country. This will be a face-to-face engagement with people in municipalities so that we can jointly determine the nature and quality of the services we are delivering.
This budget provides an opportunity to accelerate our march towards Vision 2030. We recognise and commend the selfless and dedicated contributions of community-based organisations, faith-based organisations and nongovernmental organisations in the many aspects of social development service delivery. Indeed, we view all these organisations as full partners in the work we do.
I would like to conclude by expressing my deepest gratitude to my colleague and comrade, Mama Maria Ntuli, and all MECs for their enduring support and outstanding contribution. In addition, I extend my sincere appreciation to the former director-general, Mr Vusi Madonsela, for the excellent contribution he made to the Department of Social Development for over a decade. [Applause.] I would also like to congratulate Mr Coceko Pakade on his appointment as the Director-General of the Department of Social Development. [Applause.]
Finally, I express my gratitude to the chief executive officer of Sassa, Ms Virginia Petersen, chief financial officer of NDA, Dr Vuyelwa Nhlapho, and chairperson and members of the NDA board, special advisors and all members of the Department of Social Development family for their hard work dedicated to the service of our people.
I would also like to congratulate my father who will be 80 years old on Friday. He is here with us and some members of the family.
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Order Minister, may I ask your father to stand up, we want to see him. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: My mother is also here. [Applause.]
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): And the mother.
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: It now gives me pleasure to invite you to support Budget Vote no 19. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): We thank the hon Minister and congratulate her father for reaching that age of maturity.
Mrs Y R BOTHA
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 2
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Mrs Y R BOTHA: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister of Social Development, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, ladies and gentlemen and Members of the Executive Councils of provinces, as the Minister said, we are gathered here today to debate Vote No 19 on Social Development.
Mrs Y R BOTHA: Financially, it is quite a substantial budget, but it is also crucial for the wellbeing and developmental needs of society, since the budget of the department is focussed on addressing poverty, unemployment, inequality and other social ills that are plaguing our society and our country as a whole.
Since the vision of the department is to provide, through a caring and integrated system, services that facilitate human development and improve the quality of life for all, especially vulnerable South Africans, we as Parliament have to ensure that this indeed does happen.
Afrikaans:
Dit is 'n spesiale dag vir Suid-Afrikaners want ons praat en debateer oor geld wat na die armstes van die armes gaan. Dit is maatskaplike toelaes, of welsyn soos dit in die volksmond bekend staan, maar ook maatskaplike welsynsdienste wat die samelewing, veral weerbare mans, vroue, gestremdes en die jeug baie nodig het.
As ons vandag terugdink aan hoe dinge gelyk het in 1994 toe ons as die ANC aan bewind gekom het, en hoe dinge nou lyk, wil ek net beaam wat Bokka, wie 'n vrou in my kiesafdelings is, vir my gesê het. Sy het gesê dat die regering omgee en dit is hoekom hulle die vrymoedigheid het om te kom kla, want hulle weet dat hulle gehelp sal word. Tog is dit nie 'n maklike pad nie. [Tussenwerpsels.]
English:
Mrs Y R BOTHA: No journey, especially the one called social transformation, was, and is not easy. We inherited a divided society that was grossly unequal for hundreds of years. Deprivation was rife and discrimination was entrenched at every level of society, in the workplace, in services of government, education, at home and in private life. Sadly, there are people who miss the good old days of apartheid, saying it wasn't so bad. Were they living on Mars while we were living here in hell on earth, created for us by those who created their own nirvana at our expense - the majority of South Africans?
There is another belief that in order to correct the evils of the past, all that we have to do is just to give everyone equal opportunities, especially those who benefited for hundreds of years. [Interjections.]
Mrs Y R BOTHA: It doesn't matter if the economy will then remain in the hands of a few. It doesn't matter that the rich grow richer and the poor stay poor. "No muss, no fuss." [Interjections.]
Afrikaans:
Dit is oëverblindery.
English:
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G Ndabandaba): Order, order hon members!
Mrs Y R BOTHA: It's disgraceful and disrespectful to a society that has triumphed over great adversity to attain freedom. [Interjections.] That is why the ANC remains committed to the ideals of the Freedom Charter ... [Interjections.] [Applause.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G Ndabandaba): Order, Order!
Mrs Y R BOTHA: ... to build a society where South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white. [Interjections.] The attainment of social transformation can only happen ...
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G Ndabandaba): Hon Botha, please take a seat. Hon members, I am not happy with the noise here. Give the member a chance to be heard. [Interjections.] You can stand.
Mr S B FARROW: Chair, I rise on a point of order.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G Ndabandaba): What is your point of order?
Mr S B FARROW: The point of order is whether it is proper for the hon Minister who is currently facing allegations of corruption, to talk about this type of thing. It's misleading the House. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G Ndabandaba): Order, order!
Adv T M MASUTHA: Chairperson, can we ask the DA to behave? [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G Ndabandaba): Order! Members, please don't turn this House into a circus. [Interjections.] Continue speaker.
Mrs Y R BOTHA: Let me remind colleagues that I am not the Minister, but the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development. {Interjections.][Applause.]
Mrs Y R BOTHA: Let me continue.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G Ndabandaba): Continue!
Mrs Y R BOTHA: The attainment of social transformation can only happen if people can lift themselves out of poverty, whilst creating adequate social nets to protect the most vulnerable in our society. For maximum impact we have to persist with comprehensive programmes which deal with poverty, inequality and underdevelopment, but in the same breath, we also have to protect and advance the rights of all.
The National Development Plan forms the foundation of a long-term plan to build a national democratic society that is nonracial, nonsexist, democratic, united and prosperous.
The portfolio committee has deliberated on Budget Vote No 19 that is the Department of Social Development and its entities, and has also looked at their strategic and operational plans. The budget of the department consists of five programmes. It is a considerable budget of R120 billion, which is quite substantial. The increase of 7,4% is noted, and 99,5% consists of transfers and subsidies which include the substantial transfer of R113 billion for grants. Without wasting time, let me discuss the committee's observations.
We concluded that not enough focus is being given to programmes dealing with people with disabilities. We feel that it should be part of the department's priority areas. The department must ensure that its programmes are geared towards the protection and rights of people with disabilities. Early childhood development, ECD, centres for children with disabilities are still too thinly spread in our communities. We need more daycare centres, aftercare facilities and investment in specialised care for our disabled children. I want to emphasise that there should be an intentional investment in skills development for disabled youth, so that they can participate in our economy and be mainstreamed in all levels of society, government and the private sector.
Turning to the National Development Agency, the NDA; we were very concerned about it a few years ago, but ...
Afrikaans:
... hulle kry nou hul huis in order en dinge kom nou bymekaar.
English:
The budget of the NDA needs to be increased because it is totally inadequate to carry out its mandate. We always complained about its presence in provinces. Now we can see it, but vacant posts must be filled timeously. There should be interaction between the Minister and the Minister of Finance, to lobby for more money for the NDA. The capacity building role that the NDA can facilitate for nonprofit organisations, NPOs, should be strengthened and they have to ensure that the NPOs are compliant.
We welcome the presence of advisory centres in provinces because that is going to assist. As I stated previously, the R171,7 million allocated should thus be increased. We noted the critical vacancies in the department and raised the fact that it could affect service delivery in the long term. However, we are happy with the announcements that the Minister has made.
The capacitating of NPOs, speeding up their registration and their compliance, etc was another concern for the committee; so more focus should be placed on monitoring and evaluation.
We note the shortage of social workers, especially with regard to the Children's Act, also the scholarship programme initiated by the department and innovations to make the programme a success as well. The use and training of social auxiliary workers through learnerships should be considered.
The absence of foodbanks in our rural areas is a concern to the committee, as is the concentration in urban areas. Food security initiatives like foodbanks in our rural communities could significantly improve the quality of life of our rural communities.
Another concern worth mentioning is the fact that the funding models in provinces differ substantially from each other. The court challenges underway in the Free State are also noted. Yesterday or the day before another nongovernmental organisation in the Free State again threatened to go to court if the subsidies to children's homes are not paid. As a committee, we will be watching and following that process in the Free State very closely. Hopefully, the finalisation of the financial awards policy will normalise the confusion that exists at the moment.
Turning to the recommendations, the Minister should ensure that the youth programmes are being rolled out to six other provinces. These programmes have only been rolled out to three provinces. The programmes are aimed at empowering the youth to be agents of change. It's crucial that the other provinces also benefit from this initiative.
We further recommend that the target of 66 000 social workers be reviewed. The committee is awaiting a detailed report on the social work scholarship programme.
As I said, we as a committee are concerned about the vacant posts at senior management service level within the department itself, and we are glad that today we received a newly appointed director-general and I think there is also a deputy director-general who has been appointed in the department.
Turning to the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, we recommend that the implementation of a biometric system for Sassa officials should be prioritised. Dormant accounts should be resolved. As the Minister said, the attempted robbery and shootout at the paypoint at Lindelane in Kwazulu-Natal was upsetting, especially since it resulted in the death of a pensioner. Sassa should ensure that security at paypoints is strengthened, although it is not their function but the responsibility of the contractor. They should make sure that there is a security plan for all eventualities at paypoints.
The increase in state capacity will ensure that the comprehensive social security strategy of government can be fully implemented. The fact that social assistance has reduced the poverty gap by 63% is an indication that the provision of social assistance is making a difference in the lives of our people.
The provision of the child support grant to children of school-going age, coupled with the school nutrition programme, has had a positive impact on school attendance. These initiatives, and the school uniform assistance in some provinces, make it virtually impossible for children not to be in school.
Our children are our future. Therefore, we have to expand our ECD programmes and aftercare, and place a special emphasis on child-headed households. Child-headed households should be prioritised because it is an area where our youth are forced to be adults through no fault of their own, and have to fend for their siblings. In conjunction with psychosocial support, we need to give them hope for the future, and will therefore we be monitoring the department's efforts to create opportunities and jobs for the youth of our country.
We welcome the universalisation of the old age grant, although the means test is administratively cumbersome and very expensive. Minister, why should we have a phased-in approach if we can abolish the hated means test? This will ensure that everyone who is sixty years of age qualifies for it. It means that men and women can now apply for an old age grant on their own, thereby increasing household income and increasing social cohesion in households and communities. We will be saving money on administrative costs, staff training and systems.
Looking forward, we should consider the universalisation of the child support grant for all South African children, as stated in the Mangaung resolutions. This will greatly ensure that all children are in school and cared for. Children constitute 31,3% of the South African population. This is a significant number. Since the costing has been done on the financial implications, the impact will be felt immediately in our communities since no deserving child will be excluded.
In conclusion, allow me thank the staff of the portfolio committee; Yolisa, Lindiwe, Siyavuya and Nozuko, for their professional conduct in supporting the work of the committee over the years. I thank them for being there to ensure that we carry out our constitutional obligations. They are indeed part of the success of this committee. I wish to thank the Minister and Deputy Minister, as well as the management of Social Development and its entities, for their co-operation and presence at our meetings, for taking us seriously and for respecting us. Thank you. Let's make this financial year an unforgettable one where we achieve all our objectives as a committee and as a department. The ANC supports Budget Vote No 19. [Applause.]
Mr M WATERS
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 3
Mrs Y R BOTHA
Mr M WATERS: Chair, can I start by welcoming the DA councillors from Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. You are welcome. [Applause.] They came down to see how a metro is supposed to be run, unlike the Ekurhuleni Metro in Gauteng. [Applause.] [Laughter.]
I cannot believe the hypocrisy of the previous speaker, the chairperson of the committee, when she spoke about the upliftment of the poor when she herself is facing charges of corruption. [Interjections.] The mind boggles; she really is an elephant in the room.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L G B NDABANDABA): Order, order hon members!
Mr M WATERS: One has to question ...
Ms P N DANIELS: Hon Chairperson, on a point of order: The member is out of order. The previous speaker stood as a Chairperson of the portfolio committee, which has nothing to do with her charges. Therefore, the member is really out of order. Thank you. [Interjections.]
Mr M WATERS: Chairperson, may I continue? [Interjections.]
Ms P N DANIELS: I am sorry Chairperson, and the case is sub judice, so he is out of order. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Hon members, order! I want to remind the hon Waters that the matter he is referring to was exhaustively discussed by Parliament and this is not the platform for that. [Applause.] Mr Waters, you may proceed.
Adv T M MASUTHA: Sorry hon Chair, can I please raise another point of order? A colleague has just said that she has to be in jail. Can we request that she also be ordered to withdraw that statement?
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Hon member, I will look into that, and then I will come back to you. Furthermore, I would like to find out if the member actually said something of that nature that. If it was said, I will then take the matter up. Please continue Mr Waters.
Mr M WATERS: Chair, one also has to question the ANC's commitment to fighting corruption. Their own party policy provides that any member that has been charged with corruption should be suspended. Why is the hon Botha not suspended?
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Mr Waters, please take a seat. Maybe, to let the rest, let me ask the member if she actually said it. [Interjections.] Hon member, did you say it, hon member? [Interjections.] Please stand up and tell the House whether you said it or not. [Interjections.]
Ms C K K MOSIMANE: Chairperson, did my hands say she should be in jail? I never said it. [laughter.]
Mr D A KGANARE: Chairperson, on a point of order: I would ask you to look at the Hansard, as to whether the hon member did say anything. Hansard will proof that the member said nothing. [Laughter.] [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Order, hon members! I would like to emphasise that I do not think that it was what the member said. I did not hear what she said. Therefore, Hansard won't have that record, and I would ask Mr Waters to continue.
Mr M WATERS: Helen Suzman once said, and quote, "I stand for simple justice, equal opportunity and human rights; the indispensable elements in a democratic society and well worth fighting for."
Today, the DA's vision of an open opportunity society for all encapsulates the values of justice, equal opportunity and human rights. The DA's vision is one where people are given equal opportunities in order to better themselves and climb the ladder of prosperity and become whatever they choose to and not remain dependent on the state for their survival. The Department of Social Development has an important role to play in this regard.
Many South Africans need state assistance and have to interact with the department and the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, on a monthly basis when they receive their grants. Sassa has embarked on a massive reregistration campaign in order to ensure that all those who should be receiving grants are receiving them, and that those who should not be receiving them are removed from the system.
By and large, the results have been positive and the DA supports this venture despite some hiccups. I want to take this opportunity to thank Sassa's staff for responding to all the queries that I have sent through.
I will not talk about the issuing of the R10 billion tender to the Cash Paymaster Services, the CPS, for the administration of the grants as the issue is currently before High Court. Once the legal process is completed, I will be resubmitting my questions about this controversial tender.
Another area of concern for the DA is that of the regulations relating to the application for and payment of social assistance which are not being properly implemented. These regulations place conditions on caregivers to ensure that all children in receipt of a grant attend school and should provide the director-general, the DG, of the department proof of this within one month of receiving the grant and every six months thereafter. This has not been done. The DG should have been receiving millions of school reports every six months. These conditions should not be seen as punitive but rather as a positive condition in ensuring that all our children attend school.
We do welcome the recent memorandum of understanding signed between the Departments of Basic Education and Social Development where their databases will be compared in order to identify any children that are not attending school. If used correctly, this information could be pivotal in ensuring that many more children actually complete school.
The question we should be asking is why are so many people dependent on grants? The answer is simple - because of the failed economic policies of this ANC-led government in those ventures. There is a direct correlation between our country's current unemployment crisis and the large amount of people dependent on grants. There is a direct correlation. It's a concern that 16 million people are indeed dependent on social grants. We do recognise that many families' only income is from social grants which do alleviate poverty, but do not eradicate it - and there must be a distinction.
I want to assure all South Africans that the DA will not take away any person's pension, child support grant or any other grant for that matter, when we become the leading government. The desperate ANC that does not clearly know how to solve the unemployment crisis that is facing our country is spreading a lie. In fact, the DA goes beyond the call of duty, and we believe that there should be a safety net for the poor.
Last year alone, the DA-led government in the Western Cape provided additional services to vulnerable people, by providing for nearly 1,300 people with disabilities to stay in state-funded residential facilities, and a further 23 000 people received nonresidential support services. The province has also allocated 6 000 spaces in department-funded residential facilities for older persons and nearly 17 000 in community-based programmes. Furthermore, we provided 65 000 subsidised spaces in early childhood development centres for children between 0 and 5 years old.
The DA-led government will ensure that we have a growing economy which will free millions from the shackles of poverty and allow people to move from welfare to work. The DA feels the pain of the millions that are unemployed, but we are determined to better their future. In fact, only two days ago the latest unemployment figures were released, indicating an increase to 25,2%, nationally.
When discouraged workseekers are taken into account, the broad unemployment rate has reached a staggering 38% - that's 7 million people. This means that there are 1,2 million more South Africans who are unemployed today than there were on the day Jacob Zuma became President. Furthermore, the DA-run Western Cape bucked the trend by creating 8 000 jobs during the same period. The DA has a plan, and the ANC clearly does not. [Interjections.]
Yes, we need a safety net for those who cannot look after themselves. However, we also need a growing economy with job opportunities so people can achieve their potential. The DA's 8% growth plan and specifically our youth wage subsidy will help to achieve this.
The department is facing a management crisis. When the budget was presented to us, seven out of the eight top management positions were vacant. We have heard that the position of the DG was finally filled. We would like to congratulate the new DG and we are looking forward to working with him. Out of the seven deputy director-general positions, only one is currently filled. Minister, you are the accounting officer for your department, and it is your responsibility and duty to ensure that these critical posts are filled and that your department fulfils its mandate - which it clearly is not the case.
There is a managerial crisis which has a direct impact on the functioning of your department. Some examples I would like to cite are the following.
The Child Protection Register, which you did not mention Minister is a complete and utter disaster. Minister you can laugh about it because it is a joke; not to mention that it is an embarrassment to our country. Minister, why is it that last year a dismal 438 names appeared on the register, and that in April this year, the names had declined to a pathetic 305? Why is it like that? How can someone's name be taken off the register? Can you explain the 30% decline in the names in the register, Minister? I don't think you can. [Interjections.]
The Central Drug Authority, the CDA, is another example where the department failed in its duty. The department failed to ensure that Parliament was given ample time to interview and appoint CDA board members. As a result, from September last year to just over a month ago, we had no board. We still do not have a national drug master plan.
Given the destruction that substance abuse is causing throughout our communities, boggles the mind that you have allowed this to happen. It is an absolute disgrace. And if you look at the newspapers, any day of the week - for example an article that appeared in The Star and read: "A mother's drug hell"- what people are going through on the ground everyday due to substance abuse and how it is ravishing our country, is an indictment on your department.
Other areas of concern are around the slashing of funding to core issues. Can the Minister explain why funding to the subprogrammes for substance abuse has been cut by 18% - despite the scourge, for youth by 29% and for older persons by 33%? I do not accept the explanation given by officials that these cuts were due to efficiency savings through noncore functions such as advertising, venues and travel. I do not accept that these subprogrammes had "the amount of fat" in them in the first place. You went for the soft targets, Minister.
Another area of extreme concern for the DA is that of social workers. We all now agree that we need 66 000 social workers to implement the Children's Act alone. The department has reported and admitted that their current policy on training of social workers is an absolute failure and that it will take decades to reach the target. I am pleased to say that the committee recognised this and had in its report called on the Minister to review her policy and report back to the committee on how she intends to achieve those targets.
If the Minister and her department really wanted to cut the fat and wasteful expenditure, she should have looked no further than the National Development Agency, the NDA. Everything the NDA does, from early childhood development centres to food programmes, the department is already doing. Yes, the DA wants poor people to benefit from such programmes, but why do we need an additional organisation that is top heavy and delivers very little compared to the amount of money they receive?
Let me elaborate that the NDA received a budget of R171 million. The 125 employees are paid on average R519 000 per annum – that is a staggering salary bill of R64,8 million or 38% of the total budget. It has become an employment agency. In addition, 26% or R43,8 million goes towards goods and services, which includes a 600% increase for the board's expenses. Payment for capital assets is R3,2 million, which includes a 1000% increase for furniture and fixtures.
Once you have paid the fat-cat salaries, board expenses and bought new furniture we are left with 35% or R59 million for actual projects – that is one in every R3.
The NDA should be closed down with immediate effect, and the department can simply continue to deliver where the NDA is not. It will make no difference. If we are to stand for simple justice, equal opportunity and human rights, the Minister and her department need to do some deep soul-searching. I thank you very much. [Applause.]
Ms N P GCUME
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 4
Mr M WATERS
Ms N P GCUME: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Minister, Cope has been saddened by the brutal killing of Miss Sithembile Sibiya of Umlazi H township in KwaZulu-Natal. Her body was dumped at Isidingo Combined School, J Section in Umlazi two weeks ago. She was not only stabbed ...
IsiZulu:
... wahlinzwa njengesilwane, wabekwa itshe ekhanda.
English:
We send our deepest condolences to her family. The trauma the pupils of Isidingo went through after the saw the body is beyond imagination.
We urge everybody in the House to fight these satanic and barbaric acts in our society.
IsiXhosa:
Nabo ababulali noxa bengekafunyanwa iintsuku zabo zibaliwe.
English:
Miss Ngwenya was brutally killed by her boyfriend who is a police officer and buried her on a vegetable garden. The new planted vegetables were covering her grave. After nine months, her body was found. What a shame.
Abuse against women and children is the talk of the country. We pretend as if we do not know the perpetrators but it is obvious that they are our partners' sons, fathers, brothers, nephews and uncles. Sometimes it does not make sense when people blame substance abuse. It is a normal person who takes drugs for a certain reason best known to him, and at the end the government has to waste large sums of money helping somebody who took a decision to abuse drugs. It makes one very angry when the country has so many social ills to deal with.
It is high time that the departments - led by the Department of Social Development - in conjunction with the civil society, traditional and community leaders conduct awareness campaigns in all nine provinces. The campaigns will assist the country to actually wake women up. Statistics on women and child abuse are alarming. South Africa is a leader in violence against women. Official statistics show that around 65 000 sexual offences were committed in 2012. On average, a woman is raped every minute in South Africa. The Department of Justice also estimates that one in four women in South Africa is a survivor of domestic violence. At least one woman is killed every six days by her male partner, and one in every six women is murdered by her male intimate.
It will be vital to consult with communities than seeking a solution for this scourge. It is clear that government efforts are not enough and do not bear fruits. Aba bantu bayazana. [These people know each other.]
We applaud the work done by the South African Social Security Agency, Sassa, to improve their services. There has been a great improvement compared to the previous years although there are still challenges in service delivery. For the first 10 years Sassa received a qualified audit report, and it continues to recover millions from fraud and corruption cases. Some offices have been renovated but there are still staff shortages in local services. They have to pull their socks. [Applause.]
We commend the good work done by the chief executive officer, Miss Peterson, and her unannounced visits in the provinces. Her visibility gives hope for a better service. [Applause.]
The reregistration period should be extended until all beneficiaries are registered. In some offices the beneficiaries are turned away and told to come back the next day. Some in rural areas pay a lot of money to travel to the Sassa offices. The department has to consider closing down the district offices because they are not serving any purpose. The capturing of applications is done and completed at local service offices. It will assist the department to have the local service areas, the LSAs, and regional offices, and to have staff at either the LSAs or the regional offices.
The National Development Agency, the NDA, has an important role to play in service delivery. It is amazing to notice that the number of young beneficiaries is rising, especially child support grants beneficiaries. The beneficiaries are young, energetic and economically viable. If they depend and live on grants now, how long will they receive the grants; until the child is 19 years old?
What experience will they have if they no longer receive grants? Will they be employable? The answer is no because every job advertised requires work experience. We once suggested that child support grants must be conditional, and education to both the mother and the child should be one of the conditions. We therefore urge the NDA to consider funding projects which can improve the lives of the poor by creating more jobs.
Farming and agriculture remain the best sectors in our country. We have rich and arable land which can feed the country and export surplus. There are men and women who can farm and produce on a large scale. We have to overcome the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. These challenges were not created by God, they are man-made and we will only overcome them by not talking but by implementation.
Many children under the age of five years will die due to lack of access to drinking water and basic sanitation.
The department is responsible for registering early childhood development centres, the ECDs, subsidising the centres, covering the costs of poor children and developing quality programmes. Most of the time, more and more money is spent on prisoners. It costs about R200 per day to keep a prisoner in prison, while it costs roughly R13 or R15 to keep a child in the early childhood development centre. The Minister has to consider this because it is the reason why our education system sometimes does not have a solid foundation especially with regards to literacy and numeracy.
There is a serious problem with the disabled people. There are no statistics for disabled people around the country. It shocked me when I discovered a disabled lady, Bonelwa Mvakwendlu, in the Munitata Building in Mthatha, who had to walk using crutches three floors up to her office. I asked myself why she has not been offered an office on the ground floor. It means that the working place for the disabled not user-friendly for them.
The improvement of the community development programmes, the CDPs, can assist in identifying the disabled and the department be informed about them. Most stay in shacks with no one to attend to them, without wheelchairs and are bedridden. Their housing has to be prioritised and other services like user-friendly sanitation facilities.
We urge the hon Minister to intervene in the matter of closing down of the chronic, physical and mental caring homes due to the withdrawal of funding by the Department of Health in KwaZulu-Natal. There are people who were admitted at the age of 15 years at the home and they are now they 51 years old and have nowhere to go.
The Central Drug Authority board has to provide information to the department. What are they actually doing because we still see taverns close to schools, drunken youths on streets and unlicensed alcohol dealers? They have to ... [Time expired.]
Ms H N MAKHUBA
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 5
Ms N P GCUME
Ms H N MAKHUBA: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, hon members, social development remains core to building a free and equal society in South Africa. It provides for those who cannot provide for themselves and is the department that holds the very conscience of our society. This department is at the coalface of poverty alleviation and social wellbeing, and, as such, must always function both efficiently and effectively.
The IFP supports Budget Vote No 19 and is positive about the overall efficiency and outputs of the department. [Applause.] However, we would like to highlight the following issues which we feel require additional attention.
Reregistration for social grants has been rolled out relatively successfully throughout the country. However, there are still a few departmental offices whose staff appear not to have the required training, or rather, are not interested in assisting beneficiaries encountering problems, and are thus unable to serve the citizenry effectively. We request that staff and customer surveys be completed in these instances in order to ascertain which offices are consistently weak and require additional staff training.
Another problem experienced by beneficiaries was that they were being paid on their SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, card and had to then transfer their funds from their Sassa accounts into their bank accounts in order for their debit orders to go through. We were pleased to see the programme published in the media where beneficiaries can now call a number in order for them to have their funds paid into their bank accounts directly. This programme is an excellent initiative, as it alleviates the problems mentioned above, and we hope that it reaches all beneficiaries, even those in the deepest rural areas.
Sassa needs to put in additional security measures in order to guard against unscrupulous departmental staff being able to generate fraudulent cards, as has been reported. We were also pleased that departmental action in these instances was swift, and that the culprits were quickly discovered.
The National Development Agency's mandate is to contribute towards the eradication of poverty and its causes through the granting of funds to civil society organisations to enable them to implement projects. It is also responsible for capacitating other organisations and for providing services to poor communities. When funding is granted to the community-based organisations, the CBOs, this creates employment opportunities. The IFP therefore feels the nongovernmental organisations, the NGOs, and the CBOs should be assisted by giving them training in order for them to sustain themselves rather than to deregister them due to noncompliance. Nongovernmental organisations play an incredibly important role in our fight against poverty alleviation and all other manner of social ills.
The IFP welcomes the decision by the Department of Social Development in KwaZulu-Natal to open daycare centres for elderly people after a spate of gruesome attacks on elderly women last year. These daycare centres play a pivotal role in not only protecting our elderly people, but also in providing them with a safe place in which to engage in social activities. We would like to see more of these kinds of centres throughout the entire country, as well as more homes for the aged in our rural areas.
Food security is the right of every South African and must therefore remain foremost in our thinking. Vulnerability to food insecurity only exacerbates nutritional problems, which can lead to a host of other physical, emotional and mental ills. Food security and the provision of nutritional food to all is the first line of defence in keeping our nation healthy and productive.
Social ills, such as teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol use and abuse, must remain the target of our social education campaigns in our schools, universities and communities. We are losing the war on drugs. This adversary is such as we have never faced before. It will take a concerted and focused effort to eradicate same from our land. It should remain one of the department's foremost goals. The Central Drug Authority, the CDA, must be adequately resourced and assisted wherever it can by the government in achieving its goals. This challenge will never be addressed by the Department of Social Development and the CDA alone.
We all need to come together as a nation and join hands in the fight against substance and drug abuse. Our children are the ones affected and we are under solemn obligation to protect them. They are the future of our country.
The IFP supports the Budget Vote. I thank you, Chair. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 6
Ms H N MAKHUBA
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (Ms B M NTULI): Hon Chairperson, Minister of the Department of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, hon Members of Parliament, representatives of civil societies and distinguished guests, let me greet you all in the wonderful name of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Seventeen years ago on this date, 8 May, the National Assembly first adopted the Republic of South Africa's Constitution Bill, ushering in an era of a human rights-centred approach for our country. I'm proud to state that the hon Minister Dlamini and I, as serving Members of Parliament in 1996, were part of that process and we voted in favour of the most progressive Constitution in the world. [Applause.]
Therefore, holding dear the values and enshrined in the Constitution of this beloved country, I ask that you join me in support of Budget Vote 19 of the Department of Social Development. Let me keep our promise and remain determined to deliver on the legitimate expectations and aspirations of our people.
The ultimate goal of government's social development strategy is to improve the quality of life of all South Africans. Budget Vote 19 reaffirms the commitment of this government to build a South Africa that cares for all those who are vulnerable, including children, youth, people with disabilities and senior citizens.
With this budget, government will continue to support initiatives that seek to, and strengthen community development, provide opportunities for youth and contribute to national efforts to prevent and mitigate the psychosocial impact of HIV and Aids.
Over the last years, it has become clear to us that a new approach to community development is required to truly improve the lives of our people as envisaged in our Constitution. Former President Nelson Mandela once said, "Fundamental to the success of all our efforts at reconstruction and development, is community action and participation."
For this reason, we intensified the campaign to take social development to communities with particular focus on rural communities where the need for government services remains high. The success of this approach can be seen in inspiring stories like that of Ngobi Village in the North West province. Together with its entities, the department has brought the much-needed services to this village, and the people of Ngobi are reclaiming their lives by participating in their own development. [Applause.]
Another successful initiative worth mentioning is the Bana ba Kgwale project in Jericho, also in the North West province. From its humble beginnings, today the project supplies fresh vegetables to major retailers and also donates their products to local schools. These initiatives are just an indication of how much we can achieve when communities are empowered to take charge of their own development.
As per the commitment we made to this august House last year, we embarked on the Kwanda Talk programme in partnership with Soul City Institute, the Seriti Institute and the SA Broadcasting Corporation to promote active citizenry and give voice to communities. We are privileged to have participated in this initiative because it promotes citizen participation, action and leadership at community level. The most important lesson we have learnt through these initiatives is that given the necessary support, local communities are capable of resolving their own development challenges and are therefore instrumental in every developmental initiative.
Community development requires passionate and knowledgeable people. In this regard, we will continue to train community development practitioners in areas of integrated development planning to ensure that social development services are not neglected at local municipal level.
We will continue to strengthen our interventions in preventing the spread and mitigation of the HIV and Aids epidemic on individuals, households and communities. This is part of our contribution to the National Strategic Plan on HIV and Aids, Sexual transmitted Infections and Tuberculosis.
With regard to prevention, an amount of R48 million has been allocated to loveLife to implement prevention programmes targeting young people, including those in rural and farming areas. This will assist with sustaining our national prevention efforts.
In addition, we will strengthen the implementation of home community-based care programmes, especially the provision of psychosocial support services and the rolling out of the monitoring and evaluation systems.
To date, we have expanded the home community-based care, the HCBC, services to over 370 000 vulnerable households, benefiting 450 000 orphans and vulnerable children, including 25 000 youth-headed households.
A number of research publications state that young people constitute the majority of South Africa's population. The youth bulge represents both a challenge and an opportunity for South Africa. The National Development Plan: Vision 2030, advocates for the prioritisation of policies that will improve the capacities and life chances of our country's useful population.
During December last year, we hosted the first national youth leadership camp in the Free State with young people from across South Africa. The camp gave young people a unique opportunity to interact and learn from their peers and to also shape their own lives. We aim to reach over 10 000 young people through the youth clubs and national youth leadership camps over the MTEF period.
The recent conference of the Social Sector Expanded Public Works Programme emphasised the need to implement the EPWP beyond the 2014 deadline. In pursuit of government's priority to create decent employment opportunities, we aim to contribute to the target of 255 000 job opportunities for this sector during this budget period.
We have seen an increased demand for the registration of nonprofit organisations, the NPOs, with an average rate of 14% per annum. This number has ballooned to over 105 000 by the end of April this year. In recognition of the role of the nonprofit organisation sector, we hosted a series of provincial dialogues which culminated in a national summit in August last year. The summit adopted a number of key resolutions relating to the nonprofit organisation sector. These are the legislative regulatory framework, transformation of welfare services sector, funding and resource mobilisation, capacity building and partnership.
The summit also resolved that government must commit and create an environment which will focus on training and development. This commitment means that the NPOs entrusted with the responsibility of training and development must contribute towards capacity building of other emerging organisations.
Pursuant to the outcomes of the summit, a ministerial task team which consists of representatives of government and the NPOs sector was established. To its credit, the task team has finalised the plan of action which was approved by the Minister and Members of Executive Council, the Minmec, last month. Over the MTEF period, a key focus will be on creating efficiencies in NPOs registration and on investigating the feasibility of establishing a regulatory body for the NPOs.
The National Development Agency has been allocated an amount of R186 million over the MTEF period for capacity building. The focus will be on provision of management services for poverty eradication projects at national, provincial and local levels of government as well as the private sector.
At the beginning of this year, a large number of NPOs were deregistered due to noncompliance with the Nonprofit Organisations
Act, Act 71 of 1997. Minister Dlamini intervened and gave the NPOs a grace period in order to comply with the regulations. The majority of these organisations provide the much-needed services with a particular bias to organisations in rural communities.
The International Conference on Population Development Programme of Action remains a blueprint in the implementation of the SA Population Policy. This year, during which we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Cairo Consensus, we will continue to work with the academic institutions and civil society organisations. [Time expired.]
Ms F E KHUMALO
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 7
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Ms F E KHUMALO: Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, the ANC supports Budget Vote 19. Nobody can run from the fact that until the ANC took leadership, there was a total neglect of the social services related to elderly people, early childhood development, gender-based violence and substance related issues in our country. [Applause.]
Under the leadership of Comrade Jacob Zuma in government and in the ANC, the Department of Social Development has made a great deal of progress ... [Interjections.]
The TEMOARARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr A MLANGENI): Order, order please!
Ms F E KHUMALO: ... in respect of advancing the rights and status of older persons in our society. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr Mlangeni): Order, please! Let's give the speaker a hearing! Continue, hon member.
Ms F E KHUMALO: A key mechanism for recognising our older people is through ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr Mlangeni): Order, order please! You all want to talk, the rest of you ...[Inaudible.]
Ms F E KHUMALO: ... the development of pieces of legislation that are aimed at creating a better life for vulnerable and older persons.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr Mlangeni): What is your point of order?
Mr V B NDLOVU: Chairperson, sorry to MaKhumalo. We can't hear really. People are making a lot of noise. We can't hear the speaker.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr A Mlangeni): Hon members, I request you to please allow hon Khumalo to speak. If you don't agree with her, point that out when your time comes to address this gathering. Let's allow her to speak. Continue, hon member.
Ms M C C PILANE-MAJAKE: On a point of order, Chair: Can we ask hon Kganare to refrain from mentioning the names of the Guptas when the name of President Jacob Zuma is mentioned? Please withdraw that hon Kganare. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr A Mlangeni): No, I don't think it's a point of order. Please, order! Order, members from both sides of the House! Continue, Madam.
Ms F E KHUMALO: We also condemn the abuse of older persons, particularly sexual violence against grannies by men in their own families and communities. This behaviour has been reported in desolate and rural communities that were neglected and became breeding grounds for perverse behaviour.
As a result, the ANC-led government has pledged to build police stations, hospitals, human settlements, roads and businesses in order to establish decent and sustainable communities where women and the elderly are safe and secure. Through its commitment to social cohesion and building a sense of belonging, the Older Persons Act, places an obligation on the Department of Social Development to lead the vision of the ANC by providing care and related services to the elderly in our society.
As with all budgets meant for social transformation, more resources always need to be allocated to the department to address the changing scope of society and the increasing responsibility carried by the department. As parliamentarians, we have gone a long way in guiding the implementation of legislations whilst raising awareness in the provinces about the interventions provided by the provinces. [Interjections.] Our senior citizens clubs, services centres and active ageing programmes are in place and working well in the provinces.
IsiZulu:
Sibonga asiphezi, kuhulumeni oholwa ngumbutho wabantu uKhongolose. Izwi labantu bethu abadala liyezwakala futhi kufanele liqhubeke lizwakale. Isithunzi sabo sibuyile futhi kufanele siqhubeke sibuye. Kwezinye izifundazwe uhulumeni kaKhongolose uhlalise iPhalamende labantu abadala lapho khona bethole ithuba lokukhuluma noMongameli wezwe ngqo bexoxa ngezinto ezithinta bona ezimpilweni zabo nezifiso abanazo ngezimpilo zabo.
English:
The department has for the past two years in collaboration with the SA Older Person's Forum organised a senior citizens conference where 1500 citizens from all the provinces participated, but have also shared about issues that affect them with the Minister.
The President has pronounced for the establishment of the Older Persons' Desk at the Presidency and in all Offices of Premiers offices in provinces. The required resources and personnel as well as the budget will be made available for this task.
On the question of early childhood development, Tata Mandela said, and I quote: "There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children." We know historically that children, particularly black children were not supported by the state because of stereotypical beliefs about the African culture, ubuntu and community spirit, forgetting the deprivation and the squalor that people were forced to live in. Hence, the apartheid government refused to invest in infrastructure for all vulnerable groups that were African.
This is why the ANC has sought to broaden the definition of ECD to include support for parenting, special needs children, among others. This is because we understand that there are serious human development challenges in poor, rural and urban communities. Through developing a new ECD policy framework, the Department of Social Development will be able to address the barriers to children's development.
When we come to the subject of gender-based violence, the ANC has made a name for itself as one of the most progressive in this domain. We have vowed in our 53rd National Conference Resolutions to discourage and outlaw practices that are oppressive and abusive towards women.
Across all racial and cultural groups, women are the ones who are forced to leave their homes because of gender-based violence. The 24-hour helpline services provided by the Department of Social Development will raise the number of violent incidents reported by women, and will provide a practical intervention to deal with a problem that was exacerbated by the historical lack of infrastructure and services for long before our democracy.
The Social Development budget is one which is also going to cover many other infrastructure projects, particularly those that will go towards the fight against substance abuse. President Jacob Zuma did a wonderful thing by promulgating the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act. This makes prevention of substance abuse a priority and advocates for the establishment of state treatment facilities in each province. This is unprecedented considering that there are now more rehabilitation efforts in the country under the ANC than ever before. Programmes like Ke Moja, a drug awareness campaign, loveLife and others have assisted the education and awareness-raising profile of the department.
The programme is successfully implemented in provinces, such as the Northern Cape, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, North West and Limpopo. There were between 5 400 and 50 000 NGOs that were involved. Without deviating from the excellent programmes initiated by the ANC, gender-based violence is a symptom of a deeply divided society, one which reflects the patriarchal nature of that society. Other sectors of society still do not follow the lead of the ANC which condemns violence against women.
In conclusion, Chairperson, the ANC has been able to demonstrate through the Department of Social Development the institutional building blocks for equality and social cohesion that are in place in South Africa. I thank you. [Applause.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr A Mlangeni): Hon members, the hon member from Cope who spoke earlier states that unfortunately her time expired before she could inform the Department of Social Development that she fully supports the Vote. [Applause.] Order, please!
Ms C DUDLEY
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 8
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr A Mlangeni)
Mrs C DUDLEY: Hon Chair, after years of drawing attention to the importance of adequately funding the nongovernmental organisations that are providing statutory services, the ACDP is pleased to see at least some increased support for them.
NGOs are however still raising concerns about specific funding allocations. They believe that more money should have been allocated to organisations and programmes that support rape and domestic violence survivors given the high numbers of rape and violence in the country. They also raised a concern about the need to create more capacity in the NGO sector to deal with these issues, even if these amounts have to be ring-fenced in some way to make sure it happens within the provinces.
It is our understanding that there will also be additional funding to increase the number of state social workers – something the ACDP has continuously been calling for over the years. We welcome all the efforts in this direction. But there is, to date, still no relief on the ground where shortages of social workers seriously disadvantage children.
The ACDP is concerned about the pitiful increase of R60 in grants for the elderly - a huge disappointment; especially when we consider that grandmothers are often the sole carers for grandchildren and that many families rely totally on them.
For the ACDP, an important outcome specified in the budget is to promote and strengthen families in South Africa by facilitating the establishment of family service forums in three provinces, in order to co-ordinate services to families at provincial level by March 2014. It appears however that for the next four years, the budget for a family would remain the same as the previous four years - a rather meagre 1,5% of the total budget.
The White Paper on Families was developed in 2012-13, and a key activity over the medium-term will be to provide training on the White Paper, yet the budget for this programme has been reduced.
The National Development Plan, the NDP, which does not mention the White Paper anywhere at all, calls for more research. On page 424, the commission suggests a full review of the state of South African families which should be undertaken by 2015. So we are asking: Where will the extra money come from to conduct the review and then to implement whatever recommendations that might arise.
Consultant Russel Wildeman in his keynote address, on early childhood development, to the SA Human Rights Commission, the United Nations Special Session on Children and Budget said that additional allocations for the Isibindi Model and the early childhood development, the ECD, programme that were promised in 2012 for the years 2013 and 2014, were not highlighted in the Budget Speech, the Budget Review or the department's Budget Vote.
Further, he asked whether provinces will still prioritise these areas if they do not receive high level political attention.
The ACDP calls on the Minister to take responsibility in ensuring that the ECD services are provided and sufficiently funded. It will be to ensure that quality ECD services are available for all children, with priority given to the marginalised children and children with disabilities, even if this means again ring-fencing the money that goes to provinces. The ACDP will be supporting this budget.
Mrs I C DITSHETELO
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 8
Mrs C DUDLEY
Mrs I C DITSHETELO: Chairperson, we appear to have attained political and economic stability, but poverty and inequality stubbornly deny us the stability. In spite of a number of legislative developments that saw a steadily growing black middle class, the majority of black people still live in abject poverty and mass unemployment.
It is time that we rethink strategies that we employ in social development, as they have not yielded impressive results thus far. It does not mean that nothing has been done; of course, we acknowledge the many strides that social development has taken in creating better livelihoods for mainly the vulnerable groups.
However, we continue to contend with multiple crises of unemployment, landlessness, homelessness, lack of basic services, HIV/Aids, food insecurity and unacceptable levels of crime and violence. If we are ever going to meaningfully change this, we must first acknowledge that we are indeed in a crisis.
More than ever, we need collaborative leadership amongst various stakeholders in development. We must acknowledge the potential that the civil society and business have, and thus invite them with their set of skills and resources to assit government on how to handle the crisis of poverty and the growing inequality.
We acknowledge progressive policy frameworks and positive partnerships that already exist. However, the department and its stakeholders must work towards attaining efficient utilisation of resources. The department must do away with constant bureaucratic red tapes that make it difficult for the ordinary citizenry to access services. Communities must be empowered and the department must work towards building meaningful public participation in its programmes.
We have a beautiful Constitution which gives us a common vision of a just society that has entrenched civic and socioeconomic rights, leading to a truly democratic and developmental state. We must all participate and ensure that such a vision is visible in our lifetime. The UCDP supports Vote No 19. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr R B BHOOLA
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 8
Mrs I C DITSHETELO
Mr R B BHOOLA: Hon Chairperson, on my oversight to a rural police station, I found a great number of people deregistering from fraudulent child support grants, thus responding to the Minister's call against fraud and corruption. Hon Minister, wherever you go, you leave an imprint of honesty, integrity and hard work. [Applause.]
Those who pretend as though nothing has been done are walking in the dark and will therefore never seek the light or our democracy and, will subsequently take nothing to their constituencies that endure hardship while they play to the gallery.
Social development and economic opportunities cannot be viewed as success when only the privileged receive help whilst the broad suffering masses continue to suffer.
With the injustices, inequalities and particularly, the brain drain stigmatised by the apartheid regime, honestly, Minister, your department has a demanding exercise and you indeed have a mammoth task.
I have approached the Minister regarding some of the social ills in KwaZulu-Natal. The MF applauds you for your swift response for having come out to see for yourself, and implemented measures to show that those who were threatened are currently receiving delivery and improvement.
Hon Minister, we must acknowledge the scourge of teenage pregnancy, drugs, alcohol abuse, etc, which must be combated. Resources must be directed to bring relief. We must include every sector of the society, and faith-based organisations that can play a pivotal role fighting the evils.
However, they are dependent on the day-to-day activities and the sustenance of their organisations on donations. We must help them in order for them to help us. They all can do an excellent work in our society. The Zion Christian Church's, the ZCC's, impact is a formidable one, the Hindi Shiksha Sung, the Hindu Maha Sabha, the Muslims and Christian organisations all can play a powerful role.
Just look at the Gift of the Givers that started of small. Today it is internationally acclaimed, living up to the Batho Pele principles.
The Minister is doing her bit, and criticism will always be there. The country is too big, and our institutions are too little. We need to reach out through education to build a kind of society that we all want.
We are dealing with people who cannot read and write; they are being suppressed by the apartheid regime. We need to make our social institutions, organs of democracy and social justices accessible to the general public.
Minister, all your efforts are laudable. Social grant beneficiaries must be assisted. The department should look at schemes like the small home-based institutions and take heed of government's procurement plan so that they can become self-sufficient. This will teach them to supplement their income and become little entrepreneurs with little effort.
We must also look at the widows and widowers grants, and these people end up with no source of income.
The MF calls for a complete audit of programmes to analyse its success rate. This will speak to the challenges of social workers' funding, for community-based organisations, nongovernmental organisations, early childhood development, day-care centres, etc.
I have found the Minister's doors open. [Time expired.] The MF will support the budget. [Applause.]
Mrs M V MAFOLO
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 9
Mr R B BHOOLA
Mrs M V MAFOLO: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon MEC, director-general of the department, chief executive officer of the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, and the National Development Agency, the NDA, allow me to quote our former President, Nelson Mandela, and I quote:
I have walked that long walk to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment to rest to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended. [Applause.]
When the great icon of our liberation struggle, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela uttered these words, many years ago, he was reflecting on the material conditions of the poor and marginalised at that time. These prophetic words have resonance for our situation today and set as a clarion call for all of us to march forward with a sense of purpose and stewardship. Indeed, the long walk has not ended.
The gallant heroes and heroines of our struggle envisaged a democratic dispensation that we will improve the overall quality of life of our people, regardless of the geographic space where they find themselves in. They envisioned that all citizens will enjoy the fruits of liberation and would not be called refugees in their own land of birth. They laid their lives for a united, indivisible South Africa where all citizens have equal opportunities. They would have indeed frowned upon the new terminology of professional blacks, which deligitimises the rights of black people to raise legitimate issues in provinces where they feel unwanted.
It was really a disgrace to hear the Premier of the Western Cape calling people refugees in their own land. We don't have refugees here; everyone has the right to move wherever. South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black or white. She should be grateful that in the end we have included them. Refugees are those who came with Jan Van Riebeeck here in South Africa. [Interjections.][Applause.]
There are those amongst us who do not have the experience of going to bed hungry by virtue of their middle-class and privileged upbringing. They tell us that the national development agency has no business focusing on issues of food security but offer no credible alternative for the food insecurity problem in our country, particularly in the rural areas.
They speak from the vantage of Stellenbosch and care less about the African child from Muyexe in Giyani; Mncwasa in Elliotdale, uMsinga in KwaZulu-Natal and Verena in KwaMhlanga. This is hypocritical of the DA. How can you say that the NDA is not important? In Setswana we say ...
Setswana:
... o "seilakgaka senwa moro."
English:
You amended the report but you do not adopt it. How dare you do that?
Setswana:
O "seilakgaka senwa moro", "bo mabina go tsholwa". [Legofi.]
English:
The NDA has a significant role in working with the civil society organisations, the CSOs, to alleviate poverty in poor communities. In fulfilling this role, the NDA has allocated from its budget R186 million to support CSOs for the next three years. In addition, the NDA will mobilise R165 million from partners for this purpose over the same period. During the previous financial year, the NDA managed to mobilise over R80 million from partnerships with various development partners.
Setswana:
Modulasetulo, go na le bopaki jo bo tletseng, jo bo supang gore batlhoki ba dirisa madi a bone a a kwa tlase go reka dijo. NDA e tsweletse ga jaanong go diragatsa lenaneo le le bidiwang Household and Community Food Security programme. Ke karolo ya letsholo la Food For All programme. Maitlhomo a lenaneo le, mo gare ga a mangwe, ke go atolosa dijo tse di nang le dikotla mo disenthareng tsa early childhood development, le go dira kgolaganobontsi ya batsayakarolo go fokotsa seelo sa tlala mo ditlhopheng tsa batho tseo di nang le matshosetsi a go amiwa ke tlala jaaka e le karolo ya Integrated Food Security Strategy, eleng leano la mmuso. "Sejo sennye ga se fete molomo."
English:
In the 2012-13 financial year alone, the NDA impacted on 3 768 beneficiaries of food security programmes. Apart from working with the provincial Departments of Social Development, the agency is working closely with the Department of Agriculture to source capital, expertise and collaboration in project implementation.
Freedom from hunger represents one of the greatest gains of our liberation struggle. We can only rest when the nutritional status of the women and children of Taung in the North West; Mbashe in the Eastern Cape; and Nkqubela Township in Langeberg, Western Cape, improve.
Yes, hon members; the Western Cape is still part of South Africa. Unfortunately, whilst everybody is talking about increasing the democratic space for critical engagement, the Western Cape government is closing the space for civil society participation in policy formulation. Whilst the country celebrates the social accords that have been brokered at Nedlac, ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr A MLANGENI): Order, order!
Mrs V MAFOLO: ... the Western Cape government has dissolved the Provincial Development Council and has reduced funding for progressive organs of civil society. [Interjections.]
They do not value partnerships and meaningful consultation for development. They do not recognise the pivotal role of CSOs in democratic transformation. Therefore, they are careless about their voice in critical matters that affect their lives.
As an agency of government, the NDA is tasked with the responsibility of strengthening civil society organisations as an important sector of our society, to deliver services to the poor. The NDA focuses on strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of civil society organisations in South Africa. The institutional capacity strengthening programme uses a combination of training and mentoring to ensure that the CSOs are sustainable and effective. [Interjections.] The NDA also provides training and support to CSOs to improve their technical skills such as farming and various skills in early childhood development.
In the last financial year, the NDA managed to capacitate 223 CSOs benefiting 3 831 members. The CSOs were trained on how to better manage and provide quality services to communities they serve. The agency also assessed improvements shown by the capacitated CSOs on what they were trained and mentored on. The amount of 77% of the CSOs showed significant improvements in their operations. This is undoubtedly a positive result from the NDA capacity-building programme.
The major challenge facing the NDA and CSOs is the coverage of the capacity building programme. The resources allocated for this work have not been enough to allow the NDA to increase its coverage. However, the ministerial committee, through the leadership of the hon Minister Bathabile Dlamini, took a decision that the NDA will work with provincial Departments of Social Development to capacitate the nonprofit organisations, the NPOs, in all the provinces. Through this directive, the NDA will target 14 371 NPOs in all nine provinces to be provided with training, mentoring and incubation. The targeted NPOs provide social development services in poor and remote areas.
Setswana:
Jaaka karolo ya go diragatsa tekolo mo go NDA, komiti ya tiro e dirile dikatlenegiso di le mmalwa tsa setheo tsa go tokafatsa go dira tiro ka manontlhotlho, ka nako le ka tsela eo e bonalang mme e na le tshusumetso.
Mo go diragatseng dikatlenegiso tse, NDA e okeditse go bonagala le go nna mosola ga yona ka go bona mafaratlhatlha a diporofense le go thapa badiri bao ba feleletseng go tokafatsa go fitlhelesega le go tsibogela ditlhokwa tsa batlhoki. Go feta foo, NDA e setse e bone mafelo a kabo ya diterelo mo nageng mo ngwageng wa matlole wa 2013-14 go kgontsha setšhaba go fitlhelela tshedimosetso ya tlhabololo ya loago.
English:
We request the hon Minister to lobby enough funds for the NDA. We wish to recognise the significant role that the new board of the NDA and the CEO have played in stabilising the organisation. They have provided the much needed strategic leadership and guidance, resulting in better developmental outcomes on the ground. We indeed wish to acknowledge the progressive improvement in the performance of the agency and derive confidence from the testimonies of the poor and marginalised in various communities that have been touched by its services.
As I conclude, I just want to remind the opposition about the words of Cesar Chavez, an American activist and labour organiser, and I quote: "We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sake and for our own."
I want to say to you in Setswana Minister that ...
Setswana:
... "kgomo mogala tshwara ka thata, e se re go utlwa sebodu wa kgaoga."
English:
The ANC supports Budget Vote No 19. Thank you. [Applause.]
Ms E MORE
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 10
Ms M V MAFOLO
Ms E MORE: Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Ministers, hon Members of the House and guests, I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate the Department of Social Development in obtaining an unqualified audit particularly the SA Social Development Agency, Sassa, in improving their services as we all know that the social grants are the only means of income for most beneficiaries.
Irrespective of that, Minister, more still needs to be done in terms of the long queues at the paypoints, the dilapidated infrastructure mostly in rural areas, and the safety and security of the elderly that needs to be strengthened urgently on these pay days.
Almost every month we learn about the devastating crime committed at these paypoints and unfortunately some ending in deaths.
Preventative measures against fraud and corruption should be strengthened and management should adhere to strict and consistent monitoring and evaluation of the strategies. These include the internal record management, the urgent recording of the Biometric data of the Sassa staff and the combating of social grant fraud among illegal refugees.
Fighting fraud and corruption effectively will save the department plus or minus R50 million to R55 million per year, which could help in feeding more poor and eligible people.
So far, only R1,1 million of the debt has been recovered from staff and other members, which is very low as compared to the defrauded R60 million as reported.
Hon Minister, the challenge with regards to the processing and finalisation, particularly the lack of social workers to specifically work on social services group of court orders for the foster care grants is a huge concern.
The challenge of locating and paying child support grants to the 2 million children, who were reported missing in the social assistance system, needs to be dealt with decisively and urgently.
South Africa is becoming the world's largest welfare state. The ever increasing unemployment statistics released by Statistics SA recently poses a more bigger challenge to the food security of the country and a threat to the zero-hunger programme, as less people are not economically active, resulting in a diminishing tax base and a declining number of taxpayers.
The deputy CEO of the SA Institute of Race Relations, the SAIRR, France Cronje, wrote: "... It is important to understand that the work is dignity and so employment is key to realising constitutional values."
The effect of the epidemic triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality has been immense. A substantial increase in the number of demands for grants poses a big threat and will undermine the mandate and potential of the government to address the huge gap of unemployment and inequality.
Therefore, the government needs to come up with a comprehensive long-term plan of transferring most young grant beneficiaries into the economically productive stream through the creation of opportunities as the DA slogan says: An Open Opportunity Society for All, where the government creates an enabling environment and promote equal opportunities for citizens to shape their lives, improve their skills and follow their dreams.
The shortage of social worker professionals impacts negatively on services. According to the survey by the SAIRR, by last March 2012, we had 16 740 social workers and the number includes both those in private and government institutions. And in our government we only have 6 000, notwithstanding the fact that we need 66 social workers to work on only one Act - the Children's Act. It imposes a threat in terms of delivery.
Social programmes are under a pressure, especially, as there is no adequate social foundations and healthy systems that are the cornerstone of productive and functioning economies.
Mathematically we need more than 72 000 social workers in our public stream. And these include those who would specialise in the Faith Christian Groups, the FCG, correctional services, health care, HIV/Aids and many other programmes of government.
According to the Integrated Service Delivery Model developed by your department, hon Minister, the case load ratio for social workers should be 60:1, but currently it has double if not tripled.
It is not always about the money; if the working conditions are very unbearable we will remain in a vicious cycle.
There is a high failure rate of students who have been given bursaries to study in this field. And in some years, like 2011, over 50% of students failed the course and some extended in order to finish the course. For example, 918 students were enrolled, only 444 finished the course and 474 failed. In 2008, 1462 students were enrolled, 806 made it and 656 failed. The intake criteria should be revised as well.
The reduction in the funding allocation for social worker scholarship will also impact on us reaching the required qualified social workers numbers. And therefore, the country is far from implementing the Children's Act effectively and offering quality social services.
The department through the National Development Agency, the NDA, has a role to play in terms of the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal No 1. But this will not be achieved because, this entity spends more than 60% of the budget on administration and this includes bonuses. Their spending pattern is much skewed and therefore if they continue in this way, they may never achieve their objectives.
The review of the nonprofit organisation's, the NOP's, financial award policy should be fast-tracked to ensure that funding of the NPOs that are rendering services on behalf of the department continue to receive the money, particularly those that comply with the norms and standards and the Non-Profit Organisations Act.
The government's plan to expand the early childhood development, the ECD, programme through the NDA, Minister, should go not only hand-in-hand with the training, as we have spoken of the ECD practitioner, but must also with the investment infrastructure. It should not overlap or compromise the ECD services offered by the Department of Social Development to the 0-4 years old and the one offered by the Department of Basic Education to the 5-9 years old.
There was a request from the government that the department should reduce spending by 1%. And it is unfortunate that the Department of Social Development chose to reduce the budget on Programme No 4, which talks to sub-programmes dealing with substance abuse; vulnerable groups; that is, elderly persons; people with disabilities; children; your youth; your families; HIV/Aids; social crime prevention victim empowerment; and social work scholarship, instead of reducing on consultants.
The ANC-led government's effort to address grass roots issues has not responded adequately to the inter-relationship between socioeconomic development, economic justice and basic service delivery. Perhaps the ANC-led government can learn a thing or two from the DA-run Western Cape province ... [Interjections.] ...on the successes of our jobs campaign which has seen more than 8 000 jobs created and reducing the unemployment rate in the province.
The National Development Plan, the NDP, is the only hope for South Africans and only if is implemented and adhered to. [Interjection.] Is it? Ok!
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Hon members, order!
Ms E MORE: Ok! I would also like to emphasise that the election myth that says: If you do not vote for my party I will take away your grant, is not true. [Interjection] Come 2014, the DA will take over in Gauteng. I thank you.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Order, order hon members!
Mrs P TSHWETE
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 11
Ms E MORE
Mrs P TSHWETE: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister Bathabile Dlamini, hon Deputy Minister Maria Ntuli, hon Deputy Minister of Police, Maggie Sotyu, hon members, guests in the gallery, including Mcebisi Skwatsha, I seek from you this opportunity to explain the critical distinction of the Department of Social Development under the ANC-led government and the historical social services that were offered by the apartheid state. We believe that this clarification will help people understand why we budget for social development and not just for social services or welfare.
Social development is an expression of ANC intentions to recognise human rights and extending universal social protection to deserving beneficiaries. When the ANC came into power in 1994, we inherited a social security system that was generous to the white minority whilst excluding the black majority. I think this answers hon Waters' concern why people depend on grants.
In the quest to address this, we took a conscious decision to use this social grant system as a potent weapon to "kick poverty and deprivation in the teeth". The first change to be implemented by the ANC-led government was to ensure that all social grant beneficiaries receive the same amount of benefits every month. It should be remembered that in the past our black African beneficiaries received their grants only every second month and the amount was significantly less than that received by other populations. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
IsiXhosa:
Sihlalo, ndithatha eli thuba ndibulele inkonde nenyange leli lizwe uTat' uMadiba oyintsusa nonozala wokuziswa kwezibonelelo zabantwana kweli lizwe. Ubomi beli nyange busibonise indlela ebelizinikele ngayo ekuvuseleleni nasekukhuliseni amalungelo abantwana. Kuluvuyo ke ukubona urhulumente we-ANC eqhubeka njalo kumzila wale nkonde kuphuhliso lwabantwana nokwandiswa kwezibonelelo zabantwana ukuya kubantwana abaneminyaka eli-18. Ukubonisa indlela ekhathalelwe ngayo loo nto, abantu bethu bebeyimikrozo ukuya kufaka izicelo zezibonelelo.
Ngamanye amaxesha, loo nto ibangela izikhalazo ezininzi malunga nemigca emide kwezinye iindawo. Xa sijongisisa kakuhle unobangela wale migca ubukhulu becala, Nks More ohloniphekileyo, yintswelo-phuhliso kwiindawo ezininzi abantu bethu abahlala kuzo, kuba kaloku i-DA, kaloku ngootatomkhulu benu aba, yadala ucalucalulo ngokweendawo zokuhlala. Yiyo le nto izinto zinje. Urhulumente uzama kangangoko ukulungisa le mo. Umbono ngowokubonelela abantu bethu bafumane iinkonzo zabo kufuphi neendawo abahlala kuzo, ngoba kaloku baya kulahlwa ngaselwandle. Ukukhawulelana nale ngxaki, uMphathiswa wezoPhuhliso loLuntu uBathabile Dlamini, sele etshilo ukuba udederhu lweendawo ezisetyenziswayo ukuhlawula izibonelelo zakwaSassa ziza kwandiswa ukuze ziquke neevenkile zokuthenga ukutya namashishini amancinane.
Iziqhamo zaloo nto ke, kukuvuseleleka kophuhliso lwabantu noqoqosho kufuphi kwiindawo abahlala kuzo. Yile nto ke urhulumente we-ANC uzinikele kuyo kakhulu.
English:
The ANC-led government has been accused of creating dependency on social grants. This criticism comes from conservative colonists and particular political parties whose key concern is market and not the people who drive the economy. The provision of social grants addresses poverty rather than creating dependency, and is good for the country for a range of the following reasons. Listen, hon Waters,...
IsiXhosa:
... uza kuphoswa. [You will miss out.] [Kwahlekwa.]
English:
Firstly, grants provide socioeconomic spin offs such as promoting economic participation and stimulating local industries which in turn contribute to micro economic growth.
Secondly, they increase access to nutrition for households which may be vulnerable to food insecurity, by providing consistent and reliable income to buy food.
Thirdly, listen, grants promote educational performance for children and access to health care services.
Furthermore, they enable participation in the labour market by providing the means to search for jobs.
Last, but not least, they promote greater social cohesion in the country by reducing poverty and inequality.
The recent initiative by Sassa is to improve the integrity of our grant system and service delivery which will further restore the human dignity of our people who were denigrated by inhuman and exclusive policies of the previous apartheid regime. We take pride in the achievement of our government to establish social security as a right for all our poor people and not only as a privilege for a few.
While we have prioritised these needs of the poorest members of our beneficiaries, we have not been deaf to the complaints of those who have been able to make modest savings towards their retirement. Many have raised the fact that they have been excluded from the grant system due to our means test. We are therefore pleased to announce that the old age grant will be universal over the next three years. It is in line with our commitment to honour older persons for the great contribution that they have made in building our country and the role they continue to play as anchors of many vulnerable houses.
The fact that old age grant will be made universal, will benefit more white older persons who have been in the fortunate position to make some financial provision for their old age. And that demonstrates the ANC's commitment to a human rights culture that is not discriminatory and a social security safety net which provides for all citizens.
Social relief of distress is another key programme of this government. However, it is with great concern that we have noted attempts to politicise the plight of our people through this programme. In the Western Cape, an order was placed for procurement of 30 000 branded plastics to package food stuff. [Interjections.]
IsiXhosa:
Andithethi ntsomi mna. Nazi ezi plastiki zisetyenziswa yi-DA zinegama labo, ifaka ukutya kwethu i-DA. [Interjections.]
English:
This is scandalous. This is corruption and they say they are the champions of fighting corruption. [Interjections.]
IsiXhosa:
Nazi iiplastiki zemali karhulumente. Bafaka ukutya kwethu bahambe baye kujayivisa abantu ezilokishini. Iza kuphela loo nto sakufika.
English:
The provincial government has nothing to do with the procurement and supply of such food. The blatant attempt to take credit for the programme which that government itself criticised raises eyebrows. What a contradiction! [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Order, hon members.
Mrs P TSHWETE: As part of reviewing the social grant administration system, we have introduced the reregistration campaign which will also help us to reduce shortcomings in the payment system. However, this drive, led by the ANC, was aimed at exposing and curbing fraud and corruption taking place in Social Development. Not...
IsiXhosa:
...le plastiki! Iplastiki ngemali yethu! Iplastiki ngemali yethu! [Interjections.]
The EMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Order, order!
English:
Let me take this opportunity to remind this House about some of the benefits that Sassa ...
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Hon member, take your seat. Order! Hon member, take your seat, please. Hon members,
let us keep the decorum of the House the right way, especially because there are guests in the House. Continue, hon member.
Nksk P TSHWETE: Le plastiki inomdla, yiyo loo nto. Abantu banomdla kwezi plastiki. Ndinexhala ke, kuba kaloku ezi plastiki zixokisa abantu phaya ezilokishini nasemakhaya. Ezi plastiki zithi oku kutya kuphuma kwi-DA. Akutshiwo ukuba oku kutya kuphuma kurhulumente okhokelwa yi-ANC. Awu, sisengxakini madoda ngala masela! [Interjections.]
English:
The only thing that they know is to say they are fighting corruption.
IsiXhosa:
Bayenza phakathi kwisebe. Nazi iiplastiki zemali yethu. Siyayifuna laa mali, maselandini! [Interjections.]
English:
The issuing of the Sassa cards has enabled ordinary citizens to become bank account holders for the first time in their lives. They have become part of the broader government financial inclusion. Beneficiaries can now withdraw their monies at any place any time.
IsiXhosa:
Babedweliswa kalusizana torhwana abantu bethu Qabane uSmuts beza bakwamkela iiponti ezimbini ezineshumi emva kweenyanga ezimbini. Ngoku baya nakowuphi na umatshini wokukhupha imali. Qha le migca bathetha ngayo ...
English:
... these queues, they do not know they were caused by them, because ...
IsiXhosa:
... akukho phuhliso ezilalini. Abantu bayanzeleka ukuba baye kufola kwindawo enye. Thethani inyaniso bafondini. Musani ukusixoxisa. Elokuqwela, Sihlalo, abantu bethu mabangavumi ukulahlekiswa ngoovuk' engceni babantu ababathembisa izulu nomhlaba nezi plastiki, abantu abazenza ngathi bayayazi intlupheko nendlala. Siyayazi thina. Nina kukhona niyifunda ngoku intlupheko. Xa bendisiza emsebenzini, Qabane uSmuts, ndibone iphetshana elindothuse! Lithi...
English:
... we fight apartheid. Which apartheid? When? When? Which apartheid? [Interjections.]
IsiXhosa:
Niyabona ke, kufuneka silumke bantu basekhaya. Ndithetha nani bantu bakuthi. Kulumkeleni ukuthenjiswa izulu nomhlaba ngemali yethu efakwe eziplastikini ze-DA. Abantu bazenza ngathi bayayazi indlala nentlupheko.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Order! Hon member, take your seat please.
Mr S B FARROW: Would the hon member take a question? [Interjections.] Could I phrase it in another way?
Nksk P TSHWETE: Hayi andifuni. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Order! Order, please! Hon member, take your seat please.
Ms T B SUNDUZA: Chairperson, on a point of order: The hon member Tshwete said she will not take a question. She has refused. The hon member must just sit down, meditate on this plastic and listen.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): What is your point of order? Hon members, do not shout like this, please. What is your point of order?
Mr S B FARROW: It's my second point of order. My point of order is this, Chair. I come from the same town as the speaker here. I can assure you that what she is saying here is misleading this House. You cannot compare the Eastern Cape with the Eastern Cape. You cannot even go there. Do not go there. Thank you, Chair.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): That is not a point of order but a statement. Continue, hon member.
Mrs P TSHWETE: You are wasting my time.
IsiXhosa:
Umosha ixesha lam torho. Lo rhulumente uphetheyo uwa uvuka uzama ukuvelisa amacebo okuphuhlisa isidima sabantu. Uzama ukubuyisa isidima sabantu. Ndinexhala yimibuzo yohloniphekileyo uWalters. Omnye wemibuzo yakhe ubusithi: ...
English:
... "Why do people depend on the state to survive?" Can you imagine? [Interjections.]
IsiXhosa:
Sithini? Siyeke abantu bafe yindlala? Ngaba bantu banye ke aba bahamba baye kujayivisa abantu bethu ezilokishini behamba noZille bedanisa naye. Ufuna balambe? Asizi kuyenza loo nto! Lo rhulumente uzama ukubuyisela isidima sabantu. Kodwa ke zona iziphako zakuhlala zikhona. Mphathiswa Bathabile Dlamini, qhubeka ntombazana umsebenzi wakho siyawubona thina.
Ndifuna ukuqwela ngokuxelela aba bantu be-DA bandicaphukisa kakhulu ... [Kwahlekwa.] ... into yokuba olu calucalulo lokuhlala alwanelanga nje ukuthatha abantu lubase ezilalini, lwenza ...
English:
I have just confirmed with Dr Goqwana if I am right to say I query dementia when it comes to hon Waters. Dr Goqwana, is that the right word? I was a nurse now I'm no longer in the clinic. Dr Goqwana said, "You are right, Mrs Tshwete." [Laughter.] [Applause.] Once it has been confirmed by the doctor, it is true - he is suffering from dementia, because he has forgotten that ...
isiXhosa:
... ucalucalulo olu bathi bayalulwa lulo olu lubangele ukuba kube nje.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Hon Tshwete, take your seat please. Take your seat.
Mr S B FARROW: Chairperson, I would like the hon member to withdraw that statement. That is a personal attack on an hon member in this House. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Hon member, please withdraw your statement. Please withdraw; please withdraw the statement against hon Waters.
Mrs P TSHWETE: I said query, which means it is questionable. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Hon member, please withdraw the statement against hon Waters.
Mrs P TSHWETE: I withdraw my statement, Chair.
IsiXhosa:
Sihlalo, namhlanje yimini enkulu kakhulu kuba sixoxa ngeVoti yophuhliso lwabantu, sixoxa ngeVoti ejongwe ngamehlo...
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Hon Tshwete, take your seat please.
Mr M B GOQWANA: I think something has been corrected here. It has been withdrawn, but we just wanted to clear the part that when you say you think what is ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): Is that a point of order? [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G NDABANDABA): That is not a point of order, it is a statement. Please take your seat. Continue, hon member.[Interjections.]
Mr M B GOQWANA: Yes. I was trying to correct something that was mentioned wrongly. [Interjections.]
Nksk P TSHWETE: ... sixoxa ngeVoti ejongwe ngamehlo abomvu luluntu jikelele, unozala weeVoti, iVoti ke ngoko evuselela ithemba ebantwini bethu kuba uninzi lwabo luphila nezinxenxe zamanxeba afana nala aba bantu bakweli cala phantsi kocalucalulo. Bangakuxelela amabali abo ocalucalulo njengeengxwelerha anjengokuba balimala. Xa sithetha ngophuhliso ke ngoko, sithunuka izilonda ezinzulu. Musani ukusiqala nithi nilwela ucalucalulo. Ezo zilonda sinazo kuba singamaxhoba engcinezelo. Asiyiqoboli le nto siyithethayo. Yeka nje aba baphakathi kwethu badwabayo bethetha ngathi ingcinezelo bayayazi. Kubo ukusokola liphupha nje abalibaliselwayo. Ndiqinisekile ukuba balibaliselwa ngabasebenzi basekhaya bakumawabo ukuba yintoni ukuhlupheka. Masibayeke oodwabayo aba.
English:
The ANC supports the Budget Vote. Thank you. [Time expired.]
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 8 May 2013 Take: 12
Mrs P TSHWETE
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Chairperson, let me start by thanking all members for making contributions here today. I will not respond to some of the issues, because, for instance, Part A and Part B of the National Child Protection Register always come up as a question. I decided, because I knew that hon Waters would raise the issue of Part A and Part B of the register, that since I have the question, I would give it to him.
Secondly, before I get excited, I think we must also commend the heroic gesture of the two security guards who were at Lindelane when an old lady was shot at and who did not return fire, in an attempt to save the older person. If they had returned fire, many older persons could have died.
Hon member Yolanda Botha, we agree with you on universalising the child support grant. We have done a cost analysis, and it will take a period of between five and 10 years to implement the process throughout the country. We will require sufficient fiscal space for this development. We have three deputy directors-general in the department. The new ones are Mr Netshipale for Integrated Development, Ms Connie Nxumalo for Welfare Services, as well as Mr Magasela for Social Policy. He is going to be a doctor very soon. [Applause.]
I would also like to touch on a few other issues. We get excited easily. South Africa is not the first country to implement social security. After World War II, big countries like Germany had social security to intervene in their problems. There is the problem right now of an economic downturn. Countries like Greece, Spain, and even America have intervened in the problems in their respective countries. It is important for the rich to contribute towards social solidarity, because if they don't, we are going to have more poor people. That can turn into a very nasty situation. People must think about that. Those that think they can take over power through those means are just playing a dirty game. We must know that even the old National Party provided for the poor whites. So, this is not a new thing. [Interjections.] People must not behave as if this is a new thing.
When the chairperson of the portfolio committee spoke about the progress that the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, has made, I heard someone saying "corruption, corruption!" and then I related this to something that is always said about black people. Before you do something, you are always judged as corrupt. That has been happening throughout. [Interjections.] You must search yourselves; you can howl at me right now, but go and do introspection.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G Ndabandaba): Order! Order, hon members!
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: What shocks me is that these people who are shouting at us today invaded our country. They stole our forefathers' land, and they stole their ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Prof L B G Ndabandaba): Order! Order! Minister, take your seat, please. Hon members, please don't turn the House into a circus. Minister, you can use your minute.
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: I hope I will get my minutes back. Now, they also got what they have today through the sweat of our great-grandfathers.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: I am not an invader!
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Yes! Some of them have the audacity to come and shout at us here. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The Committee rose at 12:23.
Audio
No related
Documents
No related documents