document
20 November 2007
The Social Cluster has continued to make significant progress in the
implementation of various programmes within its priority areas. The report
focuses on the implementation of cluster work from April to recent date.
Implementation of the Integrated Anti-poverty Programme
Housing and Human Settlement
Since the dawn of democracy, government has provided accommodation to nine
million people by building 2,4 million houses. Not only has it managed to
change the lives of these beneficiaries by providing them with security and
comfort, through these houses we have also managed to ensure that the building
of these houses creates jobs to help alleviate poverty and increase the skills
uptake and usage of emerging contractors.
The Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Sustainable Human Settlements
(BNG) provides strategic and programmatic shift from housing to Sustainable
Human Settlements. An Inclusionary Housing Policy has been developed and the
voluntary aspects of the policy are currently being implemented in mixed income
housing developments.
A programme on Municipal Integrated Development Plans and Human Settlements
to ensure better integrated development planning has been introduced and
implemented widely.
Implementation of agreement with South African Local Government Association
(Salga) on land: about 193 predominantly urban municipalities adopted the
Moratorium on Land or similar policies that restrict the sale of undeveloped
land assets. Further work includes the persuasion of municipalities to refrain
from selling off undeveloped land assets.
There is progress in restructuring of the National Housing Finance
Corporation (NHFC) into a retail housing finance corporation targeting
households with an income that ranges from R1 500 and R15 000 per month.
Bucket Eradication Programme
Government has made significant progress with regards to the eradication of
buckets in formal settlements established before 1994. There are five provinces
still having to eradicate the bucket system. In these provinces that have yet
to meet the target work is at an advance stage as some of the provinces have
already put up the structure with few things remaining. We have also embarked
on a communication campaign aimed at clarifying the target and addressing the
community expectations as well as the remaining buckets post the 2007 target.
It also highlighted the informal settlement challenge which will be addressed
through the housing programme.
Government has also deployed technicians to municipalities in the Free
State, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape to assist with addressing the
backlog.
Comprehensive Social Security and Welfare Services
To date, more than 12 million South Africans receive social grants. Social
assistance is one of the most effective poverty alleviation tools provided by
government. A total of 462 294 children receive the foster care grant, more
than 8 million poor children receive the child support grant, and 100 681
children with disabilities receive the care dependency grant.
The Department of Social Development is currently busy with a campaign to
bring services closer to poor rural based communities especially in the former
Bantustan areas where there are backlogs.
Through the Integrated Community Registration Programme (ICROP), the
department uses hi-technology mobile trucks to register people for grants where
they live. In addition, a "one stop service" is provided in the form of
applications for identity documents and birth certificates and provision of
general health and welfare services.
Through the use of sophisticated technology, the turnaround time for social
grants applications has been reduced from around three months to a few hours,
as applicants are informed of the outcome on the same day. Doctors are brought
on site to assess disability grants applicants, while members of the South
African Police Services provide necessary services relating to affidavits. The
campaign, which began in May 2007, has resulted in the issuing of 61 389 social
grants in the Eastern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. Out of these, 43 861
are children who would otherwise not have received grants due to living in
remote areas.
Currently the mobile trucks are operating in the Eastern Cape; Free State;
KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. Tomorrow, 22 November 2007, the Minister of
Social Development will launch the campaign in Umzimkhulu in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Department of Social Development is working with the departments of
Health, Education and others to expand Early Childhood Development (ECD)
services in the country, as part of the Social Sector Plan of the Expanded
Public Works Programme (EPWP).
The focus of the ECD rollout drive has included the following:
* To increase the number of ECD sites registered and extension of
subsidies.
* Training and development of greater numbers of ECD practitioners.
At least 1 500 additional ECD sites have been registered in the period April
2006 to March 2007, with the intention of registering 1 774 sites in the
current year. Currently, 314 000 children from poor households have received
subsidies in the past financial year. An additional 435 000 children are
targeted to receive subsidies in the current financial year. From the 2008/09
financial year, we will ensure that all provinces provide a subsidy of at least
R9 per child, per day.
Meanwhile, a task team comprising of the Department of Social Development,
National Treasury, Labour, Health and Presidency is making significant progress
in putting together proposals on the retirement and pension reform.
Second Economy interventions
The EPWP programme has created about 830 000 of the 1 million job
opportunities promised. Majority of these job opportunities are in the
infrastructure sector, given the government's and the country's massive
infrastructure roll-out programme, punctuated by catalysts such as the 2010
Soccer World Cup and the State Owned Enterprises' recapitalisation programmes
as announced by Eskom, Sasol and recently PetroSA.
The department is also looking at the programme to massify EPWP, through
construction-related projects of varying sizes, from building to maintenance,
renovations and now rehabilitation of identified unused government buildings
and other properties. The department has budgeted R600 million up to 2011 for
the rehabilitation of more than 670 unused government buildings. The National
Department of Public Works has taken a decision to carry out any of its
projects using EPWP guidelines of labour intensity. The department also
participates in the job for growth initiative of Accelerated and Shared Growth
Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA).
Progress on implementation of land and agrarian reform
About 4,1 million hectares have been redistributed to the historically
disadvantaged people; this against the 30 percent target (25 million ha) of
agricultural land. This includes 1,8 million hectares from restitution and 2,3
from other land reform programmes. The slow achievement to-date has
demonstrated the need for increased settlement support in the form of technical
support, extension services, input supply, infrastructure, capacity building,
marketing, on-farm and off-farm support. We have agreed with the provincial
Department of
Agriculture on the intensive implementation of the Comprehensive Agricultural
Support Programme (CASP) for which parliament appropriated more than R750
million.
The national Departments of Agriculture and Treasury as well as the
provinces are in the process of reviewing the implementation and funding for
CASP, with the view to improve the beneficiation of land reform beneficiaries
and the contribution of agriculture on economic growth.
To achieve the remaining target of 2,1 million hectares we need to improve
delivery by fast tracking the settlement of the outstanding five thousand rural
land claims (out of the 79 696 claims lodged). We have to address related
disputes such as disagreement with landowners on the validity of the claims;
boundary disputes and as well as disputes on who is the rightful chief over the
claimed land. Some of these disputes end up in the Land Claims Court. We are
now using the Pro-active Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) and the Area-Based
Planning (ABP) as methods to fast track land delivery so that we can meet the
30 percent target. Needless to say, we need to increase the allocation of
resources so that we are able to deliver on scale.
Comprehensive healthcare
Combating HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases
The implementation of comprehensive HIV and AIDS programmes has seen the
launch of the National Strategic Plan Framework (NSPF), an initiative of
government civil society and business. Different social sector departments have
developed strategies and plans to implement HIV/AIDS programmes in their
departments, and together with Khomanani, government has developed and is
implementing a communication strategy that creates awareness around the
pandemic.
The 2006 antenatal survey results show a decrease in the prevalence of HIV
amongst pregnant women who use public health facilities. It is for the first
time after several years of relative stability that the survey results show
evidence of a decline in HIV prevalence as demonstrated in the National HIV and
Syphilis Prevalence Survey, South Africa 2006. The report also indicates that
the prevalence of HIV in the 20 years and below age group has in fact decreased
from 15,9 percent in 2005 to 13,7 percent in 2006 suggesting therefore the
reduction in new infections in the population.
While there is progress amongst the younger people, the HIV prevalence in
the older age groups (30 to 34 and 35 to 39 and the 40 years and above)
remained at levels similar to 2005 and in some instances there were
increases.
On treatment, the cumulative total of patients who started Anti-retroviral
(ARV) treatment is estimated at 300 000 as at the end of June 2007. A total of
342 facilities have been accredited to implement this treatment including 10
Correctional and seven South African National Defence Force (SANDF) centres and
more sites are being accredited to further expand access. Lack of adequate
health professionals still remains a key challenge to both the Departments of
Health and Correctional Services in expanding the number of sites.
While the number of tuberculosis (TB) cases remains high, there is steady
improvement in successful treatment completion rates and in the cure rates.
Both the cure rates and successful treatment completion rates improved from 50
percent and 60 percent respectively in 2001 to 57,6 percent and 70,8 percent
respectively in 2006. During the same five year period, the death rate has been
fairly constant at between 6,7 percent and so was the treatment failure rate
around 1,5 percent.
The new Tuberculosis National Strategic Plan for 2007/11 has been developed
through extensive consultation with local and international stakeholders in the
area of TB. The Plan is aimed at strengthening South Africa's response to the
challenges of TB as well as Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) and Extensive Drug
Resistant (EDR) TB. It also addresses the relationship between the TB and HIV
epidemics. An extra R400 million has been allocated for the response to MDR and
XDR TB in this year's adjustment budget. Extra resources have been requested
for the implementation of the in the next financial year.
The management and control of malaria is one of the key areas of success of
the public health system in South Africa. The number of malaria cases declined
over a five year period, from 51 444 cases in 1999 to 12 098 cases in 2006. The
malaria case fatality rate fluctuated during this same period, from a peak of
0,8 in 1999 to a lowest level of 0,4 in 2001 and to 0,7 percent at the end of
2006.
The Department of Health is satisfied with the implementation of malaria
control interventions which include:
* an increase in indoor residual spraying using DDT with an overall coverage
of more than 80 percent and the completion of spraying before the peak in
malaria transmission
* the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy by the malaria affected
provinces which reduces parasite carriage, and
* intensified surveillance leading to early detection of any increases in
malaria cases in high-risk areas.
Efforts are being made to enhance focus on non-communicable diseases such as
diabetes, hypertension, asthma and the media has played key role in addressing
these diseases to the public.
Hospital revitalisation programme
We have made significant gains with respect to the hospital revitalization
programme. We already have state of the art hospitals in the form of Inkosi
Albert Luthuli and Pretoria Academic Hospitals. Since 2004 ten hospitals have
been completed.
During 2007/08, 46 revitalisation projects have to be completed with 30
already on site and 16 in the planning stages. The department hopes to complete
four hospitals during this financial year (Mamelodi Hospital in Gauteng,
Worcester Hospital in the Western Cape, Rietvlei Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, and
Barkley West in Northern Cape).
Whilst good progress is being made, there is a need to accelerate this
programme if the revitalisation of all public hospitals is to be completed
within timeframe that the department has set itself, which is 15 years. This
implies that we need to ensure that this programme is fully funded in the
remaining time frame. We also have to ensure that the facilities are properly
maintained.
Besides the hospital revitalisation programme, provinces have delegated
functions to hospital Chief Executive Officers as directed by the President in
his 2006 State of the Nation address. The department will continue to
strengthen the ability of hospital managers to use their delegated authority by
improving training and strengthening administrative systems. During 2007/08, we
shall endeavour to ensure that 50 percent of hospital managers receive some
level of in-service formal training.
Human Resources
A number of push and pull factors contribute to migration of health
professional from rural to urban areas, from public to private sector and from
South Africa to developed countries. The department is addressing these in a
number of ways including the adoption of the Human Resources for Health Plan
for South Africa, the introduction of community service for a range of health
professionals, the rural and scarce skills allowances, improving remuneration
for health providers, the training of mid-level workers as well through a
memorandum of agreement on ethical recruitment with benefiting countries.
Since the agreement was signed with United Kingdom (UK) in 2003, the number
of South Africans registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council in UK has
decreased by more than 55 percent from 2114 in 2002 to 933 in 2005. We now have
to ensure that there is enough flexibility for the public health sector to be
able to absorb nurses who are returning into the country. This should include
recognition of whatever level of experience these nurses have acquired.
The department is also giving an opportunity to retired nurses to be able to
continue to serve the public health sector where they can and pass their
experience to the younger generation of nurses.
More than R1,4 billion was allocated for the improvement of salaries of
nurses in the country. The salaries have been increased by between 20 to 24
percent for nursing assistants, staff nurses and professional nurses. Certain
professional nurses serving in specialty areas could, subject to the
appointment requirements, receive up to 88 percent increases at production
levels depending on their current salary positions. These increases are in
addition to 7,5 percent salary adjustment made across the board after this
year's public service bargaining process.
Next year, the salary review process will be extended to doctors and medical
specialists, dentists and dental specialists, pharmacists and emergency care
practitioners. In the year 2009, all other health professionals in the public
health sector will be incorporated.
The department has also embarked on a drive to re-open nursing colleges to
help expand training and employment of nurses and social workers.
Education - broadening access and improving quality and training
The Department of Education has embarked on National Mass Literacy Campaign
to enable adults to achieve basic literacy and numeracy skills to ensure access
to education.
Access to education has also been provided to the public, the vulnerable
through pro-poverty measures in having no fees paid in certain provinces, up
killing of the new matric curriculum, and embarking on career guidance
awareness campaigns in the media.
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) has established a Water
and Forestry Learning Academy, designed to address scarce technical skills gaps
in the overall water supply value chain, skills gaps in specific technical
areas of the DWAF, uptake on women and the disabled to the water industry. The
department envisages on planning and building capacity for the immediate,
medium, and long term needs of the DWAF and the water and forestry sectors.
National identity and social cohesion
Intense efforts have been carried out to joint efforts among all South
Africans to improve social cohesion, including better canvass of the issue of
our variety of identities and the overarching sense of belonging to South
Africa, value system, and identity in a manner that strengthens our unity as a
nation.
Government (through the Department of Arts and Culture) uses programmes such
as the national anthem, national flag, national orders, national days to
promote social cohesion and nation building. 2 000 flags have been installed in
schools, government buildings, museums, etc; a draft pledge and Bill of
responsibilities is being finalised; nationwide public hearings on
standardisation of geographical names will also be held.
Some of the programmes that have been implemented include: Freedom day, -on
27 April, youth month in June, the heritage month in September, including the
celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Steve Biko on 12 September, the 90th
Anniversary of SS Mendi, the 40th anniversary of the death of Inkosi Albert
Luthuli, to name but a few.
School sport continues to be an essential part of the drive to involve more
South Africans in physical activity more often. Through School Sports Mass
Participation programme, the Departments of Sports and Education expose
learners to sport as a way of contributing to, among others, a life-long basis
for participation in sport and recreation. The Department of Sports has
partnered the Youth Commission in its effort to mainstream the youth in sport
participation during events such as the June 16 commemoration, and also using
youth-owned companies as service providers so that youth can greatly benefit
from sport and recreation empowerment efforts.
As part of its contribution to social cohesion, the department has brought
together youth from various communities and races into a team of gymnasts.
These gymnasts represented the country in Austria in July this year. In order
to send the same message of unity at national level, the team is now being used
to entertain at local sporting events as well. More of this team is expected to
be seen at the Zone VI Games, Confederation Cup and the 2010 Federation of
International Football Association (Fifa) World Cup.
The department has also partnered with the Department of Social Development
in celebrating the lives of the elderly. These activities also formed part of
the International Day of the Aged.
Millennium Development Goals (MDG)
Since 1990, a series of world summits and global conferences have spelled
out a comprehensive agenda for human development, including selected goals,
time-bound targets and quantifiable indicators. In September 2000, 147 Heads of
State and Government, and 189 nations in total adopted the United Nations
Millennium Declaration. The declaration covers, amongst others, calls for
halving poverty by the year 2015, the number of people who live on less than
one dollar a day.
The aim of the MDGs is to facilitate the conceptualisation and
implementation of development priorities and to catalyse policy reform,
institutional change and resource allocations around time-bound targets.
On 25 September 2007, the President of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki
addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) on the progress being
made in the country in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals.
The MDG country report includes the national context, i.e. an outline of the
country-specific development context, key development needs and a summary of
current national development strategies. South Africa is well set to accomplish
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in time.
Since delivering its first country report to the UN General Assembly in
2005, significant progress has been made both in the way in which the country
is able to gather data to measure progress but also in realising a number of
indicators.
South Africa has even set earlier deadlines for the attainment of some of
the MDGs. On the first goal of halving poverty between 1990 and 2015, there has
been a rise in income of the poorest 10 percent and 20 percent of the South
African population which can be attributed to overall income growth but also to
the expansion of the social wage and other forms of income such as the
provision of free basic services.
The very poor are now mostly close to the poverty line of R3000 per capita
per year although there has been an increase in income inequality (that is the
level of income between rich and poor) over the period since 2005. Severe
malnutrition amongst children under-5 years of age decreased from 88 971 cases
in 2001 to 30 082 in 2005.
In addition, South Africa is in the fortunate position of collecting a
wealth of statistical data through its various agencies and structures which
enables the country to properly measure progress in realising the MDGs.
The recently completed community survey as well as the report released by
the Presidency in June 2007, titled "Development Indicators Mid-Term Review",
being solid examples of this.
The report will be available to the public on the government website on 21
November 2007 at 12h00 on https://www.gov.za.
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
20 November 2007
Source: SAPA
