Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa's oral reply to questions in the National Assembly
Mr N Singh (IFP) to ask the Deputy President:
What are the full relevant details of the steps the SA National Aids Council has taken, in light of the recent report by Amnesty International entitled Struggle for Maternal Health: Barriers to Antenatal Care in South Africa: Executive Summary, which highlights the plight of rural women, especially in accessing antenatal care and which is essential in ensuring that HIV-positive pregnant women are treated timeously with antiretroviral drugs, to ensure such vertical alignment between antenatal care and antiretroviral treatment for HIV-positive pregnant women?
Answer
Honourable Members,
The Amnesty International report to which the Honourable Member refers is based on data collected in 2011 through case studies conducted in two provinces, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. Government has reported before on the relatively high rates of maternal mortality and that it is unlikely that we will reach the Millennium Development Goals target by 2015.
Government, through the national Department of Health, has therefore taken steps to expand access to services for pregnant women and their infants through the Primary Health Care Approach.
This is a three-pronged strategy which includes:
- District-based Clinical Specialist Teams for the support of priority health programmes;
- School-based primary health care services; and
- Municipal ward based primary health care agents.
The District Clinical Specialist Teams are part of an effort to strengthen the district health system to improve the quality of care for mothers, new-borns and children, reduce mortality and improve health outcomes in these groups.
The impact of these and other programmes include a decline in rates of HIV transmission from mother to child from 8% in 2008 to 2% in 2011. This is a result of the progress made in ensuring that HIV-positive pregnant women are receiving early antenatal care and antiretroviral treatment.
Maternal and child health specialists have been placed in each health district as part of a concerted strategy to improve clinical governance and overall quality of care. The proportion of pregnant women accessing antenatal care before 20 weeks across all provinces has increased significantly since 2011.
Government will continue with such initiatives to improve access to quality antenatal care, particularly for young rural women.
I thank you.
Mr M L W Filtane (UDM) to ask the Deputy President:
Whether he intends to have regular sessions with leaders of the Opposition Parties in order to streamline the political management of the Government's legislative programme in the National Assembly; if not, why not; if so, when will the first session take place?
Answer
Honourable members,
As Leader of Government Business I do intend to have meetings with the Parliamentary leaders of opposition parties. In addition to discussions on government's legislative programme, these meetings will seek to foster mutual understanding on issues of national importance.
Over the last two months, my office has sought to schedule a number of such meetings. These have had to be postponed due to unavoidable changes in my programme. Preparations are now underway to have a meeting with parliamentary leaders of all opposition parties on 18 November. The frequency and format of future meetings will be determined as we proceed.
I thank you.
Mr M S A Masango (ANC) to ask the Deputy President:
(a) What progress has been achieved in the Kingdom of Lesotho since he was mandated to act as a Southern African Development Community facilitator to the specified country in restoring political and economic stability and
(b) In which manner has he found will a stable government in the Kingdom of Lesotho benefit South Africa and its citizens?
Answer
Honourable Members,
Considerable progress has been made in restoring security and political stability to the Kingdom of Lesotho since the unfortunate events of 30 August 2014.
As part of the SADC initiative, we have met with several roleplayers, including His Majesty King Letsie III, leaders of political parties, including parties not represented in Parliament at present, the College of Chiefs, the National Coalition of NGOs, the IEC, and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
On 2 October 2014, all political parties represented in Parliament signed the Maseru Facilitation Declaration, where, among things, they committed themselves to facilitate the holding of early elections in February 2015.
Elections were only due to be held in 2017. As a result of this agreement, the Parliament of Lesotho re-opened on 17 October 2014.
On 23 October 2014, General Kamoli, Commissioner Ts'ooana and General Mahao signed the Maseru Security Accord, where they committed themselves to assist with the depoliticisation of the Lesotho Defence Force and the Lesotho Mounted Police Service.
Each agreed to take a leave of absence from these entities for a specified period. Preparation for elections is underway, and relative calm has returned to the streets of the Kingdom. We need to continue to render support to Lesotho during this crucial period, and in preparation for the upcoming elections.
We can be proud that, as a region, SADC has positively contributed to the stability of one of its own. We as South Africans owe a particular debt of gratitude to the Basotho for their support and sacrifice in our darkest days. As I indicated during the OR Tambo Memorial Lecture at Fort Hare University recently, we act in Lesotho in the spirit of international solidarity.
We continue to believe, in line with the principles expressed by O.R. Tambo, that our freedom and security cannot be divorced from the freedom and security of all people everywhere.
We will continue to act accordingly.
I thank you.
Mr M G P Lekota (Cope) to ask the Deputy President:
Whether, in light of his responsibilities with regard to sectoral engagements, the Government was:
(a) keeping a register of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) to determine whether such organisations were growing or diminishing as a result of their funding situation and
(b) in any way assisting NGOs of long standing who were experiencing a reduction in funding; if not, what measures was the Government taking to ensure their viability; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Answer
Honourable Members,
Government administers the Register of Non-profit Organisations in terms of the Non-profit Organisations Act of 1997.
The Register of Non-profit Organisations is a voluntary registration facility that enhances the credibility of the registered Non-Profit Organisation as it reports to a public office. The NPO Directorate holds information about registered NPOs for the public to access.
This increases the transparency and accountability of the organisation beyond its immediate role-players. It also contributes to better governance as a registered NPO must comply with the requirements of the NPO Act.
The NPO registration status is also a funding requirement for most donor and funding agencies.
The national NPO registration facility therefore brings NPOs into a public system that allows for information about the sector to be gathered and made publicly available which in many ways increases the confidence of the public in the nonprofit sector.
Government is committed to a thriving NGO sector because of the critical role the sector plays in society. However, the financial sustainability and viability of an NGO remains the primary responsibility of that NGO. State funding to an NGO is often provided on the basis of a service or product to be delivered and according to a clear set of criteria and a competitive process.
I thank you!
