21 September 2006
The Department of Social Development (DSD) today tabled its annual report
for the last financial year, 2005/06 in Parliament, outlining progress made in
the DSDâs role of providing a safety net and relief measures for the poor, the
vulnerable and the marginalised in the country.
The annual report indicates achievements in several areas, the highlight
being the R1,2 billion saving generated.
The savings resulted primarily from a range of measures to improve the
integrity of the social grants system, especially the Comprehensive Anti-Fraud
Strategy.
The measures included:
* offering an indemnity which resulted in more than 86 000 applications by
people who were receiving grants wrongfully, and their removal from the system,
and the stopping of grants of public servants and others who were receiving the
money wrongfully
* developing a realistic and appropriate budget for social grants
* reviewing temporary and other grants as they became due for reviews. For
example, about 150 000 temporary disability grants were reviewed, in adherence
to proper administrative procedures, and with minimal disruption of payment
processes. Total savings of more than R200 million was achieved due to this
exercise.
Minister Zola Skweyiya said, âHad we not undertaken these measures we would
probably have overspent on our budget. We thank all members of the public and
law enforcement agencies who helped us to achieve these targets during the past
financial year. We rely on the law enforcement agencies and the courts to take
the matter forward with regards to the outstanding casesâ.
Some of the social security highlights in the annual report include reaching
the figure of more than 10 million South Africans who receive social
grants.
Minister Skweyiya said, âResearch findings have consistently confirmed that
the grants not only reduce the occurrence of hunger and extreme poverty, but
they facilitate household access to basic services and economic opportunities.
The studies also indicate that households receiving social grants focus their
expenditure more strongly on basic needs such as food, fuel, housing and
household operations."
The Department is actively engaged in projects to support the beneficiaries
of social grants and others in poor households to engage in income-generating
activities that will augment their income or make them self-reliant. âOur new
sustainable livelihoods and community development programmes are critical
because despite the positive impact of social grants, they are not a long-term
solution to poverty eradication. We are also aware that some of the poor
households whose members receive grants, and who do not have any other means of
income, become dependent, though not by choice, on social grants as a means for
survival," said Minister Skweyiya.
South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)
On 1 April 2006, the South African Social Security Agency took over the
disbursement and administration of social grants. The Western Cape, Gauteng and
Northern Cape were the first provinces transferred to the agency.
Legislation
The Childrenâs Bill was passed in the National Assembly (NA) in December
2005 and the Older Persons Bill on 23 March 2006. The costing and
implementation planning processes are ongoing.
HIV and AIDS Home Based Community Care
The improvement in the management of the Home Based Community Care programme
for HIV and AIDS resulted in an increase in the number of communities, families
and individuals who are accessing services provided.
The following are among the achievements of the programme, in the year
2005/6:
* a total of 218 259 orphans and vulnerable children were identified and
received appropriate services
* visits were conducted to 26 623 child headed households to provide
counselling and support services
* a total of 30 863 children were referred for foster care placements
* 268 382 affected families were assisted, and 170 184 food parcels were
distributed
* six hundred childcare forums have been established nationally to identify
orphans and vulnerable children.
Victim empowerment
A one-stop centre was established in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, which
includes a shelter for abused women and children. On average the centre attends
to approximately 55 clients a month, and there are five such centres in the
country. Partnership to establish two shelters for victims of domestic violence
in rural areas has been secured with Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
The Transnet Foundation donated R600 000 for strengthening four shelters in
Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Free State provinces.
Children
Various programmes continued for the protection of children, including the
installation of the Child Protection Register in provinces. Progress was made
in finding permanent homes for children. Two hundred and fifty one (251) inter
country adoptions and 2 256 domestic adoptions were registered in 2005/06.
Social crime prevention
The added focus on preventative and diversion programmes directed at
children in conflict with the law saw approximately 30 000 children being
diverted from the criminal justice system through agreements with the National
Prosecuting Authority (NPA), provincial departments of Social Development and
non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Some 1 000 children in conflict with the law benefited from home based
supervision programmes. Efforts resulted in a 40% reduction in the numbers of
children in correctional service facilities between 2004 and March 2006. In
order to augment the efforts of only 786 probation officers available to the
DSD through the National Youth Service (NYS) programme, 940 young assistant
probation officers began their 18-month training.
Non-profit organisations (NPOs)
The Department received 13 405 applications for registration as NPOs during
the year under review. Only 8 398 were processed as the balance did not meet
the requirements. The total figure of registered NPOs was 37 532 by March 2006.
In addition, in line with Section 20 of the NPO Act, 1 340 letters of
non-compliance were sent out to organisations, resulting in 1 024 organisations
being de-registered.
To assist NGOs to comply, 14 training workshops were conducted in seven
provinces for 315 community-based Early Childhood Development (ECD) sites, in
collaboration with the South African Early Childhood Development Congress. In
addition, 18 workshops were conducted for 540 community-based organisations in
nine provinces, and a three-day workshop with 109 community-based organisations
(CBOs) in Mpumalanga.
Enquiries: Lakela Kaunda
Cell: 082 782 2575
Issued by: Department of Social Development
21 September 2006
