Gauteng Finance MEC Barbara Creecy has praised the non-governmental sector for assisting government in addressing societal challenges including violence against vulnerable groups such as women, children and the disabled, and substance abuse in communities.
Creecy was speaking to staff members of the Pretoria Evangelism and Nurture (PEN) centre in Sunnyside, Pretoria today where she was leading a delegation from the Gauteng Department of Finance, Gauteng Provincial Treasury and Gauteng Funding Agency in an outreach programme as part of activities designed to celebrate the Nelson Mandela International Day.
“As the provincial government, we set aside an amount of R274 million for Community Based Care and R146.3 million for Child and Youth Care Centres for the 2014/15 financial year. An amount of R794.2 million is allocated over the next three years to implement psychosocial care and support programmes, particularly for children and families affected by HIV/Aids,” MEC Creecy said.
PEN is a non-governmental organisation in Pretoria focusing on amongst other things, orphaned and vulnerable teenagers and people affected by HIV/Aids.
MEC Creecy praised the centre for the good work that the organisation has done in service the community over the years. She said PEN’s work is aligned to one of the top priorities of the provincial government, which is to strengthen interventions to address violence against women and children, and substance abuse.
Departmental staff spent the day assisting with various chores at the centre including cleaning and motivating teenagers. The MEC presented PEN with donations in a form of, amongst other things, sanitary towels, toiletries and clothes.
“The provincial government’s Dignity Packs Programme has been allocated R30 million for 2014/15, R35 million for 2015/16 and R37 million in 2016/17 financial year. Since the launch of the programme in 2011, about 294 000 girl learners have benefited significantly from it. The provision of dignity packs helps to keep many girls in school and also provide a living for the cooperatives that are responsible for packaging,” she explained.
“Organisations such as PEN need our support because they are indeed at the forefront of our effort to build a caring and responsive society. This is a society committed to ensure that women and the disabled are safe, secure and provided with opportunities to improve their lives. A society where children are provided with an environment that will enable them to succeed in school and build a strong foundation for their future endeavors,” she said.
MEC Creecy called on all the citizens of Gauteng to dedicate at least 67 minutes of their time every day supporting local charities and places of safety. “Through this we will indeed live up to the call to take action; inspire change; make every day a Mandela Day in line with the spirit of our former President”.
John Sukazi
Cell: 0837724885
john.sukazi@gauteng.gov.za
