The Auditor-General has given the Department of Social Development a clean audit report for the fiscal year 2012/13. Giving his opinion on the finances of the department, the Auditor-General said:
“… the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Department of Social Development as at 31 March 2013, and its financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with the departmental financial reporting framework prescribed by the National Treasury and the requirements of the PFMA.”
The department’s Annual Report was presented to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development in Parliament on October 9 by its political head, Minister Bathabile Dlamini.
The Auditor-General found that the department achieved an overall spending rate of 99,1% for the financial year. The bulk of the department’s annual budget of over R112 billion is spent on social assistance.
While there is an amount of R999 million for the payment of social grants that was not transferred, this does not reflect under spending. This was occasioned by the fact that expenditure projections are done in such a manner that will ensure there is not shortfall to pay current and prospective beneficiaries that will enter the system.
Social assistance continues to form an important part of government’s strategy to fight the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment. During the year under review, social grant beneficiaries increased to 16 106 110, thus protecting thousands more households and millions of children from abject poverty.
Although the number of beneficiaries increased, government was able to make savings on social grant payments as a result of the successful initiatives by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to clean up fraud in the system through the re-registration process.
The clean audit caps a year on which the department has recorded a number of crucial successes. The department recognises that one of the ways of breaking the cycle of inter-generational poverty is investment in children to aid their development, especially at age 0 – 4.
The provision of early childhood development (ECD) services, therefore, continues to be at the top of the department’s agenda. In the 2012/13 financial year, the department increased the number of children (up to school going age) accessing ECD programmes by 15% to 124 870.
In order to ensure that ECD centres in the country provide an adequate service and are assisted to improve their capacity, the department conducted audits in 6 216 ECD centres in all provinces.
Child care and protection measures were also improved. The department was able to place 157 024 children in foster care; while the number of children accessing drop-in centres increased by 450%.
Food security remains one of government’s key outcomes. The department of Social Development is tasked with facilitating and monitoring the implementation of the Food for All Programme. To this end, 555 957 distressed households were provided with food through the department and Food Bank South Africa programme.
While social relief of distress provides short term relief for poor households, government recognises that longer term solutions are needed. This is why the drive for employment creation remains critical.
During the year under review, the department created 171 668 job opportunities in the Social Sector and extended the number of Community Work Programme (CWP) sites by 148. The presentation of the annual report to the Portfolio Committee comes within days of the conclusion of Older Persons Week, aimed at promoting respect for the rights of older persons.
In its efforts to create an enabling environment for protecting and promoting the rights of older persons, the department registered 104 community-based care and support services for older persons. A further 180 residential care facilities were registered. The number of older persons benefiting from community-based care and support services increased to 35 197.
The Global AgeWatch Index Report released on September 30 ranks South Africa second in Africa, behind Mauritius, on programmes implemented to secure the wellbeing of older persons. The Global AgeWatch Index is a global study conducted by the United Nations (UN) and an elder rights group, the Help Age.
Minister Dlamini has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Department. “We have made great strides towards achieving our goals during the past financial year. The achievements summarised in our annual report reflect our commitment to the creation of an inclusive and caring society,” she said.
The department has introduced a new service delivery improvement initiative – Project Mikondzo – to enhance the way it delivers its services and expand access to the services to sectors of society that have not been reached before.
The department’s annual report is available at: www.dsd.gov.za.
Media enquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
