Relations
10 October 2007
The Department of Social Development wishes to correct inaccurate statements
made by the Democratic Alliance (DA) regarding the international relations
responsibilities of Minister Zola Skweyiya. The DA said the Minister had
undertaken 19 visits and spent 109 days abroad at a cost of R1 million, and
added that the Minister's portfolio, which is focused on the fight against
poverty, was / should be exclusively inward-looking.
We wish to clarify as follows:
* The Minister undertook 12 foreign visits, spending less than 60 days
outside the country, during the last financial year. Some of the visits were on
direction from the Presidency, or undertaken on behalf of the Minister of
Foreign Affairs. Skweyiya also has international leadership responsibilities,
as the President of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (Unesco)'s Management of Social Transformations Programme (MOST),
which seeks to deepen and integrate social transformation policies
globally.
* The cost of foreign travel during the financial year was just over R600
000, and not R1 million as the DA stated. Although it is difficult to quantify
the benefits entirely on monetary terms, in conducting a cost / benefit
analysis for the financial year, international engagements mobilised at least
R329,4 million with additional and invaluable contributions to the programming
and policy arena.
It is incorrect to say that the portfolio has no international relations
implications. The Social Development portfolio has grown considerably since
1994 leading to increased bilateral and multilateral interaction with almost
all regions in the world. South Africa's successful social assistance
programme, now reaching more than 12 million people, has generated interest
internationally.
"The development of solid, long-term partnerships based on trust with the
developing countries will strengthen the prospects of intensifying our poverty
reduction programmes," explained Director-General, Vusi Madonsela.
The areas of focus in international relations for the Department are the
following:
* rebuilding of family and community relations
* a comprehensive social security system
* eradicating violence against woman and children, older persons and other
vulnerable groups
* the fight against HIV and AIDS and dealing with the social impact of the
disease
* youth development
* improving accessibility to social welfare services
* improving services to people with disabilities
* transformation of social development sector and skills development.
"Some key priorities are inherent in our approach to foreign policy. These
include the promotion of South-South Co-operation and North-South Partnerships.
In addition, we have to play a key role, like all other government departments,
towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. All these
require coordinated inputs from all of government, in all its spheres,
including the departments of the Social Cluster in general, and the Department
of Social Development in particular," said Madonsela.
Amongst key activities in the last financial year, the Minister signed
agreements with Mauritius and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and hosted
delegations from the City of New York, Angola, Zimbabwe, Vietnam and Mexico.
Madonsela explained: "In the current financial year, we have focused on
retirement reform and other comprehensive social security processes, hence
visits to Norway and Iceland to learn from their successful programmes. We have
also signed a co-operation agreement with Cuba which we expect will lead to
successes in youth development and training. On the social security front, we
have been asked to host the World Social Security Forum in 2010, recognition of
the successes our country has scored in social security reform and in providing
a safety net for vulnerable citizens. We have also made good progress in
developing our social policy programme through cooperation with institutions in
the United Nations family and other international bodies."
The department will continue with its international relations programme, in
pursuit of the goal of an improved quality of life for all through
international partnerships.
Enquiries:
Lakela Kaunda
Cell: 082 782 2575
Issued by: Department of Social Development
10 October 2007
Source: Department of Social Development (http://www.dsd.gov.za)
