Family Indaba, CRC Church
28 November 2006
Honourable Mayor
Honourable MECs
Programme Director
Heads of departments
Colleagues
Parents
Families
The family is recognised throughout society as a basic element of social
existence. The family is regarded not only as a potential powerful agent for
political, economic, cultural and social change, but also as a potent element
for the care, protection and development of its members.
The inception of the democratic government in South Africa in 1994 coincided
with the declaration of 1994 as the International Year of the Family. Families
in the world are undergoing tremendous changes and continue to experience
difficulties in fulfilling their social roles.
Rendering a comprehensive developmental service to families to enable them
to fulfil a supportive role has become a major challenge to not only the
Department of Social Services and Population Development but to government as a
whole as well as other partner in the non-governmental organisation (NGO) and
faith-based organisation (FBO) sector.
"A nation in the making, a discussion document on the macro social trends in
South Africa", reflects on the major trends for households and families on a
national level. It stipulates that there has been an increase in the number of
both single and extended households while there has been a decline in the
nuclear type household.
It further states that in relation to extended households there is a higher
dependency ratio with more of such households having a high number of children
and older women. The Northern Cape province comprises a population of 219 984
households (114 283 male headed and 75 701 female headed) Statistics South
Africa. According to the Northern Cape Provincial Growth and Development
Strategy 42,8% of the people have an income below the poverty breadline of
R800. Unemployment is also unacceptably high.
These factors, both on national and provincial level, have resulted in
families being faced with many challenges that impact on the well-being of the
members and communities at large. In addition, the fostering of children living
apart from their biological parents shows a significant increase which impacts
on the social upbringing of children and the preservation of family life.
These challenges are also to a great extent related to the HIV and AIDS
pandemic, which places a significant burden of care on families, especially on
grandparents and young children as primary caregivers.
The above dynamics contributes to the problem of dysfunctional families and
social pathologies such as substance abuse, domestic violence and abuse of
older persons. Dealing with these challenges remains the responsibility of
government, key stakeholders, civil society and the private sector to ensure
that families and communities have sufficient resources to provide for the
basic needs of their members.
Government affirms the contribution of the family to nation building and
economic growth and sustainability. The family plays an important role in
socialisation which contributes to the broader family values and broader
social, cultural and national values.
Every single member of the family not only has an important role to play but
he/she is regarded as valuable and must be treated with respect. Self-esteem
and self-actualisation of each family member should be met within the family.
We must also support and strengthen families to promote their
responsibilities.
The enhancement of parenting skills and restoration of values need to be
emphasised. The family is one of the key societal institutions along with
schools and faith-based organisations amongst others, wherein values are
acquired and reinforced as standards for behaviour generally accepted by a
particular group, community or society.
Over the decades, the absence of an integrated strategy to preserve families
has resulted in the fragmentation of services to families. The theme for this
conference is "Families, the core of society". We therefore affirm that an
integrated approach is needed to ensure the well being of families.
The Department of Social Development together with other government
departments' as well as civil society organisations have developed the first
ever Family Policy for South Africa.
The policy which is currently in draft form will serve as a framework to
guide services to families as well as other role players with the main aim of
promoting and strengthening functional families as well as preventing their
vulnerability.
The policy on families calls for strengthening of intersectoral
collaboration to promote the positive benefits of well-functioning families,
rebuilding and forging of sound relationships as well as provision of support
mechanisms to ultimately regenerate morals in society.
It is important to emphasise that families are the main source of human
capital development. There is thus a reciprocal relationship between families
and society because families depend on the society for financial and material
resources to perform their critical functions whilst the family is the vehicle
to restore and instil societal values and norms. Having said that, it is also
important to reflect on what is the existing support for families.
One of the key objectives of all the programmes facilitated by the
department of Social Services and Population Development, be it for women,
children, the elderly, people with disabilities or youth in conflict with the
law, is family preservation. The department also renders generic services to
families.
These include the Professional Foster Care Programme which facilitates
family reunification with the Northern Cape's programme being identified as a
best practice model in the country.
The Isibindi Programme and Group Foster Homes programme as implemented in
areas of the Frances Baard region. Then there is also the annual awareness
programme during the International Day for Families. However, services and
programmes to strengthen and empower the family to fulfil its obligations in
this regard are not sufficient and clearly needs our focused attention.
The National Family Policy is more encompassing and points out the importance
of ensuring that families have access to essential services and resources such
as shelter, health services, quality education, water and sanitation etc.
The institution of the family in South Africa is subject to wide ranging
social, economic, political and demographic influences, which challenge
families and simultaneously determine how individuals respond to social change.
All government departments who render services to families should strengthen
partnerships with the Moral Regeneration Movement so that programmes and
services should advance good family values.
The 16 Days of Activism on No Violence Against Women and Children which
commenced on 24 November and will run until 10 December provides us with a
valuable opportunity to promote the importance of family. The involvement of
men in guarding against violence towards women and children as well as the
promotion of the family as an institution is also of utmost importance.
The Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya said on International
Day for families earlier in 2006 that families are the most critical unit of
society and the foundation upon which communities and nations are founded.
Let us as a collective reclaim our families and preserve them to ensure a
healthier community. At the heart of our approach to families should be the
spirit of Ubuntu. A person is a person through other people and so we must work
together to preserve our families but also towards the advancement of the
community in general.
Let us use this Indaba as an opportunity not only to develop an integrated
plan for families' but also to reflect and consider what we can contribute to
our respective families and the preservation thereof.
I wish you all fruitful deliberations and hope that this Indaba will be
successful in every way.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
28 November 2006
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.northern-cape.gov.za)
