Hansard: Debate on Vote No 19 - Social Development
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 16 Jul 2014
Summary
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Minutes
TAKE 1: STARTS AT 10:00
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 1
WEDNESDAY, 16 JULY 2014
PROCEEDINGS OF EXTENDED PUBLIC COMMITTEE – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
___________________________
Members of the Extended Public Committee met in the Good Hope Chamber at 10:00.
House Chairperson Ms M G Boroto, as Chairperson, took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
THE MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
START OF DAY
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 1
APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Vote No 19 - Social Development:
THE MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Hon Chairperson,
Deputy Minister of Social Development Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development Ms Zoleka Capa, hon Members of Parliament, MECs for social development, representatives of the disability sector, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honour that I rise before this august House to present Budget Vote 19 of the Department of Social Development for the financial year 2014-15.
I owe this opportunity to our people who supported our functioning democracy and gave the ANC a fresh mandate to move South Africa forward. Twenty years ago, under the leadership of the first democratic President of the Republic of South Africa, Tata Nelson Mandela, South Africans from all walks of life took the first courageous steps on a journey towards the long walk to freedom. These steps were about a journey to bring an end to the legacy of apartheid and to build a united, nonracial, nonsexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.
As our President has called on all South Africans to clean South Africa on 18 July, we will join the rest of the world in celebrating Nelson Mandela International Day. We have a good story to tell. Last year, I presented a Budget Vote of R117 billion. This year our Vote is R128 billion, and it increases to R148 billion by 2016-17. This budget is constituted mainly by transfers to social grant beneficiaries and it covers welfare services, comprehensive social security, the integrated development programme, the National Development Agency or NDA, and the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa.
The Budget Vote takes its cue from the President's state of the nation address, the ANC's 2014 election manifesto, the National Development Plan: Vision for 2030 and the resolutions of the ANC's 53rd national conference.
President Jacob Zuma, in his state of the nation address, committed this administration to continuing "to advance and improve the lives of people with disabilities over the next five years".
In line with this commitment and to further consolidate the national disability agenda, we have declared 2014-15 as the year of people with disabilities, with the theme "Protecting and promoting the human rights of people with disabilities: Towards full participation and inclusion".
We are convening a national dialogue with the disability sector over the next two days and will be guided by the slogan "Nothing about us without us". The purpose of the dialogue is to engage with the disability sector with the intention of identifying challenges and opportunities towards building a consensus on national priority areas for action going forward. Representatives of the disability sector are here with us today.
The Deputy Minister will be elaborating on issues of disability. I have allocated the following responsibilities to the Deputy Minister: disability, HIV and Aids, the Central Drug Authority, and gender. The Deputy Minister will also be representing me at the SA National Aids Council, Sanac, and at the National Council Against Gender-Based Violence.
We have embarked on radical socioeconomic transformation. Our agenda remains the fight against the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. We are determined to create opportunities for our people to prosper and realise their full potential. For the social development sector, this has called for the review of the 1997 White Paper on Social Welfare. The key issues that are emerging from this review include improving accessibility and the quality of social development services, transforming and financing welfare services, strengthening the workforce, and funding nongovernmental organisations, NGOs, in the sector. These contribute to community-based social enterprises and employment creation in the country. This work takes place under the leadership of Prof Vivienne Taylor.
Government has identified 14 outcomes towards the realisation of Vision 2030. The department has been given the responsibility of leading Outcome 13. This outcome is about creating an inclusive and responsive social protection system.
As part of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework deliverables, we have committed ourselves to increasing the number of social service professionals specifically social workers, social auxiliary workers, community development practitioners and child and youth-care workers. Our social-work scholarship programme continues to bring benefits to the sector. Over 5 200 students, registered for the social work degree, have been awarded scholarships.
Under the social work programme, 7 794 students have graduated with a social work degree, of which 2 921 of these graduates have not been employed. We are committed to ensuring that all qualified graduates are employed in line with the priorities of this term of government.
Later this year, we will convene a national social work indaba in order to align the development mandate of the profession with the government's radical socioeconomic transformation. This will go a long way in reclaiming the profession's progressive position to respond better to the country's social welfare needs. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that we employ one social worker per ward throughout the country, starting with the 1 300 poorest wards prioritised by Cabinet.
Over the Medium-Term Strategic Framework period, the ANC-led government is committed to making early childhood development, ECD, a public good. With this in mind, we will accelerate the implementation of a comprehensive early childhood development programme, covering the period from conception to formal school-going age.
We have conducted a national audit of 19 900 ECD facilities throughout the country. The audit revealed the following: lack of proper infrastructure, overcrowding, the need for training of ECD practitioners, and accessibility for children with disabilities. We found that 44% of the ECD facilities were unregistered. I therefore would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the corporate sector to join hands with the National Development Agency for the successful implementation of the Adopt-an-ECD campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to facilitate, advocate and lobby for expanded access to, and provision of, early childhood development facilities in poor communities. Over the MTEF period, we will roll out noncentre-based and mobile ECD facilities in rural areas and informal settlements to ensure that all children are given an early start for a better future.
The National Development Agency, NDA, has taken over the responsibility for the overall organisation of the annual South African ECD awards. These awards are aimed at promoting and recognising excellence, hard work, dedication and investment in the future of our children by practitioners, community centres and organisations involved in ECD.
As part of our response to violence against women and children, we have established a national gender-based violence command centre. Seventy-five qualified social workers have been employed to serve at this 24-hour command centre, and they are dedicated to providing psychosocial support and referral services. This work we do in collaboration with the Department of Health, the SA Police Service and nongovernmental organisations.
Last year I made a commitment in this House to anti-substance abuse interventions. Over the MTEF period, we have R150 million for the establishment of treatment centres in the Northern Cape, the Eastern Cape, the North West and the Free State. Child and vulnerable youth-headed households will remain our central focus during this MTEF period. This past financial year, we have made great strides in the implementation of the Isibindi Model. The central aspect of this model is the provision of intensive child and youth-care-centred services to children within their own families and communities. We will finalise the child and youth-headed households register this financial year. We can only succeed in our pursuit to build a caring society if we know where our children live and what their needs are.
Our social assistance programme has grown substantially over the years. In 1994, there were 2,9 million beneficiaries. Today, over 16 million grants are paid monthly. This represents more than five times the number of recipients in 1994, thus contributing to South Africa's progressive realisation of the right to social security as enshrined in article 27 of the Constitution.
Our analysis shows that the take-up rate for the child support grant for infants from birth to two years is low. This is a serious concern for us because early intervention yields better outcomes for children. To address this challenge, we plan to increase the take-up rate in this group by 70% through the implementation of various initiatives.
With regard to foster care, I am going to announce the appointment of a ministerial committee to undertake an assessment of the status of the foster care system throughout the country. The target is to assess 500 000 foster care cases. Our ultimate aim is to ensure that no child falls through the cracks as a result of administrative processes.
The results of our initiatives to modernise and improve Sassa's organisational efficiency and to improve the integrity of our social security system are encouraging. Government and social grant recipients continue to derive important benefits from the current social grant payment system which we introduced in 2012. Equally, the fiscus has also benefited from our drive to transform our grant system. We cancelled 850 000 grants, saving R2 billion that was returned to the fiscus in September 2013, plus there was an additional saving of R1 billion unspent funds as at the end of the financial year. With the new system, all social grant beneficiaries can now receive their grants from the first day of the month through various convenient payment channels.
The provision of social grants on the first day of the month is neither a privilege nor a luxury, but a human rights issue. Currently, over 80% of the beneficiaries draw their grants within the first seven days of the month.
A key feature of the current payment model is the institutionalisation of the biometric system, which offers many important benefits both as a measure to combat fraud and corruption and as a more accurate and reliable means of beneficiary authentication. Whilst we applaud these positive changes, we recognise equally the challenges that came with the new system, and we are working hard to address those challenges.
During my visits to many poor, rural and urban communities, I received many complaints from beneficiaries about various types of deductions including loans, deductions from multiple funeral schemes, electricity and airtime from social grant payments often without knowledge or consent. According to the National Credit Regulator, illegal money lending is a huge and profitable business in South Africa. These lending businesses are, for the most part, illegal, predatory, immoral and exploitative in nature. I have established a ministerial task team comprising representatives from Black Sash, Social Development and Sassa to investigate this matter and to make recommendations on a possible course of action within the current payment environment.
It has come to our attention that the Sassa brand is being exploited for commercial purposes. We will take action to protect Sassa's intellectual property rights. We will also criminalise illegal possession of a Sassa-branded card by credit providers and loan sharks. Work is under way to introduce amendments to the Social Assistance Regulations to prohibit credit providers and other persons from conducting and marketing their products within the defined perimeters of Sassa offices and paypoints. Penalties for those who contravene these regulations will be introduced.
I have also received numerous complaints regarding the implementation of the voice biometric solution. The complaints relate mainly to the long toll-free number, which is difficult for most people to memorise. Some beneficiaries, particularly older persons, cannot remember their identity numbers. I have since instructed Sassa to review the implementation of the system with a view to removing the burden from the beneficiaries.
As promised last year, I have appointed a ministerial committee to give advice on the future payment model for social assistance benefits in South Africa. The committee has been working in earnest, and I expect to receive their preliminary report before the end of this month.
Last year, I mentioned that we would embark on a nationwide service delivery initiative to assess the sector's footprint on, and impact of, the sector's programmes and services. We have done this through the Project Mikondzo. Between September 2013 and March 2014 we reached 730 wards in the 23 poorest districts. The initial findings of this exercise vindicate our plans for the radical transformation of the sector. Through Project Mikondzo, we came face to face with the plight of thousands of seasonal farm workers who remain vulnerable to food insecurity and to their children being malnourished. This led our introducing a pilot programme in De Doorns to provide support to seasonal workers.
The lessons learned and experience gained from Project Mikondzo will enable the social development sector to develop a service delivery improvement plan. We are working in collaboration with the University of KwaZulu-Natal on this programme.
In conclusion, I would like to express my special gratitude to my comrade and former colleague Mama Bongi Maria Ntuli, who served on this portfolio with dedication in the last term of government. I also welcome my new colleague, Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu.
Finally, I want to express my gratitude to Director-General Mr Coceko Pakade; the CEO of Sassa, Ms Virginia Petersen; the CEO of the NDA, Dr Vuyelwa Nhlapo; special advisers Mr Shezi and Mr Dango; and all members of the Department of Social Development family. I now invite you to support Budget Vote 19. I thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Ms R N CAPA GC/TAKE ENDS AT 10:21
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
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EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 2
Ms R N CAPA: Hon Chair, hon Members of Parliament, our very important guests here today, our hon Minister Bathabile Dlamini, our Deputy Minister, and the House at large, I greet you this morning. First of all, I wish to express my appreciation on being afforded this opportunity, Chair - knowing full well that it is a right in a democracy to be a Member of Parliament and speak on behalf of others, though this has not always been the case for black people, especially black rural woman in this country.
It is therefore rather surprising that some decide to stay away from the election process and, many a time, criticise all processes, when many South Africans have paid the supreme price for such an opportunity. Indeed, we owe it to those who died far away from their beloved country for this opportunity.
Today, many South Africans, hon Minister, are waiting curiously for this moment: for their hon Minister to pronounce the budget amounts that continue to enable them to survive under very difficult conditions on a daily basis. Having heard all that you have said, hon Minister, I actually congratulate you on having been reappointed by our President to lead this difficult task.
For the past 20 years, this exercise has given hope to over 16 million people who currently receive grants. I therefore dedicate this debate to those whose lives have improved as a result of the grants. Indeed, hon Minister, you and your organisation have a good story to tell. [Applause.]
I congratulate hon Minister Dlamini on having spearheaded, with great success and impact, the very difficult political management programme, because it is always faced with the pressing and competing needs of the poor. Once again ...
IsiXhosa:
... uMongameli weli lizwe uhlab'khangela ngokuthi buya kwakhona. Siyabulela , sithabile [kwaye siyavuya.].
English:
The history of poverty in the country can be traced as far back as 1652. We did not wake up poor. We know where it comes from. And I know I'm running the risk of being very unpopular for having said this truth, but I'm supposed to say this once in my life. When Jan van Riebeeck arrived in this country, he had been charged with corruption by the Dutch East India Company and sentenced, I understand from many writers, but he went on to colonise the Cape. It is for this reason that we have Marikana today. It is for this reason that we are talking about poverty. This is a community, a population that was uprooted and disrupted, leading to the tragedy we are faced with today. It is so nice to talk about it. Yet none of us in this House is responsible for those men having to leave their families to work far away, disintegrating their family life.
How I wish that when the matters concerning the platinum belt are resolved that there is an opportunity to travel one day and be with your family, rather than reinforcing the migration labour system by ensuring that you are kept six months, or so many months, and that when you travel it takes you three days because flying these days is only for those paid by government. You can see this if you look at the statistics of who gets to fly when it comes to this aspect.
I can say the process of dispossession led to the many evils I have mentioned, such as the migratory labour system and even forced removals. Those who are supposed to be enjoying their lives next to the sea they born near to are now scattered all over the country.
To date, the majority of the people in the country are said to be lacking scarce skills. This is simply because the current economically active population age group are mainly the survivors of the forced Bantu Education system, which was prescribed by the Bantu Education Act of 1953. It is no mistake that we are where we are today. This is just one of the numerous evils of oppression, such as separate development, the Natives Land Act of 1913, and many more. All of these led to the state of affairs that was inherited in 1994: poverty, inequality, unemployment, hunger and starvation. I am convinced that no other intervention will enable so many South Africans to survive until the service delivery plans, hon Minister, are actually implemented from A to Z - then there will be peace and stability in your country, my sister. I am also thankful for the idea, the vision, the notion of the comprehensive social security model that is now a revised vision for the department.
The ANC has always been seized with the liberation of all South Africans - and I repeat: all South Africans - from the bondages of poverty. That is why the ANC went from door to door as far back as 1955 and found a plethora of challenges facing most South Africans. These challenges culminated in the noble Freedom Charter that we all say is good to have in this country.
When the new democratic South Africa was ushered in, departments were established to respond to those 1955 challenges, and this department was established to make specific interventions like the one we are talking about. The Budget Vote today, which I call upon all of us to strongly support and even to call for more if possible, responds fully to the challenges of poverty, hunger, starvation, inequity and unemployment.
The ANC has flagged the emancipation of woman as an integral part of the struggle and has not failed to note that, in our situation, women are the most affected by all the evils I have mentioned, irrespective of colour, creed or race or even political affiliation. The fact is that women suffer the most and carry the heaviest burden in this country. Hence, the former president of the ANC, the late Oliver Reginald Tambo, when discussing this with his colleague Sam Nujoma, the late former president of Swapo or the South West Africa People's Organisation, had this say: "If, at the end of our struggle, South African women and those of Namibia are not emancipated we will have not finished our work."
The vision of the department, which is supported by the portfolio committee, resonates largely with the commitments by those struggle icons. This is also in line with the debates before us, namely early childhood education, which is a lifetime investment; comprehensive social security; food security; food for all; and zero hunger. If we were hungry at some stage - all of us here – we would have choices. I want to eat a burger; I want to eat that; but others are not fortunate enough to have a choice. They have to eat whatever is going to relieve the hunger pangs.
During the election campaign, the ANC engaged with all South Africans, with the aim of understanding their needs and the challenges that have been addressed, as well as those challenges which have not been addressed. The lessons learnt include the fact that South Africans in cities have had their share, despite the fact that there is still a plethora of needs to address in those communities in cities. Indeed, they engaged with those communities that, once upon a time, used to rent from aboMadam or in the back yard. In addition, they have now seen an opportunity to settle freely where they want to. Yes, it is irritating when you think about the backlog that creates, about the protests, about the ... [Inaudible.] But at some stage there was a reason why they left those rentals – because they were free to go to the city. The city is their own city today.
So those people in peri-urban areas are not very rural or very urban. They might, then, lack focus, and I am sure the Minister has also experienced that during her visits. There are those who live in the back of beyond like me: "kwa nja mayiphume". They have the same story to tell, a good story. This good story might be irritating, but others get bored simply because they never travelled the route or the journey that most of us have.
I come from the very same areas, where indeed I was born behind the door. Therefore, I always think of a more peaceful, democratic South Africa. Please support this particular Budget Vote for all of us to benefit. Ngiyabonga, Modulasetula. [Thank you, Chairperson.] [Applause.]
Ms S P KOPANE / Ntsha-Ntsha transcribed/LB edited / TAKE ENDS AT 10:36
Ms R N CAPA
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 3
Ms S P KOPANE: Chairperson, I truly believe that we must confront the hard truth about the poor performance of the department and its entities if we want to ensure that all South Africans enjoy their constitutional rights. The same issues that appear on both the strategic plan and the annual report of the department were discussed and resources were appropriated for them to be implemented five years ago when I was a member of this committee.
Today, I find myself with more questions than answers. Once again, we revisit the same issues and make plans for the period of 2017 to 2019. Why it is that those plans tabled five years ago were never implemented? What happened to the resources that were allocated for these plans? With all the challenges that we face as a nation - poverty, inequality and unemployment – one would have expected the department to implement its programmes with far more urgency.
The issues at hand are the universalisation of the child support grant and the old age grant, the child protection register, the policy for nonprofit organisation funding or NPO funding, and the establishment of an inspectorate for social security. Despite the massive expansion of the grant system as a source of income for many poor families, many still suffer the double fate of poverty and social exclusion. A recent study found that 2,3 million eligible children are not receiving the child support grant primarily because of a lack of documentation and administrative obstacles.
It is worrying that, as a country, we still use the means test to determine who qualifies for social grants, thereby excluding many deserving citizens of this country. The extent of this exclusion indicates that there is an urgent need for a policy review that will focus on the legislative changes necessary to unblock the legal impediments to the child support grant and the old age grant. Since 2009, the DA has proposed the removal of the means test so that a person, by merit of being a South African citizen, receives the grant according to his or her needs – and not related to his or her income and assets. It is sad that after so many years this matter will only be finalised during this financial year.
With regard to nonprofit organisation funding, we have seen an expansion of the social grant system, but, in contrast, funding for social welfare services has been relatively neglected. In 2009, NPOs challenged the department on problems in its NPO funding policy. This included a judgment of the Free State High Court instructing the department to come up with a better policy in respect of funding of NPOs. These NPOs filed this court application after several years of serious frustration with how the department dealt with transfers to and subsidies of NPOs.
The frustrations, amongst many, included delayed payments, lack of communication, lack of consultation, payment amounts not corresponding to the services rendered, not enough funding for nongovernmental organisations, NGOs, for the services rendered. As a result, many NPOs are unable to successfully perform their duties. The judgment notes that many NPOs are funded by the department and that the department openly acknowledges that these organisations play a major role in delivering social services to children, the elderly and people with disabilities. In fact, in many cases, the department is dependent on these NPOs for delivering services which government should actually be responsible for through laws like the Children's Act and the Older Persons Act. The department also acknowledges that the transfers it provides to many NPOs do not cover the full cost of service delivery, yet we see no urgent effort to fix this situation.
During the strategic plan and budget presentation by the department to the committee, it was indicated that only by 2019 would the department come up with an efficient regulatory system, the capacity-building ability and the funding model for NGOs. This is unacceptable because by then it will be 10 years after the court judgment. Hon Minister, surely we owe it to NPOs to accomplish this review with more urgency? If we don't, the following will happen: many NGOs will be closed; many people will lose their jobs; and 62% of the social welfare services rendered by these NPOs will come to a standstill.
It is not only the judgment of the High Court that provided the recommendation on this matter. The Financial and Fiscal Commission's 2013 report highlighted the low financial provision by government to child welfare services, which amounted to R5,7 billion in 2013-14 compared to the estimated need of at least R12,9 billion for only low-level implementation of the Children's Act. Finally, the report also points to the vast disparities in funding social welfare and the expenditure between provinces. KwaZulu-Natal spends R81 per child while the Northern Cape spends R412.
In the Western Cape, where the DA governs, we have managed to introduce a new departmental system for monitoring the use of these funds by NGOs, ensuring that the vulnerable citizens of the Western Cape get the maximum benefit. This drive shows that the Western Cape Department of Social Development spent the biggest portion of its budget, 68%, on transfer payments to NGOs, more than any other province in this country, according to the Financial and Fiscal Commission in its submission for the division of revenue in 2014-15. During a time of financial crisis and with the National Lottery failing the NGOs dismally, we believe this is a critically strategic move to preserve the welfare services of our people. Surely, we need to assess the rationality of our spending across the provinces and rectify these disparities.
Hon Minister, I believe the power is in your hands to do what is right for those South Africans whose lives depend on this Ministry.
During the 2010 Budget Vote debate in this very venue, I was concerned about and raised the issue of the legal cases brought against Sassa in the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court. One of the Supreme Court of Appeal judges described the inefficiency in the processing of social grant applications "as a war of attrition against the poor". Today, as I stand before you, there is a Constitutional Court case against Sassa. Maybe we should be asking ourselves why Sassa is back in court again. How many court cases is Sassa facing?
We know that the Cash Paymaster Services tender was declared invalid. It is about time that Sassa corrects the public procurement principles of transparency and adheres to the Constitutional Court order. In 2011, during a Questions for Oral Reply session in the House, I asked the former Deputy Minister, Mrs Ntuli, why the department never established the inspectorate for social assistance, as required by chapter 4 of the Social Assistance Act. If the department is really serious about fraud and corruption within Sassa, I believe Sassa could have acted immediately. We also take note of other systems that Sassa is trying to put in place, especially with regard to reregistration. Why has the inspectorate for social assistance never been established? The department has lost millions through fraud and corruption since the establishment of Sassa. According to Sassa, it will only establish this inspectorate by March 2019 - that is 10 years later!
Currently, the bulk of Sassa's expenditure goes to cash payment contractors which, on average, account for approximately 53% of the entire budget, whilst the remaining caters for so many little things. In 2009, I asked the Minister this question, and I am asking it again: Does the department really need Sassa to administer the grants on its behalf? I ask this because Sassa has subcontracted out the very job it is supposed to be doing to contractors who are taking huge chunks of the budget. Is Sassa an asset or a liability to the department? It is clear that the majority of Sassa's budget does not benefit the poor and vulnerable of our country. Why will the department only have developed a payment system in three years' time that will strengthen the position of Sassa as a payment provider?
In conclusion, allow me to leave this House with Albert Einstein's words. He said that insanity was doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. [Interjections.] Anything we have criticised is because we care; we are part of South Africa. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Ms H O MAXON /Mia / TAKE ENDS AT 10:47
Ms S P KOPANE
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 4
IsiXhosa:
Sicela iti! [We want tea!]
IsiZulu:
Uzolithola itiye baba. [You'll get your tea, Sir.]
English:
Ms H O MAXON: Hon House Chairperson, the EFF will not support this budget based on the following observations. We welcome the department's efforts to provide social grants to our people. We say: Give people grants, not peanuts, Minister. But what are people supposed to do with R310? For instance, 20 nappies cost R85, and that does not even last a week, and 1,2-kg of milk formula costs R233,90. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Order, hon members! Continue.
Ms H O MAXON: Thank you, Chairperson. We propose, as the EFF, that all social grants be increased by 100%. [Interjections.] Furthermore, we understand the importance of social grants as a way of alleviating poverty. The ANC must not use social services as a campaigning tool. We have seen this during the elections in the distribution of blankets, food parcels, etc.
One of the main aims of this department is to enhance early childhood development in the country. However, these words ring empty when it comes to the day-to-day experiences of many rural and township preschool teachers and young children. Nomonde Ngalo from the Eastern Cape is just one of the many cases in which the words and promises of this department have failed her. Nomonde started a preschool in 1985 to serve the needs of her community. This broken-down school could fall apart at any moment. The children receive no food from the department – there is no feeding scheme - and Nomonde has never been paid for her work. I am sure this is not a good story to tell.
IsiXhosa:
ILUNGU ELIHLONIPHEKILE: Kutsho wena!
IsiZulu:
Nksz H O MAXON: Yebo, kusho mina.
English:
For years she has approached this department, but the department has turned a blind eye. There are many other stories like hers in our many rural and township areas across the country. We demand an early childhood development programme that services the daily life experiences of our people. Early childhood development must be made part of mainstream schooling, and it must be standardised from the age of three years. Early childhood development must be part of the education system, and people must be paid properly and treated like the proper teachers they are. They are doing a good job. Only thereafter will there be a good story to tell. For now, there is no good story to tell. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Order, order, hon members! Order!
Ms H O MAXON: Thank you, Chairperson, for protecting me.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Order! We want to hear the speaker at the podium. [Interjections.]
Ms H O MAXON: With the efforts to curb substance abuse through the national Anti-Substance Abuse Programme of Action, this department falls further short. It has failed to create enough rehabilitation centres in rural and township areas.
IsiZulu:
Nksz H O MAXON: Ziyafa ingane zethu yiwunga; zisibamb' inkunzi silele ... [Our children are addicted to wunga; they are robbing us in our sleep ...]
English:
... because this department is failing us. [Interjections.] In this country, you can only attend rehabilitation and treatment programmes if you can afford them. How many people from our rural and township areas can really afford treatment when they are not even employed? [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Order! You are too loud!
Ms H O MAXON: This department has prioritised the end of hunger through the establishment of the food distribution centres, the community food depots and the community food and development centres. But these are only in three provinces, which is insufficient. Furthermore, this department has not been clear on the developmental aspect of this initiative. Where will they receive their supplies? Who will their suppliers be? And how will this initiative boost black farmers and create employment? The EFF demands a food economy that empowers communities to produce food for themselves. [Interjections.] Let me repeat: the EFF demands a food economy that empowers communities to produce food for themselves. The community must be able to produce for themselves. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Order! Order, hon members!
Ms H O MAXON: There are too few Sassa footprints in this country. There is only one regional office in each province and an inefficient number of district and local offices, resulting in large transport costs for rural and township citizens who need to consult. These citizens are mostly poor and unemployed.
We suggest the following solutions: Each and every ward in the country must have Sassa offices – if you want to tell a good story. As South Africa is bedevilled by crisis levels of poverty and access to basic services it needs an urgent programme to deliver quality and sustainable services. Listen carefully: the EFF's approach to the delivery of basic services to the people is that it should be labour-absorbing and should produce quality products, goods and services. I hope you hear me very well. [Interjections.]
The EFF believes that social grants are an important aspect of bringing the poorest of the poor up to the same level of economic participation. The EFF says that we should introduce a system which will link social grants to development. We say further that education and training opportunities for women who receive child support grants ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, your time has expired. [Interjections.]
Ms H O MAXON: Thank you. I will continue workshopping you, ANC. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Thank you, hon Maxon. Hon members, could we please respect and uphold the decorum of this House. Thank you.
Mr M HLENGWA
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 4
Mr H O MAXON
Mr M HLENGWA: Hon Chairperson, I rise on behalf of my colleague the hon Liezl van der Merwe who is currently speaking in the debate on Women, Children and People with Disabilities and is unable to be here.
The IFP regards Social Development as a key government department, for we prize the wellbeing of the most vulnerable in our society. We understand the value of a social grant and the meaningful difference it can make in the lives of the poorest of the poor.
But we, in the IFP, also have self-help and self-reliance, as part of our cornerstone philosophy. Our people should not remain dependent on grants alone. We need a robust economy in which everyone can participate, earn a living and enjoy meaningful lives.
It is against this background that the IFP has time and again decried the plight of NGOs, such as Rape Crisis, and Tears - Transform Education about Rape and Sexual Abuse. These organisations are vital partners in our fight on behalf of the most vulnerable sectors of our society. We cannot fight without them. We therefore welcome the department's consideration of a new funding model as a solution to the funding crisis.
However, the intended completion of the project's review in 2017 leaves us deeply concerned for those organisations that are already in crisis. We appeal to the hon Minister to make urgent interventions whenever they are needed. We also appeal to the Minister to speedily process amendments to the Children's Act of 2010. The department's failure to comply with the Act by timeously processing paperwork to facilitate adoptions is grossly unacceptable. It has had a detrimental effect on the lives of orphans. In fact, adoption rates have halved since 2009. Interim measures are needed to compel improvement in systems and processes.
Some 17 million South Africans are dealing with depression, substance abuse, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Yet, we are ill-equipped to handle the scourge of drugs and alcohol addiction in South Africa. This department must champion a more integrated approach. Funding for more treatment facilities is needed. But unless their services are better co-ordinated and managed between the various departments, we will continue to lose this war.
We are concerned by the recent allegations that Sassa has irregularly used millions of rand meant for the poor to pay for bodyguards for senior Social Development and Sassa officials. While we appreciate that the Public Protector has launched an investigation, we hope that the hon Minister will also launch an investigation into this regard, as the final responsibility to account for every cent falls on the Minister's shoulders.
The imminence of the 2016 local government elections gives us cause to warn against using this department as a political tool to advance the ruling party's agenda. Allegations that food parcel distribution is often linked to by-elections must be taken very seriously.
The mammoth task of looking after the most vulnerable sectors of our society cannot be performed by the hon Minister and her team alone. We therefore look forward to partnering with her on this journey. We are cognisant of the great responsibility we all bear; the responsibility of changing the lives of people for the better.
IsiZulu:
Mhlonishwa Ngqongqoshe njengoba izigi-ke bezizwakala ngaphambi kokhetho nihambise izijumbane zokudla emphakathini, namanje azizwakale yize noma ukhetho seludlulile.
English:
The IFP will support this Budget Vote. [Applause.]
Kn/LIM CHECKED//
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Mr M HLENGWA
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 5
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: House Chair, hon Minister Bathabile Dlamini, hon chairperson, hon members, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, as the Bible says:
As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms ...
and:
For even the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.
President Zuma, in the state of the nation address delivered on 25 May 2014, committed this term of office to radical socioeconomic transformation to push back the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment, which continue to affect the lives of many of our people.
This reminded me of the words of the former Minister of Social Development, Mr Zola Skweyiya, when he reflected as follows:
The paradigm shift from a welfarist to a social development perspective is premised on the notion that people are the masters of their own destiny and, instead of helping the poor in the traditional way with handouts, it moves on to the development and empowerment of individuals, groups and communities, teaching them to be self-reliant.
In the 10 years following the release of the Social Development Integrated Service Delivery Model, in the words of Paulo Freire, we need to ask ourselves whether we have simply walked over the words, or whether we indeed managed to grasp the soul of the words of the former Minister of Social Development.
Radical socioeconomic transformation requires that we, individually and collectively, grasp the soul of the social development perspective if we are to break the chains of poverty, inequality and unemployment. It requires of each and every one of us to interrogate the manner in which we deliver services, the manner in which we "care", how we target interventions, who we partner with, and how we advocate for the rights of children, young people, people with disabilities, women and older persons.
Allow me to extend a special word of welcome to my mother, who is with us in the House today. Not only did she have to contend with being a black rural woman in apartheid South Africa, but she also had to survive eking out a living as an unemployed woman in a rural village in the then Bophuthatswana Bantustan. Added to this was giving birth, in 1971, to a baby girl with a disability, at a time when there was neither information nor services available on how to parent a disabled child in Phokeng, where disability was linked to witchcraft, sin and many other superstitious beliefs.
This dictated the community response and interaction with our family henceforth. However, thanks to your dedication, Ma, your I-don't-give-up attitude and your willingness to sacrifice, you actioned the soul of Ellen Goodman's words when she said: "The central struggle of parenthood is to let our hopes for our children outweigh our fears."
I also wish to pay tribute to my father, who stood by his family in these early years, and I challenge all fathers to remain active in their children's lives, whether they have disabilities, or not. Ma, I can only imagine the extent of your anguish on your journey back home after you left me alone as a young, eight-year-old girl at a special school far away from home. For that, I am very grateful, as it awarded me an opportunity to stand here today, with education as the backbone of who I am. I want say thank you, Ma, and thank you once more. [Applause.]
In 1990, when I gave birth to Kealeboga, my first daughter, who was also born blind, I was a single, teenage mother, forced to drop out of school. Like my mother, I still had no information or support services to guide me in bringing up my daughter in Phokeng. Still, I had self-knowledge of growing up as a blind child, which enabled me to seek information and resources, albeit it at a high cost, at times.
By 2003, almost 10 years into democracy, I gave birth to Zanele, my 10-year-old. Zanele was also born with the same disability because our disability is genetic. There was not just a visible change in the attitude of nurses, neighbours and family, but also in the rest of South Africa as a whole. Zanele was celebrated. I was now married, and a Member of Parliament, and we lived in an urban setting. Service-related information was available at the click of a button through the internet, but this, of course, required computer access and literacy. I suddenly had choices of whether to enrol Zanele in an inclusive or special early childhood development programme or school.
This right to choice for what I deemed to be in the best interest of my child was as a direct result of the policies of the ANC-led government, which took decisions in 1994 that persons with disabilities belonged in the communities where their families lived, and not far away from them. [Applause.]
I have taken some time to illustrate my personal journey, as it depicts the progress made over the past 20 years of democracy. It also points us in the direction of the action required to accelerate the radical socioeconomic transformation agenda.
The economic benefits of investing in children have been extensively documented. Investing fully in children today will ensure the wellbeing and productivity of future generations for decades to come. This will break the vicious cycle of poverty, inequality and unemployment, and declare a demographic dividend in the future.
Our government has acknowledged this reality and has committed to shifting significant resources to early childhood development services. Our challenge, firstly, is to guarantee access by putting mechanisms in place to ensure that these services reach every child equally, irrespective of geographic location, disability, health or socioeconomic status and/or gender – and that is a promise we are willing to keep.
Our second challenge is to ensure that we place the empowerment of our children at the centre of these programmes. This should include providing them with platforms through which they can represent themselves, thereby giving effect to meaningful child participation. Together, in this House, let's listen to the voices of our children. Empowerment of children is about more than stimulation programmes. It is also about attitudes and relationships, as well as life skills, which start with parenting in the home.
Allow me to pay tribute to my Grade 1 teacher, Mme MmaShebe, whose guidance and the respect she afforded me, made an indelible imprint on my future. Public servants such as Mme MmaShebe, who believe in the potential of all children, irrespective of their disability, creed, gender, religion or health status, provide us with the platform through which we can achieve the vision of the 2030 National Development Plan. I call on all those who work with children to unlock their potential by tapping into their hopes, creativity and abilities through active engagement.
Our third challenge is to ensure that early childhood development programmes invest in parent empowerment and support, as well as information services for parents. In the words of Eva Feder Kittay in her book, Love's Labor: In a just society, mothers of children with disabilities can mother, and they, their children, and other needed caregivers will be adequately supported. That is the 10 000 Evas we are talking about.
The purpose of developmental social services is, among other purposes, to enhance social functioning and human capacity, and to promote social inclusion through the empowerment of those who are socially and economically excluded from mainstream society. This places a particular responsibility on the shoulders of every stakeholder involved in community development to ensure that programmes do not unintentionally discriminate in the extent to which all our citizens have access and are able to participate. It requires of every duty bearer across the service-delivery value chain to acknowledge the factors which contribute to exclusion and inequality of outcome – the stairs that are unnecessary in front of buildings; put in place measures that remove barriers and strengthen equitable access and participation; ensure that these measures are budgeted for and implemented; and, at the end of the day, report on the extent to which programme outcomes are equitable for everyone. Then, people with disabilities will be fully included.
Developmental social services also require that we put our individual egos aside and that we compromise for the attainment of our 2030 vision of reducing inequality, alleviating poverty, creating jobs and fighting unemployment. This requires that we work together as units, as departments, as spheres of government, as social partners, as disability organisations, as parent organisations, as young persons, as women and men, as persons living with HIV and Aids, as communities, as the LGBTI community, that is the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community, and, in this House, collectively, as leaders.
Allow me to thank the corporate sector partners who have, over the years, never failed to heed the call to contribute to the socioeconomic development agenda. These are partnerships we value, as they focus on empowering communities, not polishing the egos and lining the pockets of individuals. On behalf of those communities that all these partners have assisted, vho livhuwa, thank you very much, re a leboga, le ka moso.
In conclusion, sustainable and radical socioeconomic transformation requires that we focus on breaking access and participation barriers; reducing compounded vulnerabilities; empowering children, young people, women and men, and persons with disabilities; supporting sustainable, independent living in the community for persons with disabilities and older persons; strengthening the representative voices of children, young people, persons with disabilities, women and older persons; and building a women, child, youth and disability rights-responsive Public Service towards the building of a caring, inclusive South African society for all who live in it.
Our Constitution, together with the international human rights treaties ratified by South Africa, provides the guiding words. However, it is now up to us, individually and collectively, to ensure that we do not walk over the words contained in these instruments, but that we give effect to the soul of them. In the words of former President, the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, "It always seems impossible until it is done."
Allow me to thank my husband and children for their unwavering support; my family for creating and giving me the support and space to enable me to serve; the Minister for her leadership in steering this ship forward and the very warm welcome we received; the team in my office, led by Mathuto Motumi; Director-General Ntate Coceko and his team; the National Development Agency team; the Sassa team led by their respective CEOs; the rest of the government; and the Social Development family.
Working together, we are committed to moving South Africa forward and building a fully inclusive society, free from unfair discrimination, inequality, abuse and exploitation. As we present this Budget Vote with the hope that you will support it, because it is all about the poor and the vulnerable of this country, let us celebrate the life and times of Maya Angelou with her words:
Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.
She will forever remind us of the commitments we have.
Once again, I call on all parties to partner with us to walk the road together, as we continue to tell the good story in changing the lives of South Africans. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms S P TSOLELI /Robyn/
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 6
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Hon members, I just need to remind the House that you are not allowed to record the proceedings of the House or to take pictures. I hope that will be obeyed.
Sesotho:
Mof S P TSOLELI: Modulasetulo, e re ke ise tlhompho ho Ditho tsa Lekgotla la Ketsamolao la Afrika Borwa; ke ise hlompho ho Letona, hong le Motlatsa Letona; mme ke ise hlompho ho baetedipele ba mafapha, le ho setjhaba ka kakaretso.
Puong ya hae ya sechaba ka kgwedi ya Phupu, selemong sena sadichelete, Mopresidente wa Afrika Borwa, mohl Jacob Zuma, 0o hlalositse hore sehleng sena sa Palamente ho hlokahala hore ho kenywe tshebetsong maano a tlisang phetoho ya moruo wa setjhaba ka sekgahla se matla, e le hore ho potlakiswe mananeo a tlo fokotsa bufuma, tlhokeho ya mesebetsi le ho se lekalekane.
Joale, Lefapha la Ntshetsopele ya Sechaba le sehlohlolong sa ho tlisa diphethoho tsena ho baahi ba Afrika Borwa ka kakaretso. Lefapha le filwe maikarabelo a ho ntshetsa pele Sephetho sa 13 sa Morero wa Ntshetsopele ya Sechaba [National Development Plan] o itshetlehileng ho mokgwatshebetso wa tshireletso o akaretsang o bile o arabela.
Ha re sheba mananeo ao lefapha le batlang ho a kenya tsebetsong sehleng sena sa ditjhelete ho lwantshana le bofuma, tlhokeho ya mesebetsi le tekatekano, ho a bontsha hore, e le ka nnete, tsena ke diphihlello tse tekilweng ho Tokomane ya Setshwantsho sa Molao wa mokgatlo wa ANC, ho tswa Sebokeng sa Mangaung ka selemo sa 2012. Moo, ho ne ho ho buua ka hlabollo ya thekolohelo [social transformation] e seratswaneng se itshitlihileng ho tlhahiso ya Tokomane ya Lewa la Thuso e Batsi ya Tshireletso ya Sechaba ya ANC.
Molaotheong wa Afrika Borwa, kgaolong ya bobedi, athikele 27 le 28 di fana ka ditshebeletso tsa thekolohelo bakeng sa maqheku, batho ba sa itekanelang, bana, dikgutsana, ha mmoho le malapa a phelang tlasa bufuma. Ditshebeletso tsena, pele ho 1994, di ne di fuwa baahi ho ya ka mmala.
Dilemong tse mashome a mabedi tse fetileng mmuso wa sechaba, ka sechaba, o fetotse maemo ana. Mmuso o fokoditse bofuma, wa leka ho tlisa tekatekano ho baahi, le ho etsa bonnete ba hore batho ba dimilione tse mashome a tsheletseng ba kgola molemo lenaneong lena. Re amohela leano leo lefapha, le batlang ho le kenya tshebetsong, le bitswang hore ke Lewa le Lekolang ho beha Meja faatshe [Retirement Review Strategy].
Dipenshene tsena di thusa ho fedisa tlala, bofuma, le ho beha tjhelete tafoleng bakeng sa batho bohle ba fumanehileng. Tokomane ya rona ya sehloho, eleng NDP, e bontshitse hore batho bohle ba kojwana di mahetleng, mmuso o tla etsa bonnete hore maphelo a bona a tla nkelwa hlohong. Ba tla hlokomeleha, ba fumane tshireletso, jwalo ka baahi ba bang ka hara naha.
Re le mokgatlo wa ANC, re a dumela hore ho sana le diphephetso tseo lefapha le tlamehang ho dilokisa, haholo ho dibaka tseo ho amohellwang dipenshene tsena ho tsona. Phepetso enngwe ke eo Letona le seng le e hlalositse ya hore dibakeng tsena, ho na le batho ba hlekefetsang batho bana ba habo rona ba fumanang ditshebeletso tsena. Ebile hape puong ya hae, Letona o hlalosa hore ba tlile ho kenya tshebetsong mehato ya ho thibela bahwebi ba ditjhelete, bana ba kadimanag ka ditjhelete, hore ba se ke ba fumana monyetla wa hore ba sebedise dipenshene tsena tsa thuso.
Ere re theoletse lefapha ka poloko eo e e entseng ya R1 biliyone ha e ne e kena letsholong la ho ngodisa bauni bana ba rona hape. Ho feta moo, re tjhaela monwana leano la mmuso la ho rera ho ipatalla ditshebeletso tsena tsa thuso ka bo bona nako e tlang, ntle le ho sebedisa dikhampani tse ikemetseng. Re na le tshepo ya hore ha mmuso o ipatalla ditjhelete tsena ka bo ona, batho, e leng basebeletsi, ba tla kgona hore ba fumane mesebetsi e tsepameng.
Mmuso o beha taba ya kgaello ya dijo tsa setjhaba sehlohlolong sehleng sena sa Palamente. Dipalopalo di bontsha hore ho na le kgaello tlahisong ya dijo ka hara naha. Sena se na le ditlamorao tse mpe maphelong a setjhaba, haholoholo hobane batho ba bangata ba phela tlasa maemo a tlala. Ebile, hona ho etsa hore ba seke ba fumana dijo tse ahang mmele. Ditlamorao tsa sena di busula haholo, hoo batho ba bangata ba rona ba tshwarwang ke mafu hobane ba fumana dijo tse sa aheng mmele.
Ha re sheba ditekanyetso tsa lefapha, re fumana hore lefapha le hlalositse hore ba tlo kenya tshebetsong mananeo a itshetlehileng ho tliseng maemo a betere ditabeng tsena tsa dijo. Re ka qolla lenaneo la Zero Hunger, jwalo ka enngwe ya mananeo a thehilweng ho fokotsa tlala ka hara naha ya rona. Re theoletsa lefapha ka mosebetsi oo le seng le o entse ho fihlella hakana ka ho profaela malapa, ho profaela setjhaba, le botjhaba, ho batlisisa baatsi ka maemo a ka hara naha.
Leha ho ntse ho na le ba bangata ba lekang ho re suthisa tseleng, feela mosebetsi wa ho tlisa ditshebeletso tsena setjhabeng o se o ntse o phethahetse ho fihlela hakana; mme re a kgotsofala re le ANC. Ke tshepa hore ke ntse ke le nakong. E re ha e le hore ke na le nako, ke leke ho hlalosa hanyenyane hore ...
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): You are left with one minute.
Ms S P TSOLELI: Let me actually emphasise this point to the hon member of the DA. The hon member talked about social issues, but it was ambitious to say that social issues should be implemented by a certain period of time. Let me educate the hon member from the DA by saying that social issues are recurring issues that change owing to the material conditions on the ground, and they will be there as long as humankind exists. [Applause.]
To the hon member from the EFF: What a contradiction! One minute you demand; the next you are saying: Let us implement.
Sesotho:
Ha ke qetela ke re, re le ditho tsa ANC tsa Komiting ya Ntshetsopele ya Sechaba, re ikgotsofaditse hore ditekanyetso tsena tsa lefapha di dikgokahane le ditokomane tsa mokgatlo, tsa mmuso, le tsohle tse tlileng ho tlosa bofuma. Re le ANC, re tjhaella ditekanyetso tsena monwana, ntle le qeaqeo. Ya kgaola, ya ya! [Mahofi.]
Mrs C DUDLEY
Ms S P TSOLELI
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 6
Mrs C DUDLEY: Chair, I get the feeling that the important changes taking place in and around this department are having a generally motivating effect and that stakeholders are more encouraged than usual. Many of the changes will be the result of the transformation the department is undergoing in order to incorporate Programmes 3 and 4 - from what was the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities - to be more specific: children and people with disabilities.
The excitement generated seems to have spilled over into other areas that have long been desperately needing attention, such as the additional allocations being made in this budget to provinces to enable them to increase the number of social workers employed, and to provide additional support to NGOs providing essential welfare services. The Gauteng Welfare, Social Service and Development Forum says it best:
This comes at a time when cutbacks in services to our country's most vulnerable people have been happening on an appalling scale, and many thousands of workers in struggling non-profit organisations (NPOs) have been retrenched.
The ACDP is aware of the tremendous anxiety caused by a lack of funds necessary to intervene where children and families are at risk or in crisis. And, like other stakeholders, we are daring to hope that the allocation will make a significant difference in many lives. Hon Minister, will the department be able to hold provinces accountable in ensuring that funds go where they are actually meant to go?
A major concern for the ACDP and, indeed, the country are statistics showing that there is a crisis in adoptions in South Africa. The Actuarial Society of SA estimates that by 2015 there will be 3,5 million more orphans in South Africa, taking the number to a staggering 5,5 million orphans and, yet, at the same time, fewer orphans are being adopted.
Hon Minister, there are those who see the department as part of the problem as adoptions are being overcontrolled, causing serious delays at a high cost to the best interests of many children. Section 239(1)(d) of the Children's Act stipulates that the report of the social worker must be accompanied by a letter from the provincial head of department recommending the adoption. But in practice the department's scrutiny of the report can lead to a six-month delay in the process, preventing a needy child from being in the arms of a loving parent.
Hon Minister, what can and is the department doing to rectify this situation and ensure that delays and processes do not cause suitable parents to be disqualified or dissuaded? Would the Minister consider amending section 239 of the Act, to eliminate the unnecessary blockages hindering and discouraging adoptions?
The ACDP is pleased to see the department's focus on early childhood development, ECD. Nongovernmental organisations say that thousands of toddlers and children in our nation are in informal ECD centres that need to be put firmly on the radar of the Department of Social Development, the Department of Home Affairs, and municipalities, which is not the case at present.
A more inclusive approach is necessary. Informal, unregistered centres are where most children are in care, and they need to be incrementally supported and assisted. Formal registration and related formal processes are beyond their reach. They need a range of support, including training and materials of course, but also infrastructural improvements like sanitation, fencing, water supply and often even shelter.
Hon Minister, the ACDP implores you and your department to adopt a different, more incremental and more inclusive approach, ensuring co-ordination and participation between all relevant departments.
Lastly, the ACDP would like to acknowledge the work done previously by Social Development with regard to recognising the importance of family, and notes with appreciation that the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted a resolution on "Protection of the Family".
The ACDP, along with many others, has been concerned for the longest time that the importance of the family has been ignored by those drafting influential goals that will determine the UN's budget and actions and, to some degree, South Africa's. We will be supporting this budget. Thank you.
[Applause.]
Mr S P MABILO /Mosa (English & Sesotho)/
Mrs C DUDLEY
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 7
Mr S P MABILO: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members of the House and distinguished guests, good morning. The ANC government's position on early childhood development is a developmental approach emphasising the need for the universal access and strengthening of the capacity of the state to deliver quality, affordable and sustainable ECD services.
There is no doubt that early childhood development plays an important role in developing the basic cognitive skills for the future successful learning of the child. Research proves that children who have undergone ECD stand a better chance to progress in later years. Therefore, ECD remains the basic foundation for learning. Furthermore, research shows that a high dropout rate and failure in grades have a direct link to a lack of access to ECD in the formative years of the child. The National Development Plan: Vision 2030 prioritises ECD and clearly identifies the areas to be focused on.
What is to be done to take the ECD sector forward? Firstly, it requires government to address the co-ordination weaknesses and institutional framework of ECD, and it requires government to clarify the roles and responsibilities between national, provincial and local government, as well as NGOs and the private sector. Secondly, we need to encourage innovation in the way early childhood development services are delivered. How can home-, community- and centre-based programmes be expanded? Thirdly, state funding for early childhood development should be improved. Funding the programmes and services at an appropriate level is key.
In addition, adherence to norms and standards for ECD will facilitate the provision of a quality service to children. Finally, there should be investment in the training of ECD practitioners and upgrading of their qualifications and careers. One training package will not cater to the range of needs of children. Therefore, we need a tiered-up or a step training system which caters for the needs of ECD workers with little or no basic education to a mid-level training level and through to tertiary-level training.
Three initiatives pertaining to ECD took place in 2011-12, namely the review of the National Integrated Plan for Early Childhood Development, the Diagnostic Review of Early Childhood Development and the Early Childhood Development Conference. The aim of the set processes was to review ECD service provisioning, co-ordination and implementation in terms of children in the birth to the four years of age cohort in South Africa.
The ECD programme was identified as one of the apex priorities that were indicated by the government as areas that need special strategies and additional funding. The national Integrated Early Childhood Development Programme of Action: Moving Ahead 2013 to 2018 addresses some of these challenges through the proposed 10-point agenda for ECD in South Africa. The challenges were identified as follows: develop a new ECD policy framework that will provide a legal basis for the state to fully support; define service packages for various age groups; establish an effective service delivery model that is based on state support for a strong cadre of community workers from health, social development and the NGO community; the service delivery model should adopt a range of mechanisms for reaching young children, including, but not limited to, home-based, community-based and centre-based mechanisms; establish a central agency or mechanism to provide leadership and to ensure adequate regulation, capacity development, funding and co-ordination; establish funding norms and standards for differentiated services and models; develop and implement an integrated infrastructure policy strategy; develop and implement an advocacy communication and social mobilisation strategy.
In conclusion, thousands of our children who were previously excluded from ECD now have access to it. The ANC supports the Budget Vote. Thank you, Chair. [Applause.]
Me K DE KOCK
Mr S P MABILO
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 7
Afrikaans:
Me K DE KOCK: Voorsitter, agb Minister en Adjunkminister van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling, agb Voorsitter van die Portefeuljekomitee oor Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling, agb lede, dames en here, dit is vandag vir my 'n groot voorreg om te kan deelneem aan hierdie jaar se begrotingsposdebat.
Die begroting van die Departement van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling raak verskeie kwessies aan wat my na aan die hart lê. Dit sluit in die rol van maatskaplike werkers en nie-regeringsorganisasies, NRO's, veral ten opsigte van middelmisbruik en gesinsgeweld en hoe hierdie aspekte inskakel by die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan.
Die visie van die departement is om 'n omgee-samelewing te skep, een waar alle Suid-Afrikaners geïntegreerde maatskaplike ontwikkelingsdienste kan bekom. Dit is soortgelyk aan die visie van die DA van 'n oopgeleentheidsamelewing vir almal waarin almal die geleentheid het om te word dit wat hulle as waardevol beskou. Beide hierdie visies onderskryf dit wat die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan onderskryf – dat die departement mense teen armoede moet beskerm, maar ook uiteindelik uit armoede lig.
English:
In order to protect South Africans from poverty, the department has allocated approximately R120 billion to social grants. This constitutes 95% of this department's budget, and it is an initiative that the DA supports because it is a constitutional imperative. However, this leaves a mere 5% of the budget for rendering social services other than the distribution of grants. This is problematic because the role of the department is not only to protect people; it is to actually release people from poverty.
Having said that, this does not mean that the department should engage in employment-generating projects. Way too much money is spent on such projects, and they often fail because this department does not have the capacity and the expertise. They are best dealt with by departments within the Economic Cluster in partnership with the private sector. The role of this department is to provide a safety net and to address the issues that hamper people from accessing the economic opportunities that are presented to them. Currently, in this country there are two – we are all politicians; we all go to the rural areas – substance abuse and domestic violence.
Afrikaans:
Alkoholmisbruik en gesinsgeweld is komplekse probleme, en ons is dit verskuldig aan mense wat daardeur geraak word om 'n professionele diens te kan bekom.
English:
The DA notes the construction of four new rehabilitation centres across the country, and we are aware of the millions of rand that is being spent on scholarships for social workers. But if we are really serious about domestic violence, if we are really serious about substance abuse, the Minister must critically examine the relationship this department has with formal NGOs. Currently, this relationship is strained, and this negatively impacts the availability of social workers, particularly in rural areas.
One of the reasons this relationship is strained is because there is a discourse in this country that states that formal NGOs are racially untransformed and that they push their own agendas. Therefore, there is a funding bias towards community-based organisations, CBOs. There is nothing wrong with funding CBOs, but often the unintended consequences are unaccountability and a lack of professional service. We would like to see an increase in funding for formal NGOs, and this should be relatively easy to achieve – maybe not in this term but in the next financial year. As the economy grows and more and more young South Africans become employed, we should see a reduction in the number of people who are dependent on grants and an increase in the amount of money that we can spend on social services other than social grants. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mrs B L ABRAHAMS/Mia
Ms K DE KOCK
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 8
Mrs B L ABRAHAMS: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Ministers, hon members and guests in the gallery, social crime is not just a South African challenge, but a worldwide challenge. Substance abuse is very rife in all our communities. Substance abuse knows no colour, creed, race or gender. It affects all of us. We need to work together to move South Africa forward in combating substance abuse within our neighbourhoods and our communities.
The ANC Youth League, as a huge wing of the ANC, resolved at its 23rd national congress that it would support and be part of a campaign aimed at educating the youth about the dangers of substance abuse. This includes supporting the Department of Social Development's Ke Moja Campaign by ensuring that it filters down to all levels of society and reaches a wider audience. In working together with nongovernmental organisations and community-based organisations, the government is working with all these people in our communities.
Any intervention must involve all sectors of the community, as was done in Eldorado Park. The government's intervention to rid the area of the scourge of drug abuse changed the lives of the people of Eldorado Park.
President Jacob Zuma set up a steering committee, including the then Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and former Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, to begin intensified law enforcement in Eldorado Park. [Applause.] An integrated special intervention team, which included the Police Tactical Response Team, the flying squad and provincial officers, was dispatched to the area to increase visibility and hunt down drug dealers. During this operation, there were vehicle checkpoints, stop searches and visits to houses identified as those of alleged dealers and to lolly lounges.
This was a very successful operation in which a total of 1 400 drug-related arrests were made in the period following the President's visit. A lot was achieved during this operation. We need more of these types of operations on a sustainable and continued basis as they build communities into drug-free ones.
This operation was undertaken not just in Eldorado Park but also in eight other provinces. This operation was roped in to participate in the implementation of the programme, as part of the experience, the learning and the rationale behind the challenges we faced in Eldorado Park and experience throughout South Africa and elsewhere.
The Ke Moja buses programme has been successfully launched. This programme includes a parenting skills programme, the Bright Star programme, the Addicted for Change programme and the removal of graffiti.
Counselling and the Ke Moja buses will improve accessibility to social work services and interventions intended to benefit the youth of Eldorado Park. Youth facilitators will engage the youth in empowering them with social skills and educating them about the negative effects of drug abuse and alcohol. As a country, we need to continually explore better ways of ensuring access to treatment by building additional centres.
Gender-based violence, especially threats directed at women and children such as sexual and domestic violence, remains a serious regional and global human security concern. A South African study of survivors of gender-based abuse showed that just under a third of women went to the police despite the fact that 89% of these women felt that what was done to them was a crime. The elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and children is a serious concern. Though the country has been commended for its robust legislative framework to address the scourge of violence against women and children, there remains an urgent need for intersectoral interventions to prevent and respond to this scourge of violence.
Violence against children cuts across boundaries of geography, race, class, religion and culture. It occurs in homes, schools and streets, in places of work and entertainment and in care and detention centres. Perpetrators include parents, family members, teachers, caretakers, law enforcement authorities and other children too. Some children are particularly vulnerable owing to gender, race, ethnic origin, disability or social status. And no country is immune, whether rich or poor.
Children in South Africa live in a society with a Constitution that has the highest regard for their rights and for the equality and dignity of everyone. Protecting children from violence, exploitation and abuse is not only a basic value but also an obligation.
In the state of the nation address, the President declared 2014 as the year of the disabled. We need to improve the public transport system, especially the train system. People with disabilities cannot access trains as easily as they would like to because there are no ramps. In some instances, there are only staircase bridges that don't allow them to cross the railway line. We need to do a countrywide assessment of disabled people to assess their levels of disability. Hon Minister, we cannot have a one-size-fits-all approach, as no two disabled people are the same. We need to create opportunities for disabled people to be independent and not interdependent.
I would like to quote our former President Nelson Mandela when he said:
Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear.
The ANC supports this budget. Thank you. [Applause.]
Ms V P MOGOTSI
Mrs B L ABRAHAMS
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 8
Ms V P MOGOTSI: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, the Social Development family, which is where I come from before I came to Parliament, and our guests, I would like to refer to what you just said, Deputy Minister, as it empowers me. I am a mother of a child with a learning disability. Therefore, I am on the right committee to assist these kids. [Applause.]
As an Member of Parliament of the ANC, I rise to support Budget Vote No 19. Together we are moving South Africa forward ... [Applause.] ... as we declared in our 2014 election manifesto. Our strategic goal is to create a national democratic society in which everyone shall live in peace and harmony. Not only is such a society necessary to realise our objective of a better life for all, but it is also possible from a scientific basis.
My speech today is based on the scientific foundation of what Marx and Lenin said in 1818: that you cannot base politics on assumptions, but you must use science to determine where you are going. [Applause.] So, this is the story that I will tell. I am guided by the revolutionary and democratic programme of the Freedom Charter that said: There shall be houses, security and comfort. In terms of this objective of the Freedom Charter it says, "The aged, the orphans, the disabled and the sick shall be cared for by the state." So, there is nothing wrong with what the ANC is doing; we are implementing our mandate. [Applause.]
Furthermore, social assistance grants are one way in which government gives people access to social security, which is a right guaranteed in the Constitution of South Africa.
Over the past 20 years of building a nonracial, nonsexist, democratic, prosperous and caring inclusive society, the Department of Social Development, like other departments, created under our democracy to drive the democratic mandate of the masses of our country, has done enormously well in fulfilling the obligations of uplifting the plight of the poor and the people of South Africa. [Applause.] These great achievements have been felt in every corner and in all spheres of government and our society. Indeed, the Department of Social Development, the SA Social Security Agency and the National Development Agency have a good story to tell to our people.
Why do I say so? The South African Constitution guarantees the rights of all citizens to have access to social assistance. In the last 20 years, the number of people receiving social grants increased from 3 million to 16 million, benefiting the elderly, children and veterans, as stated in the 2014 ANC election manifesto. I think my task is to educate what social service assistance is all about and not to talk about things that you do not know about. [Interjections.]
The South African government accepts that it has a responsibility to take care of people who cannot take care of themselves. When people are very young, sick, old or injured or cannot look after themselves, then government will provide social support where possible. This kind of support is called social assistance. South Africa has six types of grants.
To begin with, we have the child support grant, which was confirmed through research. It is not just a myth, as a study was conducted on the need for a child support grant. The study was conducted to promote human capital investment, improve gender outcomes and reduce inequalities with regard to kids. The child support grant has benefited 11 million beneficiaries, as compared to 30 000 previously. We also have the foster care grant and the old age grant.
One needs to emphasise Sassa. I want to say to our committee - I want to address the members of the DA and EFF - we said that there are policies, which are still under discussion that will be reviewed. I am a new member of this Parliament. Even though I have only attended two committee meetings, a guarantee was taken in the committee that we would review the issue of social grants. The ANC listened when Sassa was taken to the Gauteng High Court on the issue of grants. As a result, the grants are going to be paid to all children, irrespective of their situation. This is what the High Court said, and Sassa is going to implement that.
In conclusion, the ANC wishes the department well in its plan and the implementation and translation of this mandate. Let us take South Africa forward, together with the Millennium Development Goals of 2015. Amandla! [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Mr E R WILSON / AZM MNGUNI/src
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 9
Ms V P MOGOTSI
Ms E R WILSON: Chair, hon Minister, Members of the Fifth Parliament, Deputy Ministers, fellow South Africans, it is much harder for children who are born into poverty or disadvantage or whose family structures have collapsed to use their talents and and seize opportunities later in life. That is why the DA believes the state has a duty to ensure that all people have equal access to opportunities and that they are all equipped with the tools they need to use those opportunities. This must start from childhood.
There are 2,8 million households vulnerable to hunger, 72% of which are in rural areas. Over a third of very young children do not get enough food and nutrition, which affects their growth, health, cognitive development and full participation in society. Nowhere is this more evident than in South Africa's poor schooling outcomes and low skills base. Early childhood development, ECD, is critical in addressing these concerns.
The success of the next generation is dependent on the decisions of this government and this department, made now. The Department of Social Development has continually talked about the plans to improve the quality of ECD. We hear, yet again, Minister, that this department will develop and implement an ECD policy. In the diagnostic review of the ECD presented to this committee in March of 2013, recommendations were made that policy and legislation must be addressed to ensure that ECD services are adequately resourced and provided. What progress has been made?
In the same meeting it was reported that this committee would implement a national plan of action. In the 10 points of the plan that it would implement, priority would be given to develop a new ECD policy that would provide the legal basis to fully support a defined set of critical ECD services and universal access to ECD centres.
Hon Minister, the time for talking is over. Plans must be implemented now in order to give the current young generation a reasonable future. The National Development Plan makes it compulsory that every child under the age of five should have access to ECD services. We are a long way from meeting that priority.
While the National Development Agency, NDA, plans to focus on infrastructure upgrading and capacity-building, this is old news. Oversight is seriously lacking in this department. Visits in recent weeks to some community-based ECD centres have revealed that there are centres that are more detrimental to the health and safety of young children than they are a benefit. Infrastructure is collapsing or nonexistent. Many do not have access to running water, toilets, even the basics. There are no cooking facilities, nothing in the way of stimulation materials or adequate playing facilities.
Qualifications of caregivers were seriously questionable and several could not advise when last a social worker or a representative of the Department of the Social Development had even visited.
Plans by the NDA to improve 375 ECD sites over the next five years translate to 77 per year. This is not acceptable. Which sites are prioritised and when, and at what cost? This is unclear. What progress has been made by the Department of Social Development and the NDA as a collective, and where does the accountability lie? There is a serious lack of integration between the agency's performance targets and the Department of Social Development mandate.
Hon Minister, we call upon you to address this lack of convergence between the NDA and the Department of Social Development. There is no co-ordination with regards to proposals and points of departure in several areas, including early childhood development, which has resulted in confusion, ineffective management and the collapse of essential services to communities.
Minister let us forget about Jan van Riebeeck. This ... [Interjections.]
Hon MEMBERS: Why?
Ms E R WILSON: This government has had 20 years ... [Interjections.] You have had 20 years to address and rectify the unfortunate legacies of the past. We still face ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Order! Order, hon members! Order! Order, hon members!
Ms E R WILSON: We still face corruption, inefficiency and ineptitude ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Let the member complete her speech. Order, hon members!
Ms E R WILSON: Jan van Riebeeck's alleged corruption does not justify the corruption and mismanagement of this ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Your time is up, hon member.
Ms E R WILSON: Let us stop making excuses for poor performance. [Applause.]
Hon MEMBERS: Viva!
Ms H H MALGAS
Ms E R WILSON
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 9
Ms H H MALGAS: Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, Members of Parliament, ladies and gentlemen, when it comes to certain issues that were brought up by the opposition in this august House, I need to educate members about the fact that our committee is an extension of Parliament.
Many of the questions that are brought up were discussed in our committee meetings and members were just taking out what the department gave us. I even have departmental documentary proof about the tender on which the department was taken to court. They explained those things to us.
Even when it comes to foster grants, the department explained this to us and spoke to the policies that they have in place. So I feel that they should use that platform because the chairperson is very open and she allows everyone to speak. When it comes to the EFF: Win the elections, then you can be able to implement your manifesto. [Interjections.] When it comes to food parcels and blankets, that's an old story that is always being brought up. You know in our communities people say in Afrikaans:
Afrikaans:
Kos pakette en die kombersies is nou geregtig om te stem. Maar die storie is so oud.
English:
The story is so old, they can vote already. So, don't worry about these things, Minister, because there are criteria in place.
It gives me great pleasure, and I am also humbled at the same time, to participate in this debate in which all the members of the ANC have attested to the good story the ANC can tell. And we spoke about our own challenges as we were telling our good story. The ANC members who spoke before me have already spoken on the core mandate of the department because they spoke to each programme – on how the chairperson, the study group and I worked.
We know that when it comes to the core function of the department, this is a constitutional imperative. There are quite a lot of added pieces of legislation which tell the department to provide access to appropriate and comprehensive social assistance.
Now we have our opposition parties which single out only the issue of grants. They don't speak about the comprehensive service that this department offers to our people. And when it comes to that, we say, the services offered to our people are for the most vulnerable within our society.
The department itself gives the appropriate care, which includes basic nutrition, shelter and health care - because it uses an integrated approach. The social services – which I normally refer to as a basket of services – are given to children, including the youth and people with disabilities. So, let us not just speak to grants. This is a basket of services.
According to the Freedom Charter of the Congress - and I am speaking about the true congress of 1955 – South Africa belongs to all who lives in it, black and white. When it comes to South Africa, which also includes the Western Cape, it is governed by the ANC. [Applause.] South Africa, including the Western Cape, belongs to the ANC. [Applause.] The Minister sitting there, who is our Minister, is an ANC member. She is in charge of the whole of South Africa and not only of eight provinces, but of all nine provinces.
Regarding the introduction of the Mangaung resolutions - in order to enhance that statement - South Africa belongs to all who live in it. The goal of the ANC, as outlined in the Strategy and Tactics of 2007, states:
Out strategy for social transformation must seek to empower people to lift themselves out of poverty while creating adequate social nets to protect the most vulnerable in our society.
Therefore, in concluding the above point, our goal as ANC members to realise our objectives within the Strategy and Tactics document is our oversight function to ensure that the ANC-led government of South Africa - not leaving out any provinces, hence I say the government of South Africa – implements a comprehensive programme, not only of grants, but a programme that focuses on the triple challenges faced by the most vulnerable persons in our society, a comprehensive programme which also addresses the challenges of poverty, inequality and underdevelopment.
I am speaking again on the triple challenges - which are advancing and defending the human rights embraced in the Bill of Rights in our Constitution. The hon Mama Xaba spoke so ably to it when she gave that political background. She put everything – when it comes to social development – into context.
But I wouldn't like to be a prophet of gloom and doom, because significant strides have been made in fighting poverty. An impact study was done and when it came to our past recessions – because we had to do this impact study as Social Development – there was proof that our most vulnerable people during that period were protected by the social net in the form of grants and other social services rendered by this department. And I must applaud the Minister and her department for doing such wonderful work.
I am not going to speak further now to the opposition, but look at my speech itself. [Interjections.] Don't worry, don't worry. Minister, when it came to our oversight function, there were a few observations which we put into our recommendations to you and there is only one resolution. This is because my speech covers the oversight. There were challenges that we were worried about and these include a movement which resulted in your getting a new department.
This is because even if funds follow functions, it's going to impact on your budget. We will have to look at your budget when it comes to the annual report in September so that we could see how to work on it. In terms of the loose arrangements, when it comes to sister departments: tie them up because they are helping this department with the work. We in the committee and the ANC support this budget. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT /MS/NM-ed
TAKE ENDS AT 12:04
Ms H H MALGAS
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER
Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Take: 1
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Chairperson, firstly, let me thank my parents for attending this Budget Vote debate. Secondly, I wish to thank all members for their participation and more particularly those that support the Budget Vote.
Regarding our work on the Mikonzo programme, we are going to be mobilising as communities in order to promote social co-operatives and social entrepreneurs. This comes from what has happened in Brazil. It has been approved by Cabinet and we are moving forward with our work. We will be working to ensure that we implement this programme.
Also, regarding the issue of equal opportunities – forgetting about Van Riebeeck – makes me laugh. The issue of equal opportunities has confused our people a lot, because you can't talk about equal opportunities when you are not equal. What we are doing now is to uplift the quality of life of our people. Additionally, our people are not in control of the resources. What is important is for us to be able to control the resources on the ground, and then you can talk about equal opportunities, because we would then be competing on an equal basis. [Applause.]
We are told to forget about Van Riebeeck. Jews are still talking about the Holocaust today. Every year they remind us about the Holocaust. They don't stop talking about it. We can forgive, but forget – never. We would be committing a big mistake. [Applause.]
When it comes to the provision of services, I think the Western Cape is part of this. I want to report to this House that every time we come here social workers disappear. We have brought social workers from the head office to Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Langa, Valhalla, Delft, De Doorns, Atlantis, Heideveld, to mention but a few places. This says that there are people who want to behave as if the Western Cape is a country on its own. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
On a lighter note, the issue of the distribution of food parcels is always talked about when we are campaigning during the election period. As I am speaking, we have been to Delft – after the elections – Phalaborwa, eThekwini, Marikana ... we are going back there on Sunday. We are going to Mafikeng on the 18th, and the Deputy Minister will be in Titibe Village in Limpopo. So we are out there to ensure that we fight poverty.
IsiXhosa:
Bathi ngesintu indlala iza kugwetywa. [Kwaqh watywa.]
English:
Regarding the issue of early childhood development, the ruling party conference in Mangaung took a decision that ECD must be a public good. We are going to come up with legislation – firstly policy and legislation. Even so, we have been supporting ECD. That is why we started with the audit. We have equalised support for ECD centres. Moreover, we are going to be training ECD practitioners ... [Applause.] ... because we don't want to leave them behind; and, more particularly, because ECD centres are driven by women. They were an initiative of women, and during the struggle women knew that our children had to grow up under the correct conditions because they had to develop cognitively, emotionally, psychologically and all the issues you raised, hon member.
When it comes to the issue of nonprofit organisation funding, we are reviewing policy in 2019, but we are supporting NPOs, and, when it comes to child protection organisations, we are not going to stop supporting them, because they are not suitcase organisations. They are with the people on the ground. What we are going to do is train them, build capacity and incubate them so that they can provide the proper services.
The research that the hon Kopane talked about was done by us. So the recommendations that we are implementing come from us. The issue of universalisation, again, comes from the ruling party. It does not come from the DA. And, the pioneers of the campaign were the late Baba Mgojo and the committee on older persons. So, one should not the claim other people's victories. We will be implementing this in 2016. Thank you very much, Chairperson. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The Committee rose at 12:14.
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