5 October 2007
The Minister for Social Development, Zola Skweyiya met with MECs responsible
for social development today, Friday, 5 October 2005, in Johannesburg.
Various issues were discussed with an emphasis on the social development
priority of fighting poverty.
MinMEC (Minister and MECs) applauded the South African Social Security
Agency (Sassa) on its successful anti-poverty Integrated Community Registration
Outreach Programme (ICROP). The programme is aimed at bringing services closer
to rural based communities especially in the former Bantustan areas which face
deprivation. The campaign, which began in May 2007, has resulted in the issuing
of 61 389 social grants in the Eastern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
"These are people in need who may never have received assistance due to the
fact that they live in remote rural areas, and cannot afford to travel to town
to apply for grants, identity documents and to obtain other services. We are
pleased that we have in particular reached 43 861 children within this short
period between May and August. If we can achieve so much in four months, it
indicates that the programme has great potential," said Minister Skweyiya.
The programme is geared specifically at reducing child poverty in a
developmental manner, through the following manner:
* endeavours to ensure that the Child Support Grant is linked to
schooling
* citizens do not have to travel long distances to access government services
as services are brought to their doorstep.
A 'one stop service' is provided to the communities in the form of
applications for grants, identity documents, birth certificates, general
welfare services, immunisation, road to health card, assessment of clients,
health promotion and HIV testing.
MinMEC invited all stakeholders, the media and opinion makers to consider
the positive aspects of the Children's Amendment Bill and the new Children's
Act. Concern was raised that the media and opinion makers have tended to
sensationalise some aspects of the legislation leading to confusion about the
objectives of the progressive legislation.
MinMEC agreed that provincial departments should work closely with the
National Parliament on the process of the Children's Amendment Bill which is
currently before Parliament. The Bill was introduced as a Section 76 Bill in
the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in May 2007. It contains a Section 76
component which is concurrent provincial and national competencies in terms of
Schedule 4 of the Constitution, and complements the Children's Act no 38 of
2005.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Social Development intends to
finalise the process in both houses of Parliament by November 2007.
MinMEC received reports on proposed social development interventions to
assist in the reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Reports were
also received on the agreement that was signed recently with the government of
Cuba, which includes collaboration on youth training and social work
development programmes. Further discussions will be undertaken by the Minister
and MEC on the content of the Cuba and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
interventions and implementation plans.
Enquiries:
Lakela Kaunda
Cell: 082 782 2575
Issued by: Department of Social Development
5 October 2007
Source: Department of Social Development (http://www.dsd.gov.za)
