Policy budget speech by Eastern Cape Honourable MEC for Social Development and Special Programmes Dr. Pemmy Majodina in the Provincial Legislature

Somlomo Obekekileyo,
Nkulumbuso yephondo ehloniphekileyo,
Oogxa bam bendlu yowiso mthetho,
Iinkokheli zemibutho emelweyo kwindlu yowiso mthetho,
Iinkokheli zendlu yeeNkosi,
Imibutho yasekuhlaleni Iinkampani nemibutho esisebenzisana nayo,
Iinkokheli zeeMvaba ngee Mvaba,
Iintloko zee arhente ngee arhente,
Ulutsha, Oomama, abezo shishino nabo bonke abantu abakhoyo apha,
Umlawuli jikelele wePhondo neeNtloko zaMasebe,
Oonondaba,
Zidwesha neZidwangube,
Amaqabane,
Uluntu lwe Mpuma Kapa luphela.

1. Introduction

We have assembled here to give testimony to a social contract we have committed ourselves to, of giving effect to a developmental state which has its focus on eradication of poverty where we transform, re-create, re-image and redress to indeed give effect to our creed of "A better life for all".

This policy speech was preceded by provincial stakeholders’ engagement wherein social partners contributed to what I’m tabling in this august house today. This was done to deepen our democracy through mass participation. Our people are architects of their own future.

The delivery of the department’s Budget Policy Speech today is an indication of our government’s commitment in pursuit of lofty ideals that our nation holds for socio- economic growth that benefits all, for a society that cares and for the realisation of what the Constitution enjoins all of us to do.

Underpinning this year’s budget policy speech is the common understanding that successful societies are built on the foundation of common purpose. One of the most important features of our system of governance is to ensure consultation and dialogue, in order to build not only a shared vision, but also in actual practice to attain unity of purpose and action.

As Tata Madiba once said in his Inauguration Speech of 1994, “Our daily deeds as ordinary South Africans must produce an actual South African reality that will reinforce humanity`s belief in justice, strengthen its confidence in the nobility of the human soul and sustain all our hopes for a glorious lifefor all…”.

Globally, the posture and performance of the public sector contribute substantially to how a government is perceived as well as the pace of a country's development. A friendly, facilitative, goal-oriented and proactive public service invariably enhances the image of government and contributes towards accelerating any country's development.

Honourable Speaker and Members, whilst appreciating successes in existing poverty eradication initiatives, as a department, we note thatinterventions that do not take the family into context are not likely to yield sustainable results holistically. The department has adopted a model that locates an individual within a family and takes the family as the main system of development.

We therefore advocate for the promotion of a strength-based approach and a participatory family perspective that in turn enhances social cohesion; forges solidarity and unity of purpose in our communities.

Honourable Speaker and Members, in the process of building social cohesion and continuous improvement of the life conditions of our people as part of a transformative and developmental state, we are inspired by the wise words of one of Africa’s greatest intellectuals, a poet laureate, Samuel Edward Krune Loliwe Ngxekengxeke (SEK) Mqhayi from his poem “Ukutshona KukaMendi, he says: Ewe, le nto kakade yinto yaloo nto. Thina, nto zaziyo, asothukanga nto… Kwaf'amakhalipha, amafa nankosi, Agazi lithetha kwiNkosi yeeNkosi. Ukufa kwawo kunomvuzo nomvuka

Hon Speaker and Members, as we celebrate 100 years of the existence of the African National Congress (ANC), we are reminded of our fallen struggle heroes who contributed to the positive social changes we enjoy today. Indeed Ukufa kwawo kunomvuzo nomvuka.”

Honourable Speaker and Members, the year 2012 is declared a year of Hyper Activism due to the centenary celebrations of the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC). We are all therefore expected to put our foot on the accelerator with a lot of zeal, dedication and commitment.

During the financial year 2012/13, we have committed to review our internal business processes in the department to align with our integrated service delivery model to effectively address the present day social challenges. Our emphasis is therefore on repositioning the department towards a developmental approach both in its strategic direction and its operations.

We are guided by our developmental trajectory which emphasises on paradigm shift, moving away from measuring our success on outputs towards measuring success made on positive social changes.

A democratic developmental state must ensure an integrated delivery of services which promotes collaboration and coordination across the different spheres of government. These services must be underpinned by the attitudes and values of people-centred development. As a caring department, we have resolved to focus our energies on seeking to improve organisational culture and practise that put people at the centre of our planning and delivering of services.

As a department, it is our firm belief that in order to live up to our mission of improving the quality of life and social wellbeing of the poor and vulnerable groups with a special focus on women, children, older persons, youth and people with disabilities through integrated developmental social services, we must critically analyse the way we conduct our business currently and evaluate how our ethos, processes and systems contribute to the realisation of the developmental goals we have set as the department and the province.

2. Stakeholder engagement and partnerships

The Eastern Cape is a home to some of the most poor and vulnerable communities in South Africa, many of which exist in extremely rural and remote areas. Access to basic services in these areas is limited and the provision of assistance is difficult.

The department therefore places great reliance on its Social Partners for the provision of essential services and the implementation of successful community development projects as a means to positively impact on the vulnerable and poor communities in the Eastern Cape.

In many cases, this includes ensuring that their basic needs for food, shelter, education and healthcare are met. The enduring facts of poverty, inequality and underdevelopment underscore the need for Government to regularly review the modus operandi in which resources are utilised in the most effective manner.

The department has therefore ensured that the financial resources provided to non-profit organisations through our Social Welfare Programme and to Social Cooperatives through our Community Development Programme are distributed in accordance with projected impact and alignment with the department's developmental objectives. We believe that our collective and concentrated efforts to create synergistically projects that maximise job creation opportunities in our communities are necessary to create sustainable jobs.

This will be achieved through the strengthening of partnerships with sister government departments like Department of Rural Development & Agrarian Reform (DRDAR), Department of Economic Development & Environmental Affairs (DEDEA), Department of Human Settlements as well as innovative developmental institutions and Social Partners such as the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders, the Eastern Cape Council of Churches, National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC) Eastern Cape, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), National Development Agency (NDA), Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), Microsoft South Africa, ABSA and Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) amongst others.

In the recent stakeholder engagement session, the House of Traditional Leaders committed amongst other things to avail Great Places as service delivery points. The Eastern Cape Provincial Council of Churches will lead a social dialogue to uphold social values with emphasis on child headed households and moral regeneration to address social ills and family disfunctionality.

In partnership with South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) as one of government vehicles to combat poverty, we have committed to target 100 poor families from 10 villages in an effort to revive community based cluster foster homes. We will also strengthen our relations with NAFCOC as one of the leaders in the business fraternity, to assist in linking our infant funded projects with the open market for future sustainability. Honourable Speaker and Members, a programme of action for these commitments will be concretised during the course of the year.

3. Developmental social welfare services

Honourable Speaker and members, as I begin to present this programme which is one of the corner stones of the department, I am reminded of amaqhawe nama qhawekazi who passed away with their boots on and have contributed immensely.

I wish to pay special tribute to the following social workers: Aphiwe Malima, Bongekile Gabada,  Ntombekhaya Maza, Portia Sakhiwe, Ntombikayise Rwanqa, Babalwa Xotyeni, Nomini Mabeka,  Nomini Dekile, Hlubi Mgidlana, Thobeka Mashologu-Kuse, Maphelo Gcasamba, Mildred-Mandisa Sham, Mrs Stokwe, Nomvuyo Nkohla, Nosiza Mafunda, Philiswa Mlata, Lohokwana Faro, Mzwandile Mjo. Siyabulela ngobomi negalelo labo. Amakhandlela siwacimile, sixolile.

Our strategic focus for the next financial year in this programme will also include aspects aimed at addressing, as best as possible, the problem of job creation to ease the burden on the provision of limited resources within the social safety net. The department will therefore be seeking to maximize the available financial resources to collaboratively enhance our core business.

The Department is maximizing the creation of work opportunities by expanding focus from Home Community Based Care (HCBC) and Early Childhood Development (ECD) to include care givers from homes for People with Disabilities. This will result in the creation of 5 465 work opportunities in line with Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). We are going to strengthen the unit of EPWP to ensure proper coordination.

3.1 Substance abuse prevention and rehabilitation

The department is championing the fight against substance abuse and has committed itself in playing a meaningful and creative role, through the facilitation of integrated approach by all stakeholders. During the financial year 2012/13, the department plans to establish an additional 300 Teenagers Against Drug Abuse (TADA) groups.

Two (2) new Community Based Care projects will be established in Buffalo city and Lukhanji ensuring that services on substance abuse are accessible in all communities. The allocated budget for this subprogramme for 2012/13 is R9 million.

3.2. Care and services to older persons

The mandate of the department is to implement integrated services for care, support and protection of older persons. The department has observed that residential facilities for older persons are not accessible to all population groups in the province.

In an attempt to address transformation of all subsidised residential facilities for older persons, in 2012/13, the department will introduce a quota system in terms of Older Persons Act, 13 of 2006. An amount of R94 million has been allocated for this purpose.

3.3. Crime prevention and support

The mandate of the department is to provide social crime prevention programmes through provision of probation services and residential care facilities for children in conflict with the law. The new Children's Act (Act No. 38 of 2005), as implemented with effect from the 1 April 2010 shifts the responsibility of child and youth care centres that deal with children in conflict with the law from the Department of Education to the Department of Social Development & Special Programmes.

This gives a responsibility of designation of such institutions like Bhisho Youth Care Centre from the Department of Education to the Department of Social Development and Special Programmes.

The department will roll-out a special programme within our secure care centres that is targeting children living and working on the streets, young people that are from within, surrounding areas especially out-of-school and unemployed youth, to empower them with a range of skills to participate fully in the job market. The total budget allocated for Crime Prevention and Support amounts to more than R100 million.

3.4. Services to people with disabilities

The department is mandated to provide developmental and integrated services to people with disabilities and ensure access to a comprehensive, well organised service delivery system that will enhance their independence and advance their integration into the mainstream society. The major challenge remains the multi-skilling of people with disabilities so that they can be able to compete in the open labour market. These skills should be accredited by accepted accreditation board.

In 2012/13 the department will continue to fund 23 residential facilities for the Disabled, 11 Social Service Organisations, 25 Special Day Care Centres, 17 Protective Workshops and 5 Community Based Rehabilitation Programmes.

In an effort to uplift socio-economic empowerment of people with disabilities and facilitate transformation, the department will partner with Disabled People South Africa (DPSA) and Disabled People's Organisations (DPOs) in implementing Community Based Rehabilitation Programmes to People with Disabilities. The department has allocated an amount of R34,7 million for the programme.

3.5. Child care and protection services

The department has a mandate to lead in the care and protection of children, to ensure that their constitutional rights in respect of care, protection, survival and development are realised. In 2012/13 the department will be monitoring the implementation of the integrated strategy for children living and working on the streets across all government departments.

In 2012/13, the department will continue to fund 1 247 ECD centres benefiting 57 198 children in the province and 39 Child and Youth Care Centres. Due to the high number of orphaned and vulnerable children, two (2) additional Child Protection Organisations in OR Tambo and Chris Hani Districts will be funded to ensure the implementation of Community Based Child Care and Protection programmes such as Community Based Cluster Foster Homes, Isibindi and Non-Centre Based ECD.

Efforts will be made to support all children's homes and shelters to transform into Child and Youth Care Centres, in line with the Children's Act No 38 of 2005. Total budget allocation for the Sub-Programme is more than R259 million.

3.6. Victim empowerment programme

As a lead department in the implementation of Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP), the department is mandated to provide integrated holistic and effective person-centered support service for victims of violence and crime. VEP contributes to building of safe and peaceful communities, strengthening a human rights culture and provide more effective, multi-sectoral, coordinated responses to victims of crime and trauma particularly women and children.

In addition, the department will establish 30 White-Door temporal safe home programmes for victims of abuse in all our local service areas. In 2012/13 the department will continue to fund five (5) One Stop Centres (shelters) that benefitted three hundred and thirty two (332) victims of crime and violence; 12 Safe Homes and 47 Community Based Initiatives.

Nine thousand three hundred and four (9 304) victims accessed VEP services and this shows a positive response and more reporting as a result of intensified awareness campaigns. Six (6) community based centres funded by UNODC still continue to provide services to victims of crime and violence. Total budget allocation for the Sub Programme is R9,054 million.

3.7. HIV and AIDS

With regards to HIV and AIDS, the department has a mandate to mitigate the impact of HIV, STI’s and TB on Orphans and Vulnerable children (OVC). In 2011/12 financial year, the department rendered psycho-social services to 15425 orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) through the implementation of integrated Home Community Based Care Programmes.

In strengthening services to OVCs, psychosocial services will be rendered targeting 35 528 OVC’s and issues of stigma and discrimination will be addressed in collaboration with other sectors.

The department will also embark on behavioural, social and structural interventions that will have great impact on reducing susceptibility and vulnerability to HIV, STI's and TB. This will be implemented in the form of community dialogues and educational programmes.

As part of implementing care and support programmes, the department will be giving financial support to 134 Home Community Based Care Projects throughout the province in 2012/13 financial year. An amount of R46,594 million has been allocated for implementation of these programmes.

3.8. Social relief

To address the challenges faced by families experiencing undue hardship and imminent threat of national disasters, the department will continue to provide material support including food parcels and other necessities to families who qualify in terms of applicable legislation. In maximising social relief interventions especially on issues of disaster management, we will strengthen collaboration with South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), Department of Local Government & Traditional Affairs and other spheres of government.

In an attempt to respond to education as one of the 5 priorities of government, our contribution is to ensure that needy children benefit from the Department's Back to School Campaign. The targeted number for 2012/13 is 8 000 learners. The budget allocated for social relief is R7,092 million.

3.9. Care and support services to families

The mandate of this programme is to improve the quality of life of families through the provision and implementation of developmental programmes. It also seeks to encourage families to play their central role of nurturing, supporting and caring for their family members so that they are able to function independently.

The families are viewed as the focal point of service delivery. In 2012/13, the Department will continue to fund 4 non-governmental organisations, 38 community based programmes benefiting families in need. The budget allocated for this programme is R8,060 million.

4. Integrated community development services

Due to the prevalent economic challenges in the Eastern Cape and the commitment to ensure that all communities in the province are afforded the opportunity to improve their livelihood status, the Department saw it necessary to adopt a more innovative approach to community development in alignment with the national strategic priorities of government.

It is our understanding that the developmental approach offers a macro-perspective on social policy and seeks to purposefully link social and economic policies within a comprehensive, State-directed developmental process, involving both civil society and business organizations in promoting development goals.

The integrated developmental approach therefore regards economic development as a desirable and essential element in social welfare, and proposes that social programmes support macro-economic policies that promote employment, raise income and attain other ‘people centred’ economic development outcomes.

This approach is aimed at ensuring that social programmes be investment-orientated by promoting economic participation and generating positive rates of return to the economy. Whilst our programme of job creation through social cooperatives and community based projects is making progress as a way of empowering local communities of the Eastern Cape, to be selfsustaining and productive members of society, we believe that our vision of maximising our financial resources through Inter-Governmental and Private Sector collaboration will have far-reaching benefits.

In this regard, we have already mobilised resources and social partners to pilot Legacy projects by operationalising utilisation of old factories in both Dimbaza and Butterworth which when commissioned, will benefit a high number of unemployed people from these areas in sustainable jobs. We have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DEDEA through ECDC to facilitate a number of these initiatives involving the creation of jobs in the above mentioned factories.

These efforts, with support from our partners in the Private Sector combined with our Youth Development Programmes, will ensure that our limited resources can yield significantly bigger job creation opportunities.

The following sub-programmes within community development have been specifically designed to address the above stated objectives and expected outcomes.

4.1. Youth development

In responding to challenges of unemployment, the department is piloting the implementation of National Youth Service (NYS) in accordance to the National Youth Policy 2009-2014. The programme is targeting 200 young people and will partner with accredited institutions that offer apprenticeships which are expected to ensure market-ready skills for young people.

We will focus on young people with a minimum of grade 10 qualifications. These young people will be supported with a stipend of R1 200 each month in order to sustain themselves whilst studying. We will work closely with print and electronic media to reach out to communities in the periphery of our province. An amount of R6,4 million has been allocated for this pilot programme.

The department is coordinating Inter-Generational Programme (IGP) which seeks to encourage generations to engage in dialogues that will address issues of culture, indigenous knowledge and the revival of the age – old values of Ubuntu. Siza kubiza imbadu to bridge the generational gap. This programme will be integrated with a similar programme implemented under social welfare. An amount of R500 000 has been put aside for this programme.

The department is committed to promote entrepreneurship development programme for young people. The focus for the coming financial year is strengthening already existing initiatives and an amount of R7,3 million is set aside for that purpose. Survivors of violence particularly young people will be linked to entrepreneurship youth development programme for sustainable livelihoods througheconomic empowerment.

4.2. Sustainable livelihoods programme

The vision and mission of the Department compels us to target the vast majority who are poor, marginalized and vulnerable comprising a category who are undernourished, either do not have the means to produce food or cannot afford to buy sufficient food. This is a target group that has inadequate access to the means of production such as land, water, inputs, appropriate technology and farm credits.

Even though food assistance may be provided through social relief programmes to ease their plight, it is often not a long-term solution and therefore not sustainable to keep pace with the underlying causes of food insecurity. It is for this reason that the department has a specific mandate to empower local communities and poor households for sustainable livelihoods.

The aim of Sustainable Livelihoods Programme is to improve the livelihood capabilities of the poor communities and households and this is done by strengthening the means of living that a poor family/household and local community uses or could possibly use to achieve and sustain the well-being of its members. A number of approaches will be utilized in order to realise available opportunities for sustainable livelihood.

The short-term and most critical approach that will be utilised to improve material conditions necessary for survival purposes is a Development Project Based Approach which involves planning, designing and implementing economic projects which have a defined lifespan and addresses the poverty of living. This will address urgent unfulfilled basic physical needs like food, income, clean water, clothing, shelter etc.

The department will facilitate the establishment of food security cooperatives as one of the relevant examples of the economic development project based approach. Linked to the short-term Development Project Based Approach will be a long-term conscientisation approach aimed at supporting local communities in identifying blockages to change and development.

This process will focus on empowering local communities to be capable of managing social challenges and develop confidence in improving their own development. The department will use this approach to address the intangible psycho-social issues such as building community confidence and collective self-esteem, social cohesion, solidarity, linking individual with collective consciousness and promoting unity in diversity.

The Sustainable Livelihoods Programme is also used to integrate departmental services with DRDAR Zero Hunger Campaign. The department’s specific role in this campaign is to promote the development of households and local communities and the attainment of sustainable livelihoods by vulnerable households and local communities.

This partnership between Department and DRDAR will provide a foundation to build a more comprehensive food access strategy suitable for the different needs of households and communities in the Eastern Cape.

As part of integration, the Department has prioritised to utilise the Sustainable Livelihoods Programme to improve the capacity of poor households to support vulnerable children within ECD centres funded by the department.

• During the year 2012/13 about 14 000 families/households will be facilitated for empowerment towards sustainable livelihoods. This will involve awareness and conscientisation sessions for self-confidence and self-reliance.
• 1 400 households will have improved access to food and fresh produce through their participation in household food production programme.
• Eight (8) ECD Centres will be provided with start-up capital to operate food security gardens in each District (including the two Metros).
• 8 HCBCs will be provided with start-up capital to establish back-yard vegetable gardens in each local municipality.
• All department-owned institutions in the Eastern Cape will be used as market centres for fresh produce from our funded initiatives. An amount of R32 million has been allocated.

4.3. Women development

The aim of the sub-programme is to promote sustainable livelihood opportunities for women from disadvantaged backgrounds towards sustainability and self-reliance.

During 2012/13, the department will focus on the following initiatives:

• Community development awareness & advocacy programs focusing on specific issues affecting women.
• Empower our funded initiatives to supply products and services to State-Owned Institutions and all funded and subsidised organisations.
• Establishment of Women Development Fund aimed at reducing poverty and promoting women entrepreneurship development as well as other socio-economic aspects of women. A sum of R22,7 million has been set aside for this sub-programme.

4.4. After care funding policy

The Department will finalise and implement a special policy aimed at providing support to project members who are facing challenges of hardship whilst their projects are not yet making a profit during the first 6 months

4.5. Institutional capacity building and support

The aim of this sub-programme is to establish and capacitate new and existing Community Based Organisations towards improved social services delivery. During the year 2012/13, the department is committed to capacitating all community development initiatives that were funded in the previous and the coming financial year.

The department will strengthen 16 Community Development Structures (CDSs) in all 8 districts. Register 250 Community based and funded initiatives as legal entities. An amount of R11 million has been set aside for this programme.

4.6. Population and research

The Department monitors the implementation of the South African Population Policy which endorses the vision of a society that provides for an equitable quality of life for all, a society in which population trends are commensurate with sustainable socioeconomic and environmental development.

The aim of the subprogramme through the Population Policy is to bring about changes in the determinants of population trends, so that these are consistent with the achievements of sustainable human development. Central to this, is the integration of population information into plans andprogrammes of government Departments.

In 2012/13, the Research & Population Unit will continue to strengthen population capacity development programmes on the systematic integration of population factors into plans, programmes, and policies at all levels and within institutions of government, to reaffirm the centrality of the population to development.

In this regard, 100 government officials will be trained on Integration of Population Issues into Plans. 8 Population development advocacy and dissemination sessions will be conducted for population policy promotion. The Unit will also be instrumental in making available reliable and up-to-date research and demographic information on the population and human development in the province.

As research is important to generate new knowledge that informs departmental programmes, a research project on “Impact of Migration on service delivery in the Eastern Cape” will be commissioned. An amount of R2,1 million has been allocated for this programme.

5. Special programmes unit

The Special Programmes mandate is to lead, facilitate, coordinate, monitor and report on the effective implementation of the constitutional, regional and international mandates with regards to gender, disability, children and the older persons. During the year 2012/13, the SPU will be facilitating consultation processes on the national strategy with provincial government departments and stakeholders on the considerations for women, children, older Persons and people with disabilities.

This process seeks to customise and contextualise the broader national strategy to designated groups. In an attempt to foster compliance, the SPU will continue to facilitate alignment of policies to departmental programmes. Responding to difficulties experienced by the deaf community, the recently held Summit on Disability resolved to encourage each government department, municipalities and all public service centres to have a sign language interpreter.

The department will facilitate the brailling of key policy documents for accessibility to the blind community. A Provincial Equity Task Team has been established to support government departments towards achieving the set equity targets.

The SPU will continue to coordinate various government departments in an attempt to consolidate achievement of MDG targets in particular MDG 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 through the following programmes:

• Empowerment of rural women
• Eliminating early and forced marriages in the province
• Access to justice for people with disabilities
• Protection of key populations at risk especially older persons and children.

An amount of R14 million has been set aside for this programme.

6. Provincial anti-poverty coordination and integration programme

The war on poverty campaign launched in Lubala village, Lusikisiki in 2008 has made significant progress. Amongst key achievements in this intervention is the building of 21 houses, an Early Childhood Development centre, Healthcare centre, improved access to sanitation as well as massive food security programme.

Change agents were identified from the poor households to assist in graduating their families out of poverty. As we expand this intervention to other areas, plans are underway to construct a multipurpose centre as well as to complete the remaining 91 houses in this coming financial year in Lubala village.

The department has committed to host the Provincial Poverty Indaba on 25 and 26 March 2012 wherein the province will adopt its Provincial Anti- Poverty Strategy. The aim of the Strategy is to focus more on Integrated Service Delivery focusing on joint planning, programming and implementation as well as participatory monitoring.

Incorporated to this strategy is the development of a Family Based Poverty Eradication Model with a special focus on families living in poverty so that integrated family support services are provided. This means prioritising the family system as a unit of development within the community context and is the most appropriate model for integration.

7. Administration and support function

The department in strengthening the core business: Social Welfare and Community Development programmes have set aside an amount of R14,5 million to fast-track implementation of e-government. A total of 950 computers and network equipment will be issued to province and districts to improve efficiency of service.

Furthermore, the department is committed to improve working conditions for quality services and an amount of R44,410 million has been set aside targeting the following infrastructural projects:

• Burgersdorp place of safety
• Ngqamakwe service office
• Libode Service Office
• Dutywa service office
• Willowvale service office
• Bethelsdorp Service Office

The department has already initiated Employee Health & Wellness Day and is committed to encourage healthy lifestyle amongst our employees. Furthermore, this coming financial year we have identified Wednesdays as sport day with a view to follow the principle of mens sana incopore sano “healthy bodies-healthy minds”.

The department is striving to keep pace with the norm of one social work is to three thousand population size, the department has already appointed 318 social workers in 2011/12 and is targeting 332 social workers in the next financial year 2012/13.

The department is enhancing the embedding of Risk Management into the overall governance towards improved internal controls by conducting Isolated Risk Vulnerability Assessments to curb fraud and corruption especially on transfer payments. This will be achieved by a consolidated public-private partnership between the department, NGOs and Banks. The relationship with Law Enforcement Agencies will be enhanced to expand the investigation capacity of the department.

7. Conclusion

As we celebrate the centenary, one of the corner-stones that characterised the successes of the ANC as a movement was through strong and living alliances. The fruits of democracy that we enjoy today were attained through sweat and tears; therefore, we have to demonstrate that commitment in order to combat poverty, inequality and other social ills.

Hon Speaker and Members, I want to reiterate that, this social contract we have committed ourselves to, lays the basis for a South Africa that continues to improve the quality of life of its people. We will forever be grateful to our social partners for the positive spirit and good working relations they continue to demonstrate on a daily basis in bringing about positive social changes.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Portfolio Committee for Social Development and Special Programmes, Office of the Premier, my Colleagues and friends for their words of wisdom and guidance, Social Development staff, SASSA, sister departments, Local Municipalities, Traditional Leadership, Faith-Based Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), Business sector, and other stakeholders.

Hon Speaker and Members, we are indeed humbled and elevated by the honour and privilege that has been bestowed on us by the people of this province to graduate poor and vulnerable communities towards sustainable livelihoods.

Honourable Speaker and Members, I now present to you the budget proposal for 2012/13

Budget breakdown per programme

Programme's Medium-term expenditure estimate 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15

Yanga sisonke singagqama njengabanye abasebenzileyo!
Ngxatsho ke! Zidwesha! Nezidwangube. Maz`enethole.