Social Development MINMEC has resolved to dramatically increase access to Early Childhood Development (ECD) services throughout the country to cover more than four million children currently not receiving the service. Chairperson of the MINMEC committee Minister Edna Molewa said her department together with support received from the private sector will assist rural communities to establish more ECD centres. The minister handed equipments worth R1.4 million to 10 ECD’s in Greater Taung Local Municipality.
“This is to show support and appreciation to community members who have committed their time and energy to provide the ECD services. These services are recognised as the ideal phase for the passing on of values that are important for the building of a peaceful, prosperous and democratic society,” Molewa said.
Among the resolutions taken by MINMEC at a two day meeting held in Mafikeng last week was that during the 2010 FIFA world cup currently in South Africa, 12 centres across the country will be rendering social development services, with special emphasis on reducing the incidents of human trafficking. In terms of the poverty rate in the country, Minister Molewa said, “it is imperative that we should understand every household poverty state in responding to poverty challenges currently facing us”. Another resolution taken was that children will no longer be placed in charity homes but within their families. Molewa said currently 9.3 million children are being maintained by the state countrywide.
The committee also visited a disability centre and a poverty alleviation strategy project where 33 poor households in ward four, Greater Taung have been identified as beneficiaries. The poverty alleviation project is in line with the “war on poverty campaign” which was launched in December 2008 by the Deputy President and the then North West Premier in Greater Taung Municipality. The war on poverty campaign is a short term phase that utilises the list of options of interventions already in place for example, the social grants, food gardens, free basic services, Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and other specific sector strategies. Minister Edna Molewa together with MEC Kasienyane handed over a cheque of over R300 000.00 to two benefiting communities in the area.
The visit to the Disability Day Care Centre in Vryburg-Huhudi focused on a community based entity that is established and managed by community members who experience the same need and share the same vision to address the plight of persons with disabilities. These entities were established to care for children and adults with disabilities who due to their disabilities cannot be catered for within the mainstream of early childhood development programmes and other developmental social welfare programmes. The centre benefited a substantial amount from the R10 million, which the minister will be handing over to disability day care services throughout the province. The money will be utilised for upgrading the centre and for implementation of the programme.
The visit was ended with an outreach programme at Madibogo, Ratlou Municipality. Speaking to an audience of more than three thousand people, Minister Molewa said this visit is in line with President Jacob Zuma’s plea to public servants to bring services closer to the people. “ Because we don’t want to deny people access to services we have brought them closer to you like South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), Home Affairs, South African Police Service (SAPS) and mobile clinics. It will not be for the last time you see these trucks of government services. We also brought along non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) here to provide guidance to community members who wish to start their own businesses. Molewa urged community members to work together with the department to improve their socio-economic status.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Health and Social Development, North West Provincial Government
8 June 2010
