the National Association of People Living with AIDS (Napwa), Pretoria
2 July 2007
The Department of Social Development and the National Association of people
Living with AIDS (Napwa) have reiterated their commitment to work together to
resolve matters affecting members of the organisation.
At a meeting held in Pretoria today (2 July 2007) led by the Deputy
Director-General for Integrated Development Ms Vuyelwa Nhlapo and senior DSD
and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) officials and the NAPWA
delegation led by Mr Nkuleleko Nxesi, it was agreed to carry out as a matter of
urgency the decision taken at an earlier meeting held on 24 May 2007.
At the meeting on 24 May 2007 it was agreed that interactions between the
two parties would occur in task teams led by the Deputy Director-General for
Social Security Mr Selwyn Jehoma to deal with matters affecting social
security, and the Chief Director for Community Development Ms Sadi Luka, to
deal with issues affecting income generation and employment creation.
Mr Nxesi said there were three issues that Napwa wanted to be dealt with
urgently:
* that the government stop deregistering people living with AIDS from social
grants
* that the issue of CD 4 count be delinked from social grants
* that the issue of food parcels for those destitute members be
considered
* Napwa requested a meeting with the Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola
Skweyiya.
The issues are being considered by the DSD.
Napwa supplied names of their representatives to a joint task team that will
look into the matters.
The two groups agreed to meet again in a month's time to review
progress.
"We are really committed to this process of working together. We are
optimistic that we will be able to find common ground, and resolve issues to
the benefit of all affected parties," said Ms Nhlapo after the meeting.
Enquiries:
Kgati Sathekge
Cell: 082 808 9486
Issued by: Department of Social Development
2 July 2007
