Social Cluster

ActionsDepartmentsTimeframeProgress - Updated 15 Feb 2005

1.00

COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM

   
1.01Extension of child support grant-within two years add 3.2 million children becoming eligible as upper-age limit reaches 14DSD2006Over 1.3 million children aged 7 and 8 years have been registered and over 70 000 children aged 9 and 10 years registered; constituting approximately 60% of target
1.02Social Security Agency-implementation started 1 April 2004, to be operating by April 2005DSD2005Social security Agency Act signed off by the President. Logistical arrangements underway to set up a functional institution by Apr-05
1.03Basic services including provision of free basic services:DPLGOngoingSee 1.03.1 - 1.03.3 below
1.03.1Main remaining challenges in sanitation and refuse removal, especially in rural communities and areas of human settlementDWAF, DEAT Provincial Support Units in place
1.03.2Challenges of culture of non-payment, billing systems, control mechanisms and indigent policies that vary from one municipality to anotherDPLG Jan-05 Cabinet Lekgotla discussed the overall Comprehensive Social Security System, including Indigent policy issues. Social Cluster will present to Cabinet further work on these.
1.03.3Social cluster to work with G&A to ensure achievement of Free Basic Service PolicySS and G&A clusters Households receiving free basic services: free basic water, to about three-quarters of households in areas with infrastructure to supply potable water; and free basic energy 45%.
1.04Poverty Measures-Research to audit poverty measures used by different departmentsStatsSA, Presidency Study on poverty measures used by different departments has been completed.
1.05Social Health Insurance-Integrated framework and implementation plan for Social Health Insurance (SHI) and Road Accident Fund to Cabinet (If Cabinet approves SHI in principle)DoH, DoTSep-04Jan-05 Cabinet Lekgotla noted work on SHI, including the proposed Risk Equalisation Fund. Further detailed work and proposals would be tabled for a full Cabinet discussion by Jun-05
1.06Addressing efficiencies and unintended consequences of social protection:NT, Presidency, DSD, DoL See 1.06.1-1.06.5 below
1.06.1Issues of dependency, perverse incentives and sustainability of the social grant systemDSD, NT, Presidency Research on the impact of grants completed. A survey of 14 000 households underway will give more focused assessment of potential perverse incentives and dependency. A rapid assessment indicated that current growth of grant beneficiaries should level-off
1.06.2Social grant links to poverty and unemploymentDSD, NT, DoL See 1.06.1
1.06.3Continued sustainability of social security system and budgetsDSD, NT Panel survey of households underway, first draft will be completed during 2005
1.06.4Reviewing and determining the targeting of all social security grant types, enhancing rules & regulations for each typeDSD, NT 60% of officials of DSD security division retrained. Integrity improvement projects implemented, including data interrogation, partnership with Special Investigating Unit and a study to be undertaken to assess the extent of compliance with means tests
1.06.5Reviewing causes of rapid expansion of disability grants, including dealing with fraud, definitions and other potential leakagesDSD, NT, DoH, Presidency Study into causes of high disability growth underway and a Disability Management Team established. A management information system rolled out in three provinces to gather data on disability grants will be extended to all nine provinces
1.07Efficient delivery of social grants to all 7,7 million beneficiaries, including rural beneficiariesDSD Target of 10.1 million beneficiaries accomplished and a draft Strategic Plan for improving service delivery together with Norms and Standards Implementation Plan for each province have been developed

2.00

PROMOTION OF NATIONAL IDENTITY AND SOCIAL COHESION

   
2.01Department-based programmes to address exclusion based on race and genderDSD, Presidency, DoE, DoH Evaluation of gender focal points still continuing
2.02Rehabilitation of communities in line with TRC recommendationsDPLG, Presidency, DoH, DoE, DAC, DSR Several meetings between DPLG and the Business Trust have taken place, documents produced and four nodes have been identified where feasibility studies would be undertaken
2.03Review the impact of socio-economic transformation on social cohesion in communities and across society, including issues like non-racialism and non-sexism, the role and place of family, value systems, identity and moral regenerationPresidency, DSD, NT, DoE,Within coming monthsPreliminary report on study to be presented early in 2005. Preliminary report on the non-racialism and non-sexism study has been finalised.
2.04Enhanced integration between the security and social clusters to deal with roots of many of the crimes communities experience, starting off in the nodes identified for rural and urban renewalCluster Chairs, Presidency Joint cluster meeting held at the end of Oct-04 to discuss joint programmes
2.05Before the next Lekgotla, PCAS to prepare a presentation for a Cabinet discussion of broad macro-social trendsPresidencySep-04First draft of document presented to Cabinet in Nov-04. Findings of the macro-social report were presented to the Cabinet Lekgotla in Jan-05

3.00

COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE-ADDRESSING CHALLENGE OF COMMUNICABLE AND NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

   
3.01Health promotion, reduction of non-communicable disease and unnatural causes of death:DoH, DoEOngoingSee 3.01.1 - 3.01.3 below
3.01.1Promotion of healthy lifestyles and change from risky behaviour especially among the youthDoH, DoE The Health Promotion Schools Initiative is being implemented in most provinces. The Youth Friendly Clinic Initiative is being expanded
3.01.2Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, asthma and hypertension remain a major focus areaDoH Guidelines updated to incorporate best practices: risk assessment tool developed
3.01.3Work on study of causes of unnatural death to continueStats, DoHOngoingActivities of relevant governments in preventing non-natural causes of deaths reviewed. Progress report on research presented to Cabinet Jan-05
3.02HIV and AidsDOH See 3.02.1-3.02.3 below
3.02.1Implementation of Comprehensive Plan- 113 health facilities fully operational and 53,000 people on treatmentDoHMar-05121 facilities accredited by end Dec-04 with 51 of the 53 health districts implementing the Plan. By the beginning of February over 29000 patients had been enrolled for anti retroval treatment. Nutrition supplements distributed to facilities
3.02.2Integration and strengthening of programmes within governmentDoH, DPSA Coordination between DPSA and DoH in place to monitor departmental HIV and AIDS programmes
3.02.3Khomanani social mobilization campaignDoH Material developed for TV, radio and outdoor displays to strengthen the national comprehensive TB, STI and HIV and AIDS campaign. Work commenced on the face-to-face dimension of the campaign which includes training 27 teams
3.03TuberculosisDoH See 3.03.1-3.03.2 below
3.03.1Integration of the TB and HIV and AIDS programmeDoH 73 sub-districts trained in integrated TB, HIV and STI services
3.03.2Response to Multiple Drug Resistant TB due to non-complianceDoH Preliminary findings from case control study discussed and appropriate interventions under discussion
3.04Malaria-improved inter-departmental coordination to address water and vector borne disease- reducing cases by 10% per yearDoH10% per annumMalaria programme is being integrated into provincial communicable diseases control programmes; DWAF, DPLG and DEAT officials included in outbreak response teams
3.05Cholera and other water borne diseases: adequate provision of safe drinking water and sanitation in settlement areasDWAF, DoH Health and Hygiene programmes incorporated into school curricula grades 0 – 6. DWAF, DPLG and DEAT officials included in outbreak response teams
3.06Through the regulations on the pricing of medicines bring about the reduction of cost of medicines at retail outletsDoH The Supreme Court of Appeal set the regulations aside in Dec-04. The Minister has appealed to the Constitutional Court. The regulations have to date reduced the manufacturer price of medicines by an estimated 19%, saving consumers about R2.3 billion

4.00

MEETING THE INCREASING CHALLENGE OF HOUSING AND HUMAN SETTLEMENT

  See 4.01 - 4.09 below
4.01Making inroads into the housing backlog amplified by growth in number of households and rapid urbanisation as well as lack of institutional capacity and integrated governmentHousing National Department of Housing is finalising business plans with provincial counterparts so as to begin roll-out in the next funding cycle. Social Cluster to detail analysis of targets and funding mechanism
4.02Interventions to address slow down in housing delivery, as well as addressing the broader question of spatial settlement and its implications for the effort to build a non-racial societyHousing, DPLG, DLA, Presidency See 4.01
4.04All households to have access to clean running water, within the next five yearsDWAF, DPLG2009See 4.05 below and 1.03.2 – 1.03.3 above
4.05Clean and potable water to the 10th millionth South African since 1994DWAFDec-04In Nov-04 the 10 millionth recipient of clean and potable water was celebrated in the Northern Cape.
4.06More than 300 000 households will be provided with basic sanitationDWAF, DPLGMar-05Guidelines to implement budget sanitation developed Free Basic Sanitation policy approved by Minister Supported the development and roll out of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant process
4.07Ensure that each household has access to electricity through our integrated system of government, with strengthened local government working with our SOE, ESKOM, within the next eight yearsDME, DPLG2012Plans for intensified implementation are in place and the roll-out of bulk infrastructure especially in the nodal zones has commenced
4.08A comprehensive programme dealing with human settlement and social infrastructure, including rental-housing stock for the poor will be presented to the Cabinet within three monthsHousingAug-04See 4.01 and 4.02
4.09In the next three years we will spend R14,2 billion to help our people to have access to basic shelterHousing, DPLG, NT2007See 4.01

5.00

FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

   
5.01Food Security:DOA, SS Cluster See 5.01.1 - 5.01.3 below
5.01.1Agricultural Starter Pack Programme- to move people out of the Food Parcel Scheme by growing own food - Cluster to explore mechanism for visible implementation integrated with other programmesSS cluster To date, Agricultural Starter Packs to the value of R31 925 000 have been delivered to some 18 575 households in all provinces
5.01.2Financing requirements for the farmer support programmeDOA Through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) an initial sum of R200m was distributed to all Provinces for 2004/5
5.01.3Revival of agricultural state and state-supported community schemes to help communitiesDOA Guidelines for the rehabilitation of small-scale community irrigation schemes have been finalised
5.02National School Nutrition Programme, including social mobilisation for food gardens. Cluster to develop a plan for implementation with community participation in 21 nodes within next three monthsDoE, DPLG, SS clusterAug-04An assessment of economic activities identifiable in the School Nutrition supply chain in nodal municipalities in 8 provinces completed. Capacity to drive food security activities being consolidated

6.00

EPWP- IMPLEMENTING THE SOCIAL ASPECT

  See 6.01 - 6.02 below
6.01Community Health Worker Programme, launched February 2004, to be expanded to 300 additional sites- detailed plans and resources required to CabinetDoHJul-04Implementation plan for the policy framework has been developed. Community Health Worker Audit has been re-scoped and is due to start. Unit Standards and Skills Programme are being finalised
6.02Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programmes- Integrated plan for comprehensive ECD service to be developed- detailed plans and resources required to CabinetDoEJul-04Revision of Guidelines for ECD Services with support from United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is being conducted. Integrated plan in ECD is being reviewed by independent ECD experts.
6.03Social Infrastructure & Human Settlement Redevelopment Programmes-piloting of rental housing stock for the poor, creating additional employment opportunities-detailed plans and resources required to CabinetHousingJul-04See 4.01

7.00

EDUCATION- BROADENING ACCESS AND IMPROVING QUALITY

  See 7.01 - 7.04 below
7.01Recapitalise all technical colleges and intermediate training institutions, ensuring that they have the necessary infrastructure, capacity and programmes relevant to the needs of our economy, during the course of this financial yearDoEMar-05Needs analysis done for the purpose of recapitalisation
7.02Consolidate the merger process of institutions of higher learning ensuring that they do, in reality, become single institutions with a unified institutional culture, during this calendar yearDoEDec-04The four new institutions that were established in Jan-04 have completed the legal process and new councils have been established
7.03Ensure that there is no learner and student learning under a tree, mud-school or under any dangerous conditions that expose learners and teachers to the elements, by the end of this financial yearDoE, DPWMar-05All Provinces reported some progress. 142 new schools are under construction this year
7.04All schools are expected to have access to clean water and sanitation by the end of the current financial yearDoE, DWAFMar-05Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) have provided 53 boreholes in the Free State, and Department of Housing has provided some 400 toilets to schools

8.00

ISRDP/URP

   
8.01Address causes of socio-economic exclusion and deprivationDPLG Implementation Framework for the ISRDP stakeholder consultation finalised. Nodal specific interventions to inform departments’ contributions underway
8.02Consolidate development interventions and expand coverage of nodesDPLG Municipalities have been identified for Project Consolidate. See also 8.01
8.03Developing and implementing an integrated M&E frameworkDPLG Second draft of the conceptual framework has been developed. Consultation with key stakeholders has commenced
8.04A financing protocol for Rural Development and Urban Renewal nodes will be finalised to improve the effective and coordinated financing of these Programmes by the three spheres of government and the different departments.DPLGJul-04Audit of contributions of departments against needs of nodes undertaken. More work on Financing Protocols in progress. See also 8.01