Hansard: EPC: Unrevised hansard
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 09 May 2018
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY SESSION – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER WEDNESDAY, 9 MAY 2018
WEDNESDAY, 9 MAY 2018
PROCEEDINGS OF MINI-PLENARY SESSION – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Members of the mini-plenary session met in the Old Assembly Chamber at 16:19.
Mr M R Mdakane, as Chairperson, took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Vote No 17- Social Development:
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Hon Chairperson, hon Chairperson of the portfolio committee - hon Capa, hon Deputy Minister - Henrieta Bogopane-Zulu, distinguished guests, hon members, I would like to take this opportunity to pass my condolences to the Bangani family in Taiwan, Khayelitsha - an informal settlement in Cape Town - who lost eight family members in a fire earlier this week. This tragedy is a constant reminder
of the stubborn persistence of inadequate human settlements and access to land for the poor and the destitute. Together with the national Department of Human Settlements, we have intervened to meet the challenges faced by this family. We will assist in addressing their plight, including the provision of social workers and counselling. It is to this and other tragedies that we have a moral responsibility to respond in assisting our communities.
In April, as the ANC, we lost our mother - Winnie Madikizela Mandela - George Nene and Dr Zola Skweyiya, the former Minister of Social Development. It is also in April that we are reminded of the cruel murder of Comrade Chris Hani, the passing away of O R Tambo and the hanging of Solomon Mahlangu. These were struggle heroes who committed themselves to the cause of our freedom. The passing of Winnie Nomzamo Mandela left another void. May her soul rest in peace. Not only was she a fierce fighter of oppression for the emancipation of the downtrodden, but she was also the first black medical social worker primarily concerned with helping individuals, families, groups and communities to enhance their individual and collective wellbeing.
We also pay tribute to one of our own former Minister, Dr Zola Skweyiya, who also fell in April. In him South Africa had a committed visionary who appreciated the primacy of accountability and leadership. He instituted the Batho Pele principles which should continue to guide our service-delivery approach. Are we able today to attest to the commitment of public servants to these principles?
Dr Skweyiya was the Minister of Social Development for a period of 10 years. Amongst others, one of his legacies is the establishment of the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa – the largest social grants agency on the continent. It is through this agency that this government is paying social grants to 17,4 million beneficiaries, which represents 32% of our population. It is in remembrance of “buti” Zola that Sassa will ensure the achievement of his vision – the efficient and effective administration and delivery of social security to deserving beneficiaries. To his memory we commit to the upliftment of the downtrodden and the vulnerable amongst us.
We are also celebrating 100 years of the life of our icon Nelson Mandela. He embodied our struggle, and we are grateful of his leadership and the commitment he made to the cause of freedom we
all enjoy today. It was in 1995 at the UN World Summit for Social Development that former President Mandela cautioned:
“More often, however, the need to pursue the good of all has been subsumed under the narrow interest of the self or the corporate unit. The endless cycle then becomes: better circumstances for a few, precarious ones for many, and indeed, worse for the majority.”
We are also celebrating the 100th anniversary of the life of Mama Nontsikelelo Albertina Sisulu this year. She was an activist, a mother to many, and a fighter whose resilience outlived apartheid harassment and dehumanisation. She was a leader and a nurse – a profession that is diverse and combines compassion in its pursuit of individual wellbeing. Mama Sisulu started working in Johannesburg as a midwife, often walking to visit patients in townships. In her own words she said:
"You know what it means to be a midwife? You have got to carry a big suitcase full of bottles and for your lotions that you are going to use, and bowls and receivers, and we used to carry those suitcases on our heads."
Those of us who were born before modern technology can relate to the experience and commitment of these midwives, of which Mama Sisulu was one.
Chairperson, the Department of Social Development is well placed to translate the commitment of these fallen heroes to social justice through the preservation of dignity and the provision of social security in a manner that helps alleviate poverty and suffering.
Our programmes are structured to ensure South Africans are protected against vulnerability through provision of comprehensive, integrated and sustainable development services.
In his state of the nation address this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that public finances have been constrained, limiting the ability of government to expand its investment in economic and social development. We are therefore mindful of the economic challenges that confront us. We have taken measures to reduce the cost of living, especially for the poor. Government’s free basic services programme currently supports more than 3,5 million indigent households.
Today we are tabling the budget allocation for the 2018-19 financial year, which is a total of R173 billion. The money for this financial year is allocated across five programmes as follows: administration, R383 million; social assistance, R163 billion - a transfer payment to Sassa; social security policy and administration, R7,9 billion; welfare services, policy development and implementation support, R1,28 billion; and social policy and integrated service delivery, R392 million. The department also transfers R200 million to the National Development Agency.
I wish to underscore the fact that the department has received an unqualified audit for the financial years 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively. We will continue to strive to achieve clean audits for the remaining final years of this term.
Chairperson, in line with the National Development Plan for the balance of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, the department will focus on the following sector priorities: reforming the social welfare sector and services to deliver better results; improving the provision of Early Childhood Development; strengthening community development interventions; deepening social assistance and access to social security; and
strengthening co-ordination, integration, planning and monitoring and evaluation services.
We acknowledge that we are operating on a 2015 provisionally agreed structure. One of the primary tasks is to conclude restructuring in consultation with the Department of Public Service and Administration and National Treasury. We want to assure Parliament and the portfolio committee that we will be coming back in the near future with a proposed structure towards bringing stability to the department. Pending finalisation of the departmental structure, we have since frozen all appointments except the position of director-general, which has been advertised. We are committed to filling this vacancy in the shortest period possible to bring much more needed stability to the department.
When I took office on 26 February this year, I was confronted by the Sassa tender matter. This included the process of a tender for beneficiaries that receive their social assistance in cash. A cash tender was advertised by Sassa in January 2018. However, the tender has been suspended due to identified challenges in the process, and the suspension has been reported to the
Constitutional Court. A final decision on the status of the tender will be made in due course.
I want to assure you, hon Hlengwa, ...
IsiZulu:
... bazoboshwa makunenkinga.
I want to assure South Africans that we will comply with the Constitutional Court order to ensure that our beneficiaries continue to receive their social grants at all times.
Social grants were paid in April; they are being paid in May; and they will continue to be paid. [Applause.] We will fulfil this mandate because we are a caring government.
In 2013, the Constitutional Court ruled that the tender awarded to Cash Paymaster Services by Sassa was invalid. However, the court suspended the invalidity for a period of five years until 2017 when Sassa was expected to report to the Court on corrective measures. The five-year extension did not produce any desirable outcome. In the failure regarding corrective measures, the court granted a further extension of the Cash Paymaster Services
contract for the payment of social grants. The court further extended the suspension of the declaration of invalidity of the contract for a period of 12 months, which ended on 31 March 2018. Sassa further requested an extension of the contract in order to allow a phase-in-phase-out process for a period of six months, which the Court granted. Currently Sassa is working in partnership with the SA Post Office for a seamless card-swap as we demonstrated today - from Sassa into SA Post Office cards. The process of card-swap started in April this year at SA Post Office branches.
Allow me to deal with matters relating to the executive management of Sassa. On 09 April 2018, Ms Pearl Bengu, the former acting chief executive officer requested to be relieved from her secondment as acting chief executive officer – which I accepted. Ms Bengu is now reporting as regional-director for KwaZulu-Natal. On 23 April, I appointed Mr Abraham Mahlangu, currently employed as the chief information officer of Sassa, as the acting chief executive officer to bring stability. Cabinet also appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Comprehensive Social Assistance chaired by the Minister in the Presidency, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma. This committee plays an oversight role in ensuring that the department meets its obligations.
It is the responsibility of the Department of Social Development to provide social welfare services to the most vulnerable members of the society. We have set ourselves a strategic goal to achieve the following by 2019: strengthen social welfare service delivery through legislative and policy review; and promote, protect and empower persons with disabilities through the development and implementation of legislation, policies and programmes. The Deputy Minister will elaborate further on the empowerment of persons with disability, HIV and victim empowerment in her Budget speech today.
Integrated workforce planning has been a neglected area in the sector leading to poor planning, undefined work profiles, unco- ordinated training, recruitment, development and retention of the workforce. In response to all these challenges, the Department of Social Development conducted a national analysis of the geographic distribution and workload requirements of social service practitioners across all provinces. We are attending to challenges faced by social workers in the country. There are currently, 3 864 unemployed social work graduates while there remains a need for their services across various sectors. The department will continue to help explore opportunities for the absorption of these social workers into the workforce.
We recognise the critical role played by social work veterans in improving the image of social work and the profession and in providing mentorship to young social workers through supervision. We continue to rely on social work veterans in our responses to disasters at national and provincial levels. We will continue to engage their structures to improve our capacity to deliver services by working with other government departments such as Basic Education, Higher Education, Correctional Services and Health.
Early this year we had to respond to the trafficking of young children as young as two years old across our borders. We had to manage the repatriation of unaccompanied minors and undocumented children back to their countries of origin. The Children’s Act which came into operation in 2010 has been amended to clearly define adoption social workers and their responsibilities.
In October 2017, the department held a colloquium to address the lack of co-ordination amongst government departments and proper documentation of separated and unaccompanied migrant children, which prevents children from accessing their full human rights. In particular, the colloquium considered practical mechanisms to deal with migrant children from the point of arrival to
documentation, family tracing and procedures to return them to their country of origin. Further, the department conducted capacity-building exercises for social workers who have been identified by respective provinces to equip them with skills and competencies to make them ready to render adoption services.
The White Paper review process is informed by the principles and the agenda set in the National Development Plan, which provides a long-term vision for development and an agenda until 2030 for South Africa. This replaces the vision and agenda of the Reconstruction and Development Programme of the nineties. There is a need to reach consensus on what this vision and agenda means for social development in terms of the proposals put forward in the White Paper of 1997. Therefore, the new draft White Paper aims to clarify the concept of developmental social welfare that serves as an underlying concept for the White Paper’s proposals. The White Paper’s clarity of the concept of developmental social welfare is an important advancement that situated the problems of individuals, families and communities within South Africa’s unique socio-political context of institutional racism and socio- economic inequality.
The department has revised the draft White Paper on Social Development to affirm the principles of our social developmental approach. In this framework, developmental social welfare is measured by elements such as the promotion of human rights, the use of partnerships to deliver services, and the integration of socio-economic programmes to improve service delivery. It is our commitment to finalise this during this year.
In his state of the nation address, the President reminded us that breaking the cycle of poverty requires us to prioritise the education of children of the poor. In this regard, government is committed to the attainment of universal access to Early Childhood Development for all children in South Africa by 2030. Early Childhood Development programmes will continue to support the holistic development of young children underpinned by a strong co-ordinating mechanism. The capacity to deliver Early Childhood Development services and programmes is being strengthened through the development of a human resource capital.
In 2017-18, the department was allocated R319 million, of which R250 million was allocated for subsidy to 53 650 children.
Further, an amount of R70 million was allocated for maintenance, and 459 centres benefitted.
Lucrative profits derived from the drug and substance trade encourage criminal activities in our communities. I have met with the National Drug Authority, and we have agreed to work together on the Integrated Anti-substance Abuse Programmes towards creating a society free of demands and supply of drugs. The Deputy Minister will elaborate on this matter.
We are responding to the President’s call of encouraging our social partners to collaborate in building a social compact on which we will create drivers of economic growth. In this regard, we will convene a social sector summit during the cause of this year to engage on solutions towards addressing the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment.
We are reviewing the Nonprofit Organisations Act of 1997 to ensure that nonprofit organisations are able to execute their mandate. This would also ensure compliance with the requirements of good governance. The register increased from 172 429 in 2016- 17, and we currently have 188 548 nonprofit organisations in our register. We will continue to monitor the use of nonprofit organisations to ensure good governance and compliance with the Nonprofit Organisations Act.
We will also implement a revised funding policy for nonprofit organisations. This is part of government’s national antiterrorism strategy. Together with our partners, we will continue our efforts to respond to the challenges related to organisations working in the areas of human and drug trafficking.
Through our programmes, we are responding to the most devastating drought which has severely impacted on our economy, social services and agricultural production. The most affected provinces are the Western Cape, Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of South Africa’s White Paper on Population Policy. During the past twenty years great strides have been made towards the achievement of sustainable human development, which is the central objective of the policy, especially through social development and health services, and enrolment in basic education. The department will complete a comprehensive progress review of the policy this year. This will lead to the convening of a national conference on migration and urbanisation by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Population Policy with all three spheres of government. This conference will lay the basis for improved data and information on the movement of people in the country.
As part of population development, we will continue our work in strengthening sexual and reproductive health, rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women.
May I take this opportunity to thank the senior management team
of the department, Sassa and the National Development Agency led by the acting director-general, the acting chief executive officer, the executives of Sassa and the chief executive officer of the National Development Agency. May I also humbly thank my Deputy Minister for the continuous support and assistance – what she took me through as I started this particular journey. [Applause.]
In conclusion, I once again wish to assure all South Africans that this government will ensure that all beneficiaries of our
social grants programme are paid the right social grant, at the right time and to the right person at all times. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms R N CAPA: Hon Chairperson, hon members of the House and hon guests...
IsiXhosa:
... mandibulise kakhulu phaya kumaqobo namaqobokazana ahleli phezulu phaya. Mandiphinde ndibulise ngakumbi kubantu baseMzantsi Afrika abathi ixesha nexesha baziphe ithuba lokubukela umabonakude ukuze babone ukuba imisebenzi abayiyalezileyo iyenziwa kusini na. Ndiyanibulisa nonke ngale njikalanga.
English:
Hon Chair, this speech is dedicated to our late former Minister...
IsiXhosa:
... ubhuti Zola Sikweyiya, uLeta.
English:
He is described by many who spoke about him during the mourning period as had laid a sustainable foundation for the Department of Social Development which is a great legacy for our continent.
IsiXhosa:
Kuyafuneka ukuba sihlale sizikhumbuza ngelizwe elingakwaziyo ukuba linonelele (nurture) abona bantu bahluphekileyo nabantu aba ethe-ethe, abantu abadala nabo bakhubazekileyo bangakwaziyo ukuzenzelanto.
English:
The process of engagement with the Minister and the Ministry in the annual performance report process was characterised with great compliance. I must admit.
IsiXhosa:
Mandiyicacise into yokuba indlela esisebenze ngayo noMphathiswa kunye negqiza lakhe ekukhangeleni ukuba le misebenzi bebekade beyenza enikwa ingxelo ngeekota(quarterly reports) ibentle kakhulu. Besikhe saphumela ngaphandle kumaphondo sizama ukukhangela ukuba umsebenzi abawenzileyo unjani. Zibuyile ngoku ezo ngxelo zaze zayanyaniswa nemali echithiweyo kunye nemali esaza kuchithwa. Kuye kwacaciswa namanyathelo aza kuthatyathwa
ukuba imali iye yachithwa gwenxa ngabantu ababekelwe ukuchitha imali. Sikwazile ngoku ukuba sidakance phambi kwale Ndlu olu hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali.
English:
The report gives us a lot of information about what has been done and what has not been done. Target met and target not met.
IsiXhosa:
Ndiyafuna ukutsho Mphathiswa, ngentlonipho enkulu ukuba sikwazile ukuphawula izinto esicinga ukuba aziyonwabisanga ikomiti. Enye yazo ibe yileyo othe wayichaphazela xa besisenza lo msebenzi kaSassa. Kufuneka siyazi ukususela ngoku ukuba lo mcimbi kaSassa kumele uphathwe ngezandla ezintle njengoko sele etshilo uMphathiswa. Siqinisekile ukuba iGosa eliyiNtloko loLawulo likulungele ukusebenza kakuhle lincede abantu bakowethu abadala nabantu abaxhomekeke kweli sebe.
Utata uSikweyiya wathabatha ixesha wathetha nani kuquka nekhabhinethi ngokubaluleka kweli qumrhu linguSassa. UVusi umfo kaMadontsela nobenguMlawuli Jikelele weSebe loPhuhliso loLuntu uhambisa athi:
English:
For Dr Sikweyiya, the acid test for development of any in a nation is how that nation takes care of its most vulnerable in a society being the children, elderly and those who live with disabilities. [Applause.] What also is cherished in Dr Sikweyiya’s legacy is the fact that he built the Department of Social Development into a formidable social policy engine and set out to produce the social assistance system which is regarded as one of the most important policy development in the country since the dawn of our freedom given its contribution in alleviating poverty.
IsiXhosa:
Kuyafuneka ukuba siyiqwalasele kwaye siyazi into yokuba kwafika uSikweyiya ukuze lo mahluko ubonakale. Masikhumbule ukuba le nto yenziwa leli sebe kuthiwa yikota igama layo.(ipeyi). Yikota kuba kaloku yayifunyanwa ngekota kuphela. Kunamhlanje kuphela apho ifunyanwa inyanga nenyanga. [Kwaqhwatywa.] Singamncoma utata uSikweyiya ukuba ekwazile ukuqinisekisa ukuba abantu boMzantsi Afrika bayavuma ukuba malibekhona eli qumrhu linguSassa kwaye nekhabhinethi katata uThabo Mbeki yaye yavuma ukuba libekhona.
Kumele ukuba uSassa lo abenayo ingxaki kuba xa abantu bemjonga babona nje ukutya kwabantu okubekwe elubala kusithiwa kokwabantu abahlelelekileyo. Baye bafune ukuba bazithaphulele nabo kwesi sitha. Kungoko ke uSassa ephuma ezinkundlelni zamatyala kwaye uza kwazi ukuba aziphathe ngokwakhe njenge qumrhu elikwaziyo ukuphatha imicimbi yabantu abakhulu. [Kwaqhwatywa.] UGqirha Sikweyiya ukwazile ukuba aququzelele...
English:
... and commissioned a study on early childhood development management, ECD...
IsiXhosa:
... le sililisela ngayo namhlanje. Akakho ke omnye umntu wayo ngaphandle kukaSikweyiya. Lilifa awasishiya nalo elo kwaye lilifa lombutho wakhe i-ANC.
Ukuba uSassa uyakwazi ukuphuma ezinkundlelni zamatyala loo nto ithetha ukuba isebe liza kuba nethuba lokuqwalasela imisebenzi yoonontlalo-ntle siyeke ukwenza umsebenzi ongengowethu wokwamkelisa abantu. Umsebenzi woonontlalo-ntle ubalulekile kwaye sinqwenela ukuba nisixhase nonke kule Ndlu ukuze uMphathiswa ayinikwe le mali nguMphathiswa wezeMali yokuqasha oonontlalo-ntle
ukuze babekhona kwiindawo ezihlala kuzo, ezilalini, ezilokishini nasezidolophini. Ayikho enye indlela esiya kuthi siphume ngayo...
English:
... from social ills until South Africa realise that social problems need professional social workers.
IsiXhosa:
Undincede bawo uHlengwa undixhase kule nto yokuba uMphathiswa makayinikwe le mali. [Kwahlekwa.]
English:
Hon Chair, I want to praise the department for actually deciding to reduce the study bursary for our social workers and rather use that amount to employ and absorb more.
IsiXhosa:
Ndiyalincoma inyathelo lokuba babebaninzi abantu abafundele ukuba babengonontlalontle nangona bengagqibelelanga. Loo nto kodwa ayinako nakancinci ukuyithatha indawo kanontlalo-ntle ogqibeleleyo ezifundweni, utsho utata uSikweyiya. Utata uSikweyiya uyindoda ekwaziyo ukucinga ngokuzikisa kuba uyindoda ekhulele ezilalini kwaye uyayazi intlungu yokuthathelwa umhlaba
nokuxuthelwa izinto obuzithanda. Yiyo loo nto wabona ukuba makubekho indlela yokutyiswa kwabantwana. Sakuyikhumbula into yokuba isiBonelelo sabaNtwana sitsha apha eMzantsi Afrika kwaye asikho nakwamanye amazwe. Abantu bamanye amazwe akufutshane njengooMozambique, Lesotho nooSwaziland bayeza qho ngexesha lepeyi kuba ayikho kumazwe abo kwaye banamakhadi kaSassa.
Kuyafuneka ukuba nincome xa izinto zisenziwa kakuhle lilizwe lenu. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
English:
It is important that once upon a time, in your lifetime as Members of Parliament, when you have done very well in terms of having a Child Support Grant to pat yourself on the back and say during my time we have done it and stop being always negative over things that you can sort out.
IsiXhosa:
Ndithetha ngokuba abanye abantu babanengxaki yokuba xa abantu bathe balingana akululanga ukufumana iivoti. Sanukubanengxaki kuba kaloku xa kulingwana kuxa iivoti ziza kufumaneka kakhulu. Ndiyabulela ngethuba lenu kodwa sinqwenela kakhulu ukuba kungabikho mntu oza kubanentlungu kolu tshintsho. Siza kuqhuba kakuhle ukusuka kuSassa ukuya eziposini kwaye loo nto iya kuzala
ibhanki yesizwe. Sinqwenela nokuba amayeza ahanjiswe ngeeposi kuba ziza kube ziphuculwe. Enkosi kakhulu. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
Ms B S MASANGO: Thank you, Chairperson. We are at a very critical stage in the life of the South African Social Security Agency, SASSA, with what we hope to be the last portion of grants paid by Cash Paymaster Services, CPS.
This annual Performance Plan budget vote debate coincides with a change of Ministers in the Department of Social Development, which has a direct impact on the state of the department and its entities.
If the latest meetings we have had with the new Minister, Minister Susan Shabangu, are anything to go by, SA and especially the 17 million grant beneficiaries may just have their dignity restored.
It has been refreshing to listen to a Minister who seems to be upfront, transparent and in touch with the real issues that affect the poor and the vulnerable. We are cautiously excited to work with Minister Shabangu.
It is unfortunate though, that the Minister has walked into a department where key and critical positions are filled in an acting capacity, which includes the department’s director- general, as the Minister has already said.
The entity that is responsible for the disbursement of over R151 billion per year does not have a CEO or a COO; seven of out nine regional executive managers are acting and a vacant post of corporate services executive manager has been acting since 2009.
It is thus not surprising that this agency, SASSA, is run by the Constitutional Court, the Inter-Ministerial Committee, IMC, when you think of it – they are running it. At a risk of sounding like a prophet of doom, Chairperson, the other parts of the department are teetering on the verge of collapse.
The NGOs, to whom the department refers as the key partners for social development, are paid late or not paid at all. The department’s offices in especially rural provinces operate from caravans since the 1990s.
Workers pleas for the better working conditions fall on deaf ears! This is the department which should be leading in ensuring
that social workers are deployed to alleviate the high levels of vulnerability in our society. These social workers are unemployed and sitting at home or work at till in supermarkets while their demand is skyrocketing both in government and the NGO sector.
The Minister has her work cut out in this department and we stand ready to work with her to ensure oversight takes place.
During the previous Minister of Social Development’s tenure, whom we had dubbed “Dodging Dlamini,” the DA called for the intervention of Treasury for a full Parliamentary Inquiry into the relationship between CPS and SASSA, including the bizarre payment of R316 million to CPS without following any proper procedures; the personal security for the previous Minister’s children; her spokesperson and her children, and the previous CEO security without valid thread analyses. Why the security services for the Minister were not paid or provided for by SAPS VIP; and her spokesperson and her children paid for by the department of Social Development; but they were paid for by SASSA!
It is disconcerting, Chairperson, how a Minister could get away with so much and how calls to hold her to account could repeatedly go unheeded!
The DA has made it clear; we will continue to explore every possible Parliamentary avenue to fight for the constitutional rights of the poor and vulnerable, as we have been doing.
We will, through the Parliamentary oversight mechanisms, hold the executive to account at every single turn. This is because as the DA we believe that we need to create one South Africa for all, poor and vulnerable and otherwise, especially for the people who are most vulnerable citizens in our society. Because as the DA, we believe that actions speak lauder than words.
The DA will ensure that all the poor and vulnerable South Africans, who are deserving of the Department of Social Development’s Services, have access to those services. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]
IsiXhosa:
Nksk N P SONTI: Sihlalo weNdlu, singumbutho we-EFF silikhaba ngawo omane olu hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali leSebe lezoPhuhliso loLuntu. Kubuhlungu ukuba sikhabe ucwangciso lokusetyenziswa kwemali yeli sebe kuba lisebe elibaluleke kakhulu kwimpilo yabantu ingakumbi kubantu abahluphekayo, iinkedama, amaxhego namaxhegwazana, abantu abakhubazekileyo nabantu abagulayo. Kule minyaka idlulileyo eli
sebe libonakalise ukungabinankathalo ngendlela emangalisayo. Siyibona iyinxaxheba yethu ukuba sitsho njalo ngalo nyaka kusweleke oyena mntu kumbutho ulawulayo wabonakalisa uthando nenkathalo enkulu kubantu abasokolayo, uGqirha Zola Sikweyiya. Kufuneka sikwazi ukuba sithethe phandle ngokungenamkhethe ngeengxaki ezijongene neli sebe.
Eyona nto iyakuhlala isisingqala kuthi kukuswela ingqiniseko ngendlela eli sebe elizimisele ukuhambisa ngazo izibonelelo kubantu abaxhomekeke kuzo. Isisithuko kubantu abangaphaya kwezigidi ezi-17 sokuba minyaka le kufuneka kubhinqelwe phezulu kuhanjwe iNkundla yoMgaqo-siseko kusiliwa inkampani yabelungu yase-America ekuthiwa yiCPS ukuba iphinde ihambise le mali.
Le nto yenzeka lo gama uBathabile noogxa bakhe bethetha ngonguqu yoqoqosho engqongqo. Le nto kubo ikukudlala nokukhwaza nje amagama besenza ingxolo ukuze bafihle ubuqhophololo obudlangileyo kweli sebe.
Mr P J MNGUNI: Chair, on a point of order, thank you for recognising me: In terms of the Rules, the hon member must refer to a member of this House in an appropriate manner.
IsiXhosa:
Ms N P SONTI: Uma Dlamini! Uma Dlamini! Esona sithuko sikhulu sesokuba abantu basoloko bengenangqiniseko yokuba izibonelelo ziza kuhlawulwa kusini na. Siyi-EFF sithi uMphathiswa omtsha uya kube wenze impazamo enkulu ukuba ufuna ukulandela ekhondweni likaMaDlamini. Eyona nto amele ukuba ayenze kukuqhawula isivumelwano nalaa CPS anikezele ngolu xanduva lokuhambisa ezi nkonzo kwiiposi. Ukuba ngaba sizimisele ukuyisiphula neengcambu indlala nokunqongophala kwemisebenzi, urhulumente kufanele ukuba adlale indima emmandla yokwenza ukuba iinkonzo zikarhulumente zihanjiswe ngurhulumente, hayi oonomgogwana beenkampani zoondlebe ezikhanyilanga abanyolukileyo.
Kwakhona, eli sebe libonakalisile ukungakwazi ukumelana nobuzaza bentsokolo beli lizwe, ingakumbi intsokolo ethi ijongane nabantu basetyhini, abantwana abangenabazali nemizi ekhokelwa ngabantwana kuba kungekho bani onokubanakekela. Le ngxaki iba nobuzaza kakhulu emaphandleni apho iinkonzo zeli sebe ziqhwalela ngamandla. Kukho amaxhego namaxhegwazana angenazo izazisi nanamhlanje, nto leyo eyenza ukuba kubenzima ukuxhamla kwimali yesibonelelo karhulumente.
Eli sebe alisebenzisani neSebe lemiCimbi yaseKhaya ukuqinisekisa ukuba nabani na onelungelo lokuba ngummi weli lizwe, unazo kusini na iincwadi zokuqinisekisa oko. Eyona nto ibuhlungu yeyokuba eli sebe aliqinisekisi ukuba abantu abadala abaxhatshazwa ngoomatshonisa abanyanzelisa ukuba bayithathe yonke imali yala maxhego namaxhegwazana ekupheleni kwenyanga. Abantu abadala ngoku baphela sebexhomekeke koomatshonisa ukuze baphile endaweni karhulumente.
Mphathiswa, ndicela ujonge indlela i-Arhente kaZwelonke yezoPhuhliso ukuba isebenza ngendlela eyiyo kusini na. Siyazazi iingxaki zentlupheko zeli lizwe ukuba azinakuze zisonjululwe leli sebe lodwa. Le arhente kufanele ukuba isebenzisane kakhulu nemibutho yokuhlala ukuze kwakhiwe izakhono zokulwa indlala nentlupheko kweli lizwe. Ukuza kuthi ga ngoku, le arhente ayikawenzi ngokuncomekayo lo msebenzi. Singumbutho we-EFF sithi asikwazi ukulwamkela olu hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali kuba aluzijonganga ezi ngxaki sithetha ngazo. Enkosi.
Ms L L VAN DER MERWE: Hon House Chairperson, I rise to first and foremost remember those who cannot speak for themselves today: the countless victims of gender based violence. Today, I remember
Anene Booysen, Reeva Steenkamp, Karabo Mokoena, Zolile Khumalo and the countless others who died just like them.
Women are not safe in their homes. Women are not safe on our streets. Women are not safe at work. Women are not safe. Women and children of this country are under siege. It is a travesty therefore that the Department of Social Development developed the Integrated Plan of Action to Fight Gender Based Violence in 2013 but then made no effort to see it succeed. I truly wonder what type of government would continue fail to prioritise the fight against gender based violence, knowledge that, for women and children, ours is one of the most dangerous countries to live in.
While the IFP welcomes recent statements emanating from the ruling party about Mduduzi Manana, it is clear that this perpetual women abuser is no longer fit to serve as a Member of Parliament and I hope that we will unite with one voice across the political divide to call for his urgent removal.
Our femicide crisis, like our rape crisis, and the crisis of violence against women and children, is not only a problem as you once labelled it Minister Shabangu, but it is a crisis and it should be treated as such.
Our activism and outrage can no longer be confined to funerals and the 16 Days of Activism campaign alone. It is time to act consistently. It is time to hold to account us all those who are failing our woman.
For far too long the Department of Social Development has been limping from one crisis to another, limping from a leadership crisis, to a credibility crisis, limping from a social worker crisis, to a social grant crisis and Limping, from one crisis to another, because those who were supposed to lead us were misleading us instead.
But where did it all go wrong? It was already back in 2013 when the Constitutional Court first ruled that the current contract South Africa Social Security Agency, SASSA, holds with the now notorious Cash Paymaster Services, is unlawful. Yet the former Minister of Social Development went about her business as though the Court order was nothing more than a till-slip from Checkers.
The only question that must still be answered is why former Minister Bathabile Dlamini defied the Constitutional Court in order to continue to do business with CPS, a company with dodgy business practises, fake BEE credentials, and a perpetual
tendency to steal from the most vulnerable. Was it because this dodgy deal needed to benefit the coffers of the ruling party? And hon Minister we know that you had to suspend the cash tender because that cash tender was to benefit CPS alone.
This question must be answered. The IFP seeks accountability for our grant recipients and to that end we will be submitting a complaint to the Public Protector asking her to investigate whether CPS and NET1 violated the human rights of grant recipients through its unethical business practises, while we will ask the National Consumer Commission to do the same_.
While solely focusing on the SASSA crisis it is being the plight of our other vulnerable citizens that have been forgotten. The NGOs and NPOs are underfunded. Shelters for women and children are underfunded. Social workers are underpaid and underappreciated. The child protection system prioritise its paper work over vital social work intervention that would save the lives of our children. This must be fixed.
In conclusion, you spoke very eloquently about the legacy of the ruling party. Your former Minister failed SASSA grant recipients. You failed the most vulnerable and that is the legacy of the ANC
Hon Minister Shabangu, you have a mammoth task to turn this department around. The IFP pledges its support. I thank you.
IsiZulu:
Usolwazi N M KHUBISA: Sihlalo ...
English:
We want to take this opportunity to thank you Chairperson and also to welcome the Minister in the new portfolio and also greet the Deputy Minister and other Ministers and Deputy Ministers present and hon members.
This Department bears the responsibility for the eradication of poverty and social protection of the poorest of the poor, the most vulnerable and the marginalised e.g. our children, senior citizen, veterans, those in foster care and the physically challenged, etc.
From its inception to date the department provided 17 million grants and the development of early childhood education is one of the mandates of this department. The department of Social Development, South Africa Social Agency, SASSA and the National development Agency NDA carried the mandate as enshrined in the
various pieces of legislation that govern the operation of Social Development.
This department has been in the news for bad reasons and that a critical department like this one had to be in the news for bad reasons really affected the whole nation. Most families depend on this department for their livelihood. Our grannies take children to schools and Universities through grants. These grants assist children whose parents have been decimated by HIV/AIDS or children who have died through HIV/AIDS.
IsiZulu:
Kwaba yinto ebuhlungu kabi ukuthi ubone umnyango ushelela ngempela ngempela ngesimo sokuthi awuphathekile kahle.
Siyethemba-ke Ngqongqoshe ukuthi ayisoze iphinde yenzeke le nhlekelele esike sabhekana nayo.
English:
We welcome the increase of the child support grant and also the old age support grants and other grants.
IsiZulu:
Sibonga ukuthi izingane imali yazo iyenyuka nale ye-HIV/Aids iyenyuka, imifundaze yezifundo zosonhlakahle. Kodwa kubuhlungu kabi ukubona ukuthi baningi osonhlakahle aneziqu ze-Honours nama- Masters kodwa bahleli emakhaya amanye aze ahambe aye phesheya kwezilwandle.
English:
Whilst the performance of NDA continues to improve, most of the young people in townships and rural areas do not know about the NYDA and that only 1 000 youth or young people are targeted to attend the youth camp is really a small number.
IsiZulu:
Into ebuhlungu nje uma siletha izincomo kukhona abaqhubeka belokhu bememeza ngoba ayikho into eyakhekayo umangabe abantu bazoqhubeka bememeza kufanele bakhiwe. Lokhu nje ukuthi umnyango ugcine usuyongena kwi-Constitutional Court sekunohlobo olubili lokuphatha ...
English:
... hybrid model which involves partnership of the South African Postal Services, commercial banks and cooperate financial
institutions and the transition period is going to run for 5 years ...
IsiZulu:
... kuzoba noguquko lweminyaka emihlanu kubuye kubuyelwe ku-SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, leyonto ibe buhlungu kabi.
Sikholwa ukuthi Ngqongqoshe ngeke iphinde yenzeke leyonto.
English:
The department must offer capacity to some NGOs and NPOs that start well and vanish into thin air after a very short period. The department must offer them business school, management and administrative skills.
Those people that are corrupt and they are the leaders of the NGOs and NPOs must be dealt with and be deprived of government funds. The department, especially SASSA has been failing to deal with fraud and corruption especially in regional offices and some of them have proved to be less caring.
IsiZulu:
... bengabanakekeli labo bantu okufanele babanakekele.
English:
The NFP welcomes the social assistance increase from
Rl5l,2 billion previously, reaching Rl62,9 billion in 2018-2019 financial year providing support to socially vulnerable such as the elderly persons with disabilities and care givers of children.
The increase of 2,4% which is above inflation is welcome. The issue of long distance that the elderly have to travel to the pay points ...
IsiZulu:
... behambe izindawo ezinde beya emadolobheni beyomukela izibonelelo zabo begcine sebelala emadolobheni, lokho kubenza ukuthi babe yizisulu zezigebengu, leyonto mayiphele. Ngale kwalokho-ke Ngqogqoshe sizoseseka lesi sabelomali sazi ukuthi uzoyisebenzisa ngendlela ekuyiyona. Siyaseseka.
Ms C N MAJEKE: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and hon members, good afternoon. The UDM supports the report. However, the UDM feels as there are major obstacles to achieve for the department to overcome, namely, within social work graduates and the SA Social Security Agency. Drugs and alcohol abuse is one of the
struggles that the country is facing. Parallel to this struggle is that thousands of social work graduates are trained at a huge cost by the state and are languishing at home and on the street corners of our villages and townships without work.
In 2018, it is projected that the number of unemployed social workers will jump to 8 600 from 3 800. This increase is from the
4 840 social work students with government bursaries mainly from this department. The UDM agrees with the chairperson of the portfolio committee that discontinuing the funding is not a solution but will create further crisis. South Africa has not enough social workers to drive the departmental community development agenda towards a caring and inclusive society as envisaged in the National Development Plan.
We therefore propose the following, namely, the department engages with other departments like Correctional Services to assess the need for this skill and channel the unemployed graduates accordingly; train the unemployed graduates in community development and ensure that the department drives this important programme with the requisite capacity; and extend the community development programme to nonprofit organisations and nongovernmental organisations so that the proper utilisation of
social workers is spread and that our communities are assisted to development consistent with the 2030 Vision.
The UDM is also angered by fact that SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, officials deliberately mislead beneficiaries and force them to migrate from a cash payment system to an online system which create many complications for beneficiaries and are not familiar with online cash systems. Furthermore, the lack of understanding by some beneficiaries of online systems leaves them oblivious to unlawful deductions and corruption as seen in the past.
The SA Social Security Agency must address the problems caused by those officials who are found to have deliberately misled the beneficiaries and must take the appropriate actions. Our suggestions are as follows: Those officials must receive a suspension without pay for a period of no less than three months; they must commit to do community service in that time to give back to a community in which they deliberately misled; and Sassa must make every effort to communicate the situation with those who are affected and revert the migration who wish to make use of the cash payment points.
The UDM also recommends that government quickly creates a reliable, safe and fast system to pay out Sassa beneficiaries. Long queues and offline systems slow productivity of the country and need to be mended with the utmost urgency.
Lastly, the chief executive officer of SASSA must fill the vacancies in his or her office. The high vacancy rate places stress on the current employees who are there and need to pick up the additional responsibilities and furthermore the vacancy rate will definitely hamper the performance of the office. The UDM supports the budget. Thank you.
Mr W W WESSELS: Chairperson, the hon Minister said that the ANC is a caring government. Let us explore that. [Interjections.] Would a caring government can allow the Department of Social Development to be in its current shambolic state with the absurd like they did on the sideline. Watch ceremonial this hon Minister ruin and destroy a very important department. Would they have?
Would they have allowed that the Department of Social Development not have any defined organisational structure? Who they have?
Ms S P KOPANE: Hon House Chair, I have a point of order.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): Hon member, what are you rising on?
Mr W W WESSELS: Would a caring ANC government... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): Hon member, what are you rising on?
Mr M HLENGWA: Hon House Chair, I rise in terms of Rule 85. I think even I myself who heckles in the House understands how must I do it. This can’t be like this. Honestly, we heckle, yes, but not to the point where we cannot hear. That’s unfair. I call on you, House Chair, to make sure that at least we afford the member to be heard. Can he be heard?
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N Phosa): Hon members, I plead with you to co-operate with the Table. Could you please have order so that we can hear his debate and then we proceed with the procedures of the House.
IsiZulu:
Nk M S KHAWULA: Ngokukhulu ukuhlonipha Sihlalo, besithuswa umuntu esingakaze simazi ukuthi uwubani. [Uhleko.] Ngeke phela sesilana
sibone ngomuntu nje esingamazi ukuthi uwubani. Awusitshele ukuthi uwubani. [Ubuwelewele.]
Ms H H MALGAS: Introduction, Chairperson.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N Phosa): Hon members, I think this will assist you. This is hon member Wessels from the FF Plus. He was sworn-in in December, but he was announced in February. Shall we then have order in the House. May you proceed.
Mr W W WESSELS: Hon Chair, it is clear that the hon members on the right cannot handle disputes. That is why they shout and make a circus of this establishment.
It is clear that a caring government would not neglect social workers who have a very important task and leave them incapacitated so that they cannot function properly. It is clear that a caring government would not keep South Africans dependent on social grants. The ANC government boast with the fact that a number of people dependent and who are receiving grants and assistance are increasing. That is not an achievement, hon Chair, but that is very very bad. That means that the government fails to stimulate the economy and create jobs. We need job creation,
and not people depended om social grants forever. You cannot keep people dependent on you just because of political reasons. We need a caring government.
A caring government would not neglect early childhood development as they are currently doing.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N Phosa): Hon member on what Rule are you rising?
Ms T V TOBIAS: I am rising on Rule 62. Chairperson, we need to be assisted. We don’t know whether the member is crying or he is talking. We need to be assisted. We don’t know whether the member is crying or talking. We want to listen to him, but we don’t know what he is doing. Is he crying or is he talking?
Ms S P KOPANE: House Chair, on a point of order.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N Phosa): Order! Hon members, you are drowning the speaker to an extent that I can’t hear what she is saying so that I can rule. Help me to be able to run this House smoothly. Hon member, you rose on a point of order and I did not hear what you said.
Ms T V TOBIAS: I rose on Rule 92, Chair. We want to hear the member, but we are not sure whether he want to talk or he want to cry.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N Phosa): Hon member, the point of order is not valid.
Mr C MACKENZIE: House Chair, on a point of order.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N Phosa): On which Rule are you rising?
Mr C MACKENZIE: I am rising on Rule 69 relating to the disorderly conduct of members. I would also suggest that the hon member at the back is misleading the House. Rule 62 refers to foreign governments of heads of states. Unless the hon member from the FF Plus is the head of state then I suggest that she sit down and maintain her silence. Thank you, House Chair.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N Phosa): Hon member, your point of order is not valid. Shall we proceed with the debate.
IsiXhosa:
MnuL M NTSHAYISA: Yini kodwa, maAfrika? Yini naziphatha kubi kangaka, maAfrika?
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): Hon members, I appeal to you to be orderly. Let’s maintain the decorum of the House. I depend on you to do that as hon members.
Mr W W WESSELS: Hon Chair, hon Tobias should be careful. Whilst we are discussing the vulnerable and the poor people of this country, she is making nonsensical points. The ANC government neglects this department... [Interjections.]
IsiZulu:
Nk M S KHAWULA: He e! Wongiyeke ngendaba ... oh Rule 2 ... ngifuna ukwazi kusemthethweni uma ethi kukhulunywa i-nonsense Sihlalo? Ulungile uma ethi la kukhulunywa i-nonsense? Usho ukuthi sikhuluma indaba ye-nonsense la? Kumele ayihoxise lento ayishoyo
... [Akuzwakali.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): Hon members, I want to rule on the matter and you are not giving me a chance. In terms of Rule 84 this language is unacceptable or it is unparliamentary. I would request the hon member to withdraw. Hon
members, I have ruled on this matter. I have consulted and am not wrong. Read your Rules. I am not misled, read your Rules. I have the responsibility of making sure that this House run smoothly.
Nonsensical is unparliamentary and the member must withdraw.
Mr W W WESSELS: Chairperson, for the sake of progress I withdraw.
In conclusion, the shambolic state of the department and of the ANC’s misstatement, corruption, looting and skewed priorities reminds me of Animal Farm. In Animal Farm the pigs were the leaders and they freed and revolted all animals, and all animals were equal until the pigs became greedy. The pigs then changed the motto to read as that all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Chair, it’s not a point of order.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): On what Rule are you rising?
Mr N L S KWANKWA: In terms of all the Rules of the House which are intended to ensure the decorum of the House.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): I can’t here you. On what
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Rule 92! Can I ask you one question for clarity, please. Did you stop the time for the hon member while they were disrupting? I don’t think he has spoken two, but now you are saying...[Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N Phosa): Yes, I did. Remember I am guided by the front Table and I trust them.
Mr N L S KWANKWA: He didn’t say much and now you say he is left with one minute.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N Phosa): They are guiding me and I depend on them for guidance.
Mr N L S KWANKWA: May I ask you to use your discretionary powers to give him additional time.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N Phosa): Hon member, actually it is not a point of order. I request you to take your seat. May you please conclude.
Mr W W WESSELS: The pigs became greedy and became worse than the tyrants who they revolted against. [Time expired.] I want to advise the hon Minister, who I do have a lot of sympathy with because she has to clean her predecessor’s mess. Do not make the same mistake as your predecessor and take the plight of the poor serious. I thank you.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): Thank you, hon
Wessels. I will now call upon the Deputy Minister of Social Development! [Interjections.]
Mrs K JOOSTE: She must speak nicely; she has a DA dress on.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): I didn’t know that the DA was purple; unless I am colour-blind.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: House Chairperson, Hon Minister of Social Development - Ms Suzan Shabangu - Ministers and Deputy Ministers here present, hon members, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to Minister Bathabile Dlamini for having had the opportunity to work with her. Allow me to also thank Mathuto Motumi and her team for putting up with me when I could not put
up with myself. Allow me to thank Social Development, Sassa and the National Development Agency team for consistently supporting me, my husband, children ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): Hon Deputy Minister, may you please take your seat. There is a point of order.
IsiZulu:
Nk M S KHAWULA: Sihlalo, nginephuzu lokukhalima okuphambukayo. Ngeke sithi sishayela inqola eya phambili ulokhu usibuyisela emuva. Kumele ahoxise indaba kaBathabile Dlamini. Akasafuneki kulo mnyango, wenza into e ... makahoxise. Asizile ukuzodlala la.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): Hon member, your point of order is not valid.
You may proceed, hon member.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Thank you very much, House Chair. Whether the members like it or not, I did work with Minister Dlamini. Like all of you, ... [Interjections.]
IsiXhosa:
Nksk N P SONTI: Sihlalo, lo mama angakhe alinge asinyathele emisileni. Angakhe alinge asinyathele emisileni lo mama, uvela phi khona yena? Andimazi nokumazi mna kwayena.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): Hon member, take your seat. It’s not a point of order.
You may proceed, hon Deputy Minister.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: I would like to thank my husband, children and family for the ongoing support. I want to thank my close protectors. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Minister Shabangu to team Department of Social Development, and Monica Zabo and her team.
As we celebrate the 100 years of Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu, it is prudent that we ask ourselves and reflect whether our actions and achievements over the past four years contributed to the type of South Africa they wanted. Four years later, Chairperson, we remain cognisant that lives are changed when people are put at the centre of their own liberation and development.
Allow me, Chairperson, to take this opportunity to ask this hon august House that as South Africans we have watched quietly as the brutal killings of people with albinism happen in our communities. They are killed brutally, and I am still waiting to hear the very ones that are busy howling me say something about it.
Chairperson, I am also still waiting to hear ourselves as Parliament saying whether people with albinism ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): Hon Minister, can you please take your seat.
Hon member, on what Rule are you rising?
IsiXhosa:
Nksk N P SONTI: Uyabona ke imithetho le uthetha ngayo Sihlalo, uza kundixolela ngayo, andiyazi. Ndicela uSekela Mphathiswa lo, ngoku, ukuba azihambe iintlanganiso zekomiti ukuze aqhelane noMphathiswa wakhe nanjengoko selephosa amazwi okumamkela.
Ndiqinisekile ukuba akamazi nokuba uBathabile wahamba kuba kaloku akazihambi iintlanganiso zekomiti.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): Hon member, that was not a point of order.
You may proceed, hon Deputy Minister.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Chairperson, I would like to pass and continue to pass my condolences to those families that continue to experience the brutal ...[Inaudible.]
Reasonable accommodation and self-representation policy is before Cabinet for consideration. We have done the necessary research in terms of the economics of disability as well as why people with disabilities are not retained after their learnerships. We have provided an inequality index that creates an opportunity for this country to have a data instrument to know how many disabled people are there and how we plan and implement programmes for them.
We passed our baseline country report that we used as a yard stick to be able to advise us on how far we have gone as a country. Subsequent to that, we have submitted our first annual report to indicate the implementation of the White Paper.
Chairperson, we continue to put the children first, including those with disabilities. We have developed and are implementing izingane kuqala model, a model that will enable us to provide and to monitor services implemented for children with disabilities.
Chairperson, we continue to be accountable to the United Nations annually as we attend the conference of state parties on disability. We have ensured that the African Union develops and implements a protocol on the rights of persons with disabilities
– a motion that the former President has led, and it has now come to pass.
On issues of substance abuse, allow me to indicate that the drug master plan is at its final stages, as well as ensuring that we implement and develop skills for those people that are going to be implementing and are at the forefront of dealing with issues of substance abuse. We implemented the siyalulama outreach programme, the antisubstance abuse child and youth action plan, acknowledging that the issues of drugs continue to affect even children at their younger age.
The festive season remains a time where we all enjoy and drink more than we should. We continue to implement our festive
programme in terms of raising the necessary awareness for drugs and alcohol. We acknowledge that first-year students in institutions of higher education remain vulnerable. Hence we are implementing our drug one-o-one session so that we can educate them on the impact of drug awareness.
Madam Chair, we have ensured that rehabilitation and treatment centres are brought on line. In the Eastern Cape, North West, Northern Cape, Free State and Limpopo, they have been operationalised, therefore ensuring that every province has a substance abuse centre run and managed by the state.
Alcohol abuse remains a challenge. Supported and led by the department of Trade and Industry, we are in the process of bringing before Parliament a Bill that would see to the challenges of addressing issues around alcohol abuse and substance abuse. If you look around on the road you will see that the SA Brewery trucks are being rebranded with positive messaging to try and limit the vision and access to this.
We also continue to create safe spaces in taverns through the implementation of our partnership with NGOs to make sure that we
strengthen our families. But we also make sure that breadwinners don’t spend every cent drinking alcohol.
Fetal alcohol syndrome remains one of the challenges that we experience. Our campaign where we are establishing the healthy- mothers, healthy babies campaign continues to be strengthened to ensure that we prevent disabilities.
Chairperson, gender-based violence is a real challenge. It is real, and it is happening. To ensure that we continue to have access to services, our gender-based violence command centre has been enhanced with accessible features to ensure that even those that are deaf have access to the services they report.
We have realised that it is not good enough to throw perpetrators in jail. We are beginning to develop a register of perpetrators so that we are able to provide them with support and ensure that men have access to services and shelters. This way we can prevent violence before it even happens.
We continue to roll out our white door centres of hope, distribute our “memezas”, which are our personal alarms that will
alert our command centre where there are challenges for those that don’t have telephones.
HIV and Aids remains a challenge amongst those issues that this country is faced with. As a department, we continue to implement our prevention strategy, thereby ensuring that we lead this country to zero new infections of HIV and Aids. In the national strategic plan 2017-22, we have ensured that Goal 4 deals and addresses the social structural drivers which are the biggest impediment to getting us to zero. With the leadership we have, we will get to zero. We continue to support the SA National Aids Council Secretariat through funding to enable them to co-ordinate and to have a multisectoral response towards HIV and Aids.
Chairperson, we continue to keep girls in school. We don’t only keep them in school, but we also ensure that our Early Childhood Developmental centres are able to accept babies from 10 days old to ensure that our girls are able to be in school where we need them to protect them from having other children.
We continue to spread the message “early detection saves lives” as prevention is important for us to ensure that our children continue to experience a full family life, thereby having
parents. Therefore, our “early detection saves lives” message that deals with issues of cancer continues to be addressed. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N PHOSA): Hon member, may you please round up.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Chairperson, I have
been advised that I have not attended portfolio committees. I want to have an opportunity to respond to that as I conclude.
Chairperson, I would like to express my sincere thanks as I was involved in a car accident that led me to being hospitalised for a very long time while doing my job as the Deputy Minister of this department. I therefore would like to thank those members that had the opportunity, first and foremost, to ensure that I am visited and for your well-wishes messages.
We need to know that South Africa will never be free until we are all free. We must continuously remind one another that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.
That is what we are marching forward with. I thank you, Chairperson.
Mr W M MADISHA: It was only last week that we paid tribute to my long time Comrade Zola Skweyiya, a man of great integrity. How sad it is to see his legacy sullied. That makes some of us to ask a number of questions inter alia: How SA Social Security Agency, SASSA - which was established as an agency of the department to administer the payment of grants – has to date never been equipped to carry out its responsibilities; how instead, with Minister Dlamini’s collusion, the payment system and means was captured by CPS; how in the process good, clean and progressive officials were disposed of for what was clearly corrupt ends and how the livelihoods of millions of indigent South Africans was brought to the brink and imperilled.
Chairperson, what transpired at SASSA followed the state capture modus operandi. I hear talk about the parallel structures, a shadow state reporting directly to the Minister and not to government; non-pliant officials were bullied and either resigned or were forced to resign; procurement processors were grossly manipulated to facilitate looting and enrichment.
Despite damning findings against Minister Dlamini in our apex court, it beggars belief that she remains a Minister. What new dawn we must emphasise? What new dawn is this? Now, Chairperson,
we must learn that irregularities have been found in the new grants pay system tender a process. This suggests that the rot remains within the system.
The ANC does every terrible thing. This is not the ANC that some of us know. What is actually happening is extremely terrible.
Very many of us who are seated here are from our hands because we taught them. In the circumstances, we cannot accept this. All that must happen is that, go and tell Minister Dlamini to continue ... Actually she must move out of this government. [Time expired.]
Mrs C DUDLEY: The ACDP is aware hon Minister of the critical role this department is expected to play in developing and implementing programmes for the eradication of poverty and social protection. While the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society must be our immediate priority, we appreciate that the longer term vision and goal is to facilitate a caring and self— reliant society.
You have inherited a huge challenge exacerbated by the countrywide anxiety caused by a leadership in the department at odds with each other in our Social Security Agency. This has been
a costly experience but the upside has been a vastly improved combined oversight of SASSA and positive far-reaching initiatives across departments to ensure that the provision of social security services not only operate strictly within the constitutional and legislative framework but are more user- friendly and not as vulnerable to abuse.
The ACDP has often asked this department to up their game in terms of communication, especially important messages easily conveyed via social media and we would like to congratulate them on doing just that. The messages relating to SASSA cards and grant payouts have been timely and relevant and have elicited a good response well done on a really good job.
The problem, however, is the reality on the ground and as one person said, sitting in a local pension office is no fun and I was quite frustrated and angry when I went there recently.
Nothing appeared to be happening. Staffs were half asleep, busy eating and talking - not all but quite a few. Moved me from one queue when I was already at the front of the line to another, I sat waiting again. Then, when I questioned, I was told just sit there. Nobody tells anybody what is happening with any of the 3,
4 and 5 different queues. A few Gogos in the queue had been there
from 5 am and were very tired. Same place on the bench, same queue. This was now nearly mid-day. I really felt for them. Tiny babes and children - there for hours. Please, tell me, is this really necessary? Are the staffs actually trained?
Then, in response to when I have asked people to call the SASSA Call Centre, one says, unfortunately that number and another number for KwaZulu-Natal that I was given from the recording was not answered. After waiting and waiting the phone goes dead on both the numbers. I suggest that those seem to be the problems
...
I know that the committee raised concern over long queues at local offices and the attitude of SASSA staff and off1cials have alluded to the fact that the system has been off line and is causing problems. This maybe affect but surely the problem should have been solved by now if we know what that problem is.
In 2017, Statistics SA released endings showing that the prevalence of stunting - a measure of chronic malnutrition among children 27%, and that there has been no change in the risk of a child being malnourished since 1993 - another issue for your department.
Professor May of the UWC Institute of Social Development points out that research internationally and in South Africa has shown that being stunted as a child affects physical and cognitive development, increasing the risk of illness as a child and in later life.
The most important cause of stunting is of course poverty but here poverty meaning insufficient income to purchase nutritious food. So, it is a big job. Hon Minister, we would like to wish you from the ACDP, every success in this new and challenging task ahead of you. We will be supporting this budget ... Thank you. [Time expired.]
Mrs K JOOSTE: Hon Chair, hon Minister, guests in the gallery, I think everyone in South Africa is relieved to have a new Minister on board in this very important department. She seems very willing to address many problems in this department. But my genuine concern is that the Minister will be kept extremely busy with sorting out administrative problems to such an extent that she won’t be able to get to the policy issues and this is where the real problem lies.
The entire model of this department is actually outdated. It dates from the industrial age which assumes that the majority of people will be in wage employment while only a small minority of people will be on welfare for a short period of time.
Now, unfortunately, this is not the reality in South Africa, which means entire families have to survive from the old age grant, the disability and the child grant.
I emphasise the child grant because the child grant actually constitutes 70% of grants being distributed. Peter Drucker once said: “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said”. When it comes to this budget and the announcement that grants will be increased what wasn’t said was that the purchasing power of grant beneficiaries will be less due to the impact of inflation, the vat increase, the fuel levy and on top of that the additional bank charge of R10 due to the CPS contract debacle So, mothers will in all likelihood have less money in their pocket and not more.
This is the crucial difference between the child grant now and in 1998 when it was introduced. When the child grant was introduced in 1998, it was linked to the household subsistence level for
food and clothing for children. In other words, it was linked to an objective measure of what it costs to look after a child.
Now, last year, the department admitted to no longer following this approach. As a result of this policy deviation and this budget, the most significant result is when there is an increase in child malnutrition; an increase in the number of children dying every day of sever acute malnutrition and an increase of stress level of stuntedness
What will go unseen or more indirect will be more pressure on mothers stress and trauma because they are faced with impossible choices and fathers who feel they can’t provide - they feel worthless.
Chairperson, this is the toxic mix that keeps our highly unequal and extremely violent society firmly intact. The DA is the party understands that malnutrition sits at the heart of some of the most serious social and economic challenges we face. We need complete change on a policy level. The DA believes the first step is aligning the child grant to an objective measure of what it costs to feed a child. That must be followed by eliminating the
gaps in the social assistance system. It must be combined with combined with robust economic growth and the creation of jobs.
Setting the child grant below the food poverty line as is suggested in this budget in the context of long term mass unemployment is simply unacceptable. [Applause.]
Mrs B L ABRAHAMS: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers, hon members and guests in the gallery. Today I would like to dedicate my entire speech to the missing children of South Africa. We are praying for you all to come home, your mommies and daddies are waiting. A special mention to Leigh, a three year old, in my community who have been missing for three months, we are waiting for you Leigh, please come home.
I would like to quote former President Mandela:
Our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation. They will be the leaders of our country, the creators of our national wealth who care for and protect our people.
Hon Chairperson this why the ANC-led government prioritises Early
Childhood Development, ECD, as it hones into the growth and development of all children in South Africa and the future of our country. The National Development Plan, NDP, sets out ECD as a top priority among the measures to improve the quality of education and long term prospects of the future generation of our country. The NDP also outlines key provisions taking into consideration high quality, holistic and universal early childhood education.
The primary purpose of Early Childhood Development will continue to be comprehensive support for the holistic development of infants and young children within the families.
ECD is a critical part of a child’s growth, and quality training will ensure a child is confident and ready for school.
Approximately 80% of brain growth happens during the first 5 years of life, which reflects the need to ensure that a child is in an environment that would harnesses the physical, psychological, cognitive and social development that a child experiences between birth and school going age.
There is a need to create a very strong foundation for children in order for them to be successful and reach their full
potential, as what occurs during the early years of childhood has a lasting impact and will affect a child‘s growth and development throughout their life. It is with this understanding and reasoning as to why we, as the ANC saw the need to develop a framework and infrastructure to address the needs of early childhood educare.
The collaboration between parents, childcare workers, civil society and government is very important and needs to be focused on building a strong foundation in early childhood development. By creating an environment that childcare workers can help children to develop to their full potential, which will help to break the cycle of poverty, reduce social inequality, and increase economic activity.
As a result, the Department of Social Development, together with the other departments developed the National Integrated ECD Policy, approved by Cabinet on 9 December 2015, which gives effect to the country’s commitment to make ECD a national priority. The policy sets out clear goals and objectives for ECD until 2030 which provides a road map, through the National Integrated Implementation Plan for ECD, divided into short, medium and long term.
To support and monitor implementation of these goals and objectives, an Inter-Ministerial Committee, IMC, for ECD was established in 2015 to drive and lead the elevation of the national ECD agenda at all levels of government. This is also to ensure that services are provided in an integrated and holistic manner.
The work of the IMC is supported by the National Interdepartmental Committee, NIDC, for ECD, led by DSD. Capacity to deliver ECD services and programmes is being strengthened throughout the department, development of a Human Resource Plan for ECD and a Communication Strategy, to inform communities and promote awareness about the ECD policy, regarding the importance of investment in the early development of children. This includes empowering and encouraging parents and caregivers to participate in developing the potential of their children whilst they provide care and protection.
The ANC-led government has committed to the attainment of universal access to ECD for all children in South Africa by 2030. The 2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, baseline included an additional allocation of a conditional grant of R812
million over 2017-18 financial year and 2018-19 financial year to do the following:
Increase coverage of the ECD subsidy to poor children and underserviced communities in registered ECD programmes.
To improve the conditionally registered ECD centres to meet the basic requirements in order to become fully registered. This will assist DSD to increase registration of ECD centres and programmes and the number of children subsidised. The subsidy amount is R15,00 per child for the maximum of 264 days throughout all nine provinces.
In the 2017-18 financial year the department was allocated a conditional grant amount of R319 million of which R250 million was allocated for subsidy and managed to reach 53, 650 children. Seventy million was allocated for maintenance as the Minister stated for 459 centres to benefit.
The ANC welcomes the allocation for ECD for 2018-19 financial year, where R412 million is for subsidy to reach 44, 943 children. The allocation for maintenance is R78 million, which will be used to renovate 369 centres. The ANC acknowledge the 28
900 registered centres in the country, where 827 338 children are accessing ECD centres at a cost of R2, 7 billion. The ANC urge the department to continue this momentum to get more centres registered.
Afrikaans:
Die Vroeë Kinderontwikkelingsprogram is baie goed vir die algemene publiek en moet die werkswyse wees vir die lê van die grondslag van kinderontwikkeling waarop die nasionale demokratiese gemeenskap gebaseer is, in samestelling met die vierde industriële revolusie.
English:
If the basics for the industrial revolution are not fully created and implemented, the country and our most vulnerable will fall victim.
We are happy to note that the draft National Integrated Implementation Plan for ECD in South Africa towards 2030 had been presented to the Director General Cluster for Social Protection, Community and Human Development on the 13th December 2017 and approved for submission to Cabinet in 2018. This is a step in the right and best direction for the children of our country.
We urge the department to create stronger interdepartmental relationships in order to ensure that this Budget is used appropriately. Such relationships fulfil ANC resolutions which were resolved at the 53rd ANC National Conference in 2012, which is ensuring integrated services, including nutritional support to expectant mothers and children up until the fifth birthday. In the ANC 54th National Conference it was resolved that there should be systematic relocation of the responsibility for Early Child Development from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education. The Minister of Basic Education has mentioned that there is transition taking place and we are happy with that.
I would like to close by quoting hon Mandela:
Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.
Thank you [Applause.]
Dankie
Siyabonga
Ms S P TSOLELI: Chairperson, allow me to pay tribute to the father of Social Development in this country, the late Dr Zola Skweyiya who as Minister of Social Development for two terms from 1999 to 2009 transformed what was a less known Department of Welfare to a much revered Department of Social Development. Under his stewardship, this did not just become a change of name, but also a change of approach, altitude and programs. Dr Skweyiya’s passion for extricating the poor and most vulnerable out of adverse poverty is equal to none. This is evidenced by this resolve to champion pro-poor social development policies that made a meaningful and lasting difference in the many lives that benefitted from them.
Chairperson Section 27 of the Constitution of the Republic states that everyone has a right to have access to; healthcare services including reproductive care, sufficient food and water and social
security including if they are unable to support themselves and their dependents.
The 54th ANC National Conference resolved that the comprehensive strategy and the co-ordination and monitoring of the protection of vulnerable groups must be reinforced to enable effective protection for children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and people with albinism across relevant department and spheres of government. In the light of the above, the ANC-led government has developed appropriate policies and legislations to give effect to the development of comprehensive social protection system. This we have done out of respect for the constitutional rights of the poor and the vulnerable. In the interest of time let me quickly touch on some of the achievements of the ANC-led Department of Social Development on the entire social protection programme. We have achieved the strategy of building strong families and communities to protect the most vulnerable in our society, inclusive of children, women and people with disabilities. The ANC believes that any human development policy or strategy that is not skewed towards children will not realise its intended objectives.
It is for this reason that we have passed the legislation that advocates for the rights of children and we will soon implement White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Minister, we appeal to you to encourage your colleagues in the Cabinet to make sure that they mainstream the recommendations of the White Paper on the rights of persons living with disabilities. [Applause.]
We have achieved building a comprehensive social security system for the country. Today South Africa has one of the biggest and most sophisticated social protection systems which enable the country to respond decisively to poverty in its multidimensional manifestations. Government in its 15 year review credited this system as government’s biggest poverty alleviation intervention. This antipoverty measure has contributed significantly towards reduction of poverty levels in South Africa, actually in the African Journal Vol. 28 ...
IsiXhosa:
... thina ke bantu bafundileyo.
English:
... of 2002 research has shown that Basic Income Grant enables the social security system to reduce the poverty gap by 74%. Go and check the journal, 2002. Currently social grants will account for an estimated 94,4% of the departments total budget over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF period. The department will move from disbursing 17,2 million beneficiaries in the 2017-
18 financial year to an expected 18,1 million in 2020-21. On the welfare services transformation and integrated community development, the department developed a 10 Point Plan which enabled government and the country to make significant contributions to contemporary developments locally and on international flora as well as the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing and later equalisation of Old Age Grant.
The ANC government understand the impact of working together, what it can bring to our communities. Hon Masango, we are making certain that the relationship between government and non-profit organisations is strengthened and very imperative in delivering social welfare services. The department is currently finalising Amendments of the Non-Profit Organisation Act of 1997, which seeks to promote transparency accountability within the non- profit organisations, NPOs, without placing enormous requirements on the NPOs. Siyaqhuba! Policy reforms and legislations play a
primary role in enhancing and bettering social protection system. It is important that we urgently finalise policy discussions on proposal for a comprehensive social protection policy to ensure that no needy South African falls through the social security net. With the few minutes that I still have Chairperson I would really like to respond to some of the utterances that were made by the opposition.
Hon Jooste, last year in the same Budget Vote I was standing here responding to your misinformed theory about the child grant and its impact to households, please do consult with the research analysis from the University of Cape Town, University of Johannesburg as well as the University of Stellenbosch then you will understand and know exactly what they are saying that the impact of the child social grant is giving to South Africans. Hon Sonti ...
IsiXhosa:
... awukwazi ukuthetha uziphikisa uthi olu hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali ulikhaba ngawo omane kodwa uphinde uthi nikhathalele iimfuno zabantu abahluphekileyo. Njani kanti ulukhabile olu hlahlo- lwabiwo-mali? Uzikhathalela njani iimfuno zabantu abahluphekileyo?
English:
Hon Wessels, distribution of the social grant to the poor is an achievement of the ANC government in this country. It was not there during apartheid times. So, it is a legacy of this country.
IsiXhosa:
Nksk N P SONTI: Ibiyikota. Ilixesha lekota.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Hon members! Conclude hon member. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Hon members! Please! Order! Hon Khawula ... [Interjections.]
Mr M HLENGWA: Hon Chairperson!
Ms S P TSOLELI: Hon Chairperson! In conclusion, the late ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Hon Khawula! Just hold on, there is a point of order. [Interjections.]
IsiZulu:
Ufuna ithuba lokukhuluma? Ngizokunikeza uma sesiya emaphethelweni.
English:
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Hon Hlengwa?
Mr M HLENGWA: Hon Chairperson, on a point of order: I wanted to check if the hon member would take a question on the seeming contradiction yekota which was not there because now she is now
... [Inaudible.] the Chairperson so, would she take a question?
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Hon Hlengwa
Ms S P TSOLELI: Hon Hlengwa!
IsiZulu:
Mnu M HLENGWA: Uzowuthatha umbuzo Sihlalo?
USIHLALO WESIKHASHANA (Mnu M R Mdakane): Kulungile, buza umbuzo
... [Akuzwakali.]
Mnu M HLENGWA: Yebo Sihlalo!
USIHLALO WESIKHASHANA (Mnu M R Mdakane): Buza-ke umbuzo.
Mnu M HLENGWA: Angawuthatha umbuzo?
IsiXhosa:
Nksk S P TSOLELI: Akandibuzanga ukuba ndiza kuwuthatha kusini na umbuzo? Andisayi kuwuthatha umbuzo wakho kuba undimoshela ixesha. Andinalo ixesha lokumoshelwe nguwe.
Mnu M HLENGWA: Uyabaleka uqhuba ngo-reverse.
Ms S P TSOLELI: ... In conclusion Chair the late Dr. Skweyiya advocated for the building of a new cadre of social development workers. He propagated for the cultivation of a more human working ethos or culture in the social development sector.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Hon members! Hon members, please let us allow the member to be heard.
Ms M S KHAWULA: Chairperson, thank you very much for respecting me.
IsiZulu:
Bengithi ake ngibuze kumhlonishwa ukuthi, ukhona yini umuntu ongaphila ngesibonelelo imali yeqolo na? Engabe bakhuluma bona ukuthi badala amathuba emisebenzi abantu bathole imisebenzi.
Okokugcina, uphi u-Supra?
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Hon member ... [Interjections.]
IsiXhosa:
Nksk S P TSOLELI: Andiwuthathi umbuzo.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Conclude then.
Ms N P SONTI: Chair, on a point of order:
IsiZulu:
Ngizakushaya wena! Ngizakushaya wena!
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Hon Sonti
IsiZulu:
Awunalo ilungelo lokukhomba amanye amalungu uyabona.
IsiXhosa:
Nksk N P SONTI: Uthi mandihlale phantsi. Ungubani yena?
IsiZulu:
USIHLALO WESIKHASHANA (Mnu M R Mdakane): Uphakamise isandla kuqala ngaphambi kokuthi usukume.
IsiXhosa:
Nksk N P SONTI: Kulungile, tata. Akahloniphi kodwa.
IsiZulu:
USIHLALO WESIKHASHANA (Mnu M R Mdakane): Khuluma-ke Ma.
IsiXhosa:
Nksk N P SONTI: Mandithethe. Umhlonishwa uthi bona kulo mbutho wabo babahloniphe kakhulu abantu abangoomama. Kutheni uManana ebetha abafazi? Nithini ngaye? UManana!
USIHLALO WESIKHASHANA (Mnu M R Mdakane): Siyabonga.
English:
Hon member, do you want to take a question?
Ms S P TSOLELI: Hon Chairperson, I am not going to take a question. but with the minute that is still left ... He is credited for the creation of new categories of social service professionals so as to provide specialised care and support to the most vulnerable in society. It is as a result of his determination and resoluteness that social work was declared a scarce skill. We have recently observed that, that culture has deteriorated; we therefore urge hon Susan to reintroduce programmes that are aimed at cultivating new ethos within society, and promote social cohesion. The ANC supports the Budget Vote. [Applause.] Re a leboha.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Hon khanyile. [Applause.] Hon members – hon Hlengwa. Well hon mebers - Hon Khanyile is making her maiden speech. Please hon members allow her space to do so.
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Hon Chairperson!
Ms A T KHANYILE: Hon House Chairperson ... [Interjections.]
USIHLALO WESIKHASHANA (Mnu M R Mdakane): Kancane, uNgqongqoshe unephuzu lokukhalima okuphambukayo.
The MINISTER OFSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Chairperson, I have a point of order. That hon member ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Who?
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT... that one with a white shirt
...
IsiZulu:
... Hayi! Awuke ume Khawula. Awuke ulinde. Awuke ulinde. Awuke ulinde, linda. [Ubuwelewele.]Hayi wena ngizokuphoxa wena ... [Akuzwakali.]Cachalia, ngizokuphoxa. Ungijwayela kabi. Nxa!
Ungijwayela kabi, silima somuntu. Mhlonishwa Sihlalo, maka ngangenzi isilima. Maka ngangenzi isilima ngoba uyazazi umuntu engikhuluma naye ...
English:
... the hon ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): No! No! No! Just hold on, hold on. Hon Minister, I think you were rising on a point of order.
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Yes.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): If it is not a point of order, I wouldn’t allow you the platform to do so ... [Inaudible.]
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Exactly Chair.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Are you rising on a point of order?
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: It’s a point of order Chair. Hon Chair, I am rising on a point of order. My father and my aunt gave me the name of Susan, he must respect me. I am an hon member. ... shouting across and calling me by name. I am not his friend and I don’t know him.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Hon members; the decorum of the House – Hon members, you must avoid that.
Mr T W MHLONGO: Point of order Chair!
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Hold on! Hon Mbhele
Mr T W MHLONGO: Chairperson, I think the hon Minister must understand that the hon ...
IsiZulu:
... igama lakhe u-Tsoleli wuyena othe ...
English:
... hon Susan, it is not me. You were saying hon Susan ... yes, it is you
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Hon member let us not waste time. Let us proceed. Hon Sonti ...
IsiZulu:
... masiqhubeke. Masiqhubeke.
Mr T W MHLONGO: Chairperson, the Minister ...
IsiZulu:
... uyangikhomba uthi, “ungijwayela kabi” ...
English:
Is it parliamentary?
IsiZulu:
Bheka ukuthi ... uyavuma. [Ubuwelewele.]
USIHLALO WESIKHASHANA (Mnu M R Mdakane): Yima! Yima! Yima! Wuwe noNgqongqoshe enazanayo ukuthi nikhuluma nithini.
Mnu T W MHLONGO: Hawu! So ... [Ubuwelewele.]
USIHLALO WESIKHASHANA (Mnu M R Mdakane): Akusithi esazi leyonto yenu leyo wuwe noNgqongqoshe enaziyo.
English:
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Hon members let us not ... hon Khanyile is standing here to make a presentation.
AN HON MEMBER: Maiden speech!
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Please, let us allow hon Khanyile. Hon Mbhele and hon Shabangu, you will talk outside of the House.
Ms A T KHANYILE: Hon House Chairperson, citizens of South Africa, with a budget of R37,5 million the Department Social Development
is mandated to serve the poorest citizens of this country through its support of Non-Profit Organisations, NPOs. It is still very evident that the department does not have a clear plan on how they can best assist our most vulnerable communities.
We have established that the department does not have an adequate NPOs database yet, and the one currently in use is managed manually which is very difficult to monitor. If the department can move fast in implementing this, it could off load the burden on NPOs as it will assist them in identifying by a click of a button, how many NPOs are funded and on what basis.
The absence of proper management mechanism for NPOs databases have dire consequences as many NPOs continue to struggle financially, and have already had to close down. One such example is The Saving Grace situated in Lekwa Local Municipality in Mpumalanga. It is run by Mrs Bongiwe Immaculate Sibeko, and it used to house around 18 children with ages ranging between two and 18 years. Most of these children are orphaned and The Saving Grace was their only home, but today they are all homeless. We cannot continue to fail our children in this manner.
We condemn the killing of women in our country in the strongest terms possible. Perpetrators of these killings should be given the maximum life sentences possible. I wish to welcome Judge Peet Johnson’s heavy sentencing of one such case where on the
3 May 2018; he sentenced Sandile Mantsoe to 32 years in jail for killing Karabo Mokoena.
Unfortunately there are many such cases which do not make it to the social media like one Ms Fikile Ngwenya from Lekwa who resided in Rooikoppen; she was found dead in her house on the
10 April 2018. She was allegedly strangled to death by her boyfriend. I also need to mention Fikile Nengovhela, who was reportedly shot and killed by her husband together with her six month old baby in Evander, in Govan Mbeki Municipality on the
3 May 2018. It is critical to note these are only reported cases.
The DA is also concerned about the convicted women abuser, ANC Member of Parliament, Mduduzi Manana who allegedly violently abused his domestic worker. We call on law enforcement agencies especially the NPA to prosecute Manana without fear or favour and to ensure that he faces the full might of the law. [Interjections.]
There is a growing need for government to implement programmes that will raise awareness on how best to manage the perpetrators’ anger and channel their energy in a constructive manner to prevent women and children from becoming victims of domestic violence. It is alarming to learn that the Welfare Services Policy Development and implementation Support budget for people who are living with disabilities have been decreased by 2%, on the back of the 1% increment on VAT. This decrease will have a severe impact on the much needed research to be done to find lasting and effective solutions to assist people living with disabilities.
We challenge the ANC government to start taking our people seriously by investing more money in this section of Social Development Programme. This budget is proof that the ANC does not care about the needs of vulnerable communities within our society. The DA is the only party that can build a South Africa. I thank you. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr M R Mdakane): Thank you very much hon member.
IsiZulu:
Nk M S KHAWULA: Sihlalo, nginephuzu lokukhalima okuphambukayo. Hayi! Yazi khona into engiqeda amandla ngale kokwenzani. Uyabona uma sisazoseka abantu besilisa abahlukumeza abantu besifazane angazi noma anibonanga kuZuma imikhuba abekade eyenza. Yindaba njalo la uma kukhulunywa ngoMduduzi Manana akube yimina phambili kusho ukuthi basazoqhubeka besifazane bahlukunyezwe la eNingizimu Afrika futhi njalo uwumongameli wakwa-SANCO wena uqobo bahlale.
Akufanele uze uthathe izigqoko se-ANC. Wena isikhathi esiningi zama ume kubantu
USIHLALO WESIKHASHANA (Mnu M R Mdakane): Mhlonishwa uKhawula, cha, uyabona wena usukhuluma eyakho ingxoxo esingayazi. Akulona iphuzu lokukhalima okuphambukayo. Uma ufuna ukuthatha inkundla sizokunikeza ithuba ...
English:
... at the right time. You must prepare a motion for debate. Raise that motion for debate. Siyabonga kakhulu mhlonishwa ... [Akuzwakali.]
Ms H H MALGAS: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, Ministers and Deputy Ministers present, Members of Parliament, our officials behind me, and our guests in the gallery, I greet
you. I would like to reply to the hon Van der Merwe before I start with my speech. I would like to say that the legacy of the ANC is out there for all to see and to be felt by the needy. A total of 7,2 million South Africans are benefitting from social protection. That goes for the hon Wessels. The ANC cares. Thanks a lot.
Chairperson, we as the ANC remembers our Comrade Zola Skweyiya – the first Minister of Social Development who passed away on 11 April 2018. May his soul rest in peace and rise in perfect glory.
Chairperson, during the January 8th statement celebrations in East London, His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that this was a year of Nelson Mandela, which is one of renewal, unity and jobs. This is a year of unity and comprehensive efforts towards South Africans living a truly dignified life and the eradication of poverty. That is what Social Development is doing, and I commend the department on this.
Chairperson, people spoke on our social workers. I would like to speak to our social work service professionals - and I will touch on social workers too - which forms the core function of the social development sector. Social workers perform a key function
in the department and communities. In their professional capacity, their services include, but are not limited to, the mental wellbeing of society, which is emotional distress, disasters, family conflicts and when families are dysfunctional. They also support communities in initiating poverty eradication projects, as well as problems related to substance abuse - which was spoken to - and gender-based violence. As the ANC, we would like to acknowledge the importance of such professionals in our communities.
According to ANC resolutions - we can start with the 50th conference and move over to the 54th conference at Nasrec - when we speak about social service professionals, we speak to their training, education and development in this field. They are core to many of the social transformation resolutions of the ANC. The sector in the department is striving to meet these objectives as espoused in the ANC resolution. I commend our Minister on that.
Chairperson, we as the ANC believe in the importance of family as it is understood within the social and cultural norms in South Africa in the context of a normally functioning society. Special attention should be given to promoting the construction of families according to our ready-to-govern document of 1992. The
social work profession plays a pivotal role in improving the wellbeing of individuals, groups and communities by direct practice, policy development, organising community outreach and crisis intervention in the 2014 manifesto. The ANC resolved that there is an obvious need for an increase in supply of social service professionals, specifically social workers, community development workers and child and youth care workers. Supplying needs have to increase in numbers of these professionals, and each social worker needs to undergo formal and robust training. The demand and supply model was developed, and I commend the department for this. It is in line with the national development plan. This supply model of the department will stretch over the next 15 years. So, we know exactly how many social professional workers we need in the next 15 years.
Minister, the finalisation of your induction policy and the induction programme which is ready for implementation in provinces of newly employed employees is a critical strategy for the retention of social service practitioners, and it will play a major role in the induction as mentioned previously.
The ANC would like to urge the department to fast-track the implementation of a social development academy, which will ensure
reskilling and continuous professional development of the social development workforce.
Chairperson, many spoke of the social work scholarship in response to the call of the ANC strategy to improve the plight of young people and to increase the number of social workers in the country. Even my chairperson did. This is an important programme of this department. The department is implementing the scholarship programme through which selected young people are funded to study towards a Bachelor of Social Work degree. In their studies emphasis will be placed on appropriate training to address the immediate developmental needs at community level. The education and training of social service personnel will be geared towards developing skilled personnel that can be deployed in communities in a very short period of time.
Chairperson, for the financial year 2017-18, a total of 4841 students benefited from the scholarship – which is quite a lucrative scholarship because it caters for student registration, tuition fees, accommodation, meals, books and transport. In the current financial year, 126 million was allocated. A total of 2430 students are currently studying for their bachelors, but at second year, third year and fourth year.
Since 2013, the absorption of scholarship graduates was problematic, and people spoke to this. I will conclude with this. I am happy that the department, working with other departments, is placing our social workers that are unemployed. I thank you, Minister. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Chairperson, may I take this opportunity to thank hon members of this portfolio committee and may I assure the members of the committee...
IsiZulu:
... uyahala MaKhawula. [Uhleko.]
English:
I want to assure the members that we are going to work together because the problem we are facing is not the Minister’s problem; it’s a challenge which we face as a country. Therefore, it requires all of us to work together instead of competing. I would also like to thank the Chairperson for steering this ship in a way that tends to take us forward.
Hon Sonto, I want to come to one point [Interjections.] [Laughter.] Sonti ...
IsiZulu:
... ngizokuthengela namazinyo. [Uhleko.]
English:
Hon Sonti, I would like to come to the point you’ve raised around the issue of loan sharks. Part of our challenge is not just to watch it, we are going to deal and we are addressing the problem of loan sharks. But we also need to go on a drive of educating our people and ourselves here, to make sure ... because loan sharks do not affect our beneficiaries, it affects everybody; even some Members of Parliament are affected. So, it’s a nationwide problem which we have to address as a country.
Hon Liezel Van Wyk, I want to say the ... [Interjections.] hon van der Merwe, I just want to sy the issues of NPOs and shelters are issues which we agree with you that they are underfunded, but until we have a comprehensive and clear mandate around that we will not be able to fund in an adequate way; but also be able to identify the NPOs because we don’t have the database; and that’s exactly why we are reviewing the NPO Act, to address that particular aspect and also to ask if they are relevant. Because if you go back to what is happening when it comes to NPOs, people
are creating NPOs for no apparent reason. So, we really have to define its mandate in ensuring that it becomes relevant.
I want to agree with hon Dudley and hon Khubisa. The issue of social workers: we have to look at that challenge broadly, not only what we are producing but also what we produce from universities; we have many social workers who are unemployed, we need to really make sure - as you indicated; and hon Majeke says we must work with other departments to address that matter. I totally agree with them.
I want to come to a thorny issue; hon Wessels, I grew up in the township and I know pension not social grant, which was discriminatory, but which also never gave a black child anything. You need to understand where we come from; so, don’t say this is a matter about the ANC, it’s about the plight of our people, the plight of my family, which I know that some of them go to bed without having had a meal. That’s the objective of this and it’s not only me but many of us. Let’s not trivialise what is a challenge; instead of putting our heads together to find a lasting solution in addressing these matters. Today, everybody gets a grant, you come from a discriminatory system that your father supported where they were getting pension while people in
the township and rural areas were not getting money. So, let’s be sensitive when we deal with this matter.
I want to say to all of you today that what we are doing as Members of Parliament is to work with you; I want to assure you, hon member of the EFF, within the next six months, when we go to file our last reports in August [Interjections.] - no, it’s not six months, they gave us five months – we are going to the courts for the last time [Applause.] we will not allow ourselves to continue burdening the judiciary of this country with that. So, [Interjections.] exactly. Those who must go to jail will go to jail, it’s not my responsibility. And I must say, we will pay our members and our beneficiaries accordingly and address their problems. Please help us; if our hotlines are not working, tell us, don’t keep quiet. If we have sloppy and sleeping officials in South African Social Security Agency, SASSA, tell us and we will deal with those issues decisively; there’s no time of allowing people to make a mockery out of our beneficiaries. People say they want jobs, therefore, they have to perform and be committed to the just course of providing services to our people.
Lastly, hon Madisha, ANC is not corrupt, individuals are corrupt. [Interjections.] What you have to know is that individuals are
corrupt; like the black plastic bag, hon Nzimande is still looking for that plastic bag, could you please take it back to him. [Laughter.]
Mr W M MADISHA: On a point of order, Chair. For your information, it’s not one but many plastic bags that someone took. I’m referring to Comrade Skierpot, many ... [interjections.] [Inaudible.]
The House adjourned at 18:40.
Audio
No related