The Ministerial Committee for the Review of the White Paper on Social Welfare (1997) has, on September 11, concluded a three-day national consultative summit at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg.
The summit was called to share its preliminary findings on the review of the White Paper with stakeholders in the social development sector. It further consulted stakeholders on proposals for addressing and advancing priorities identified as outcomes of the review process as well as priorities identified in Chapter 11 of the National Development Plan on Social Protection and Social Development.
In attendance were over 500 representatives from statutory bodies, government departments, non-governmental organisations (specifically those that provide services to children, families, older persons, victims of crime, people affected by HIV and AIDS and people affected by substance abuse), institutions of higher learning, traditional leaders, community-based organisations, as well as faith-based organisations.
The Ministerial Committee was established by the Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, to review the implementation of the White Paper, which is the overarching policy framework for the provision of social development services in the country. The Ministerial Committee will put forward recommendations and proposals to improve social development provision to address critical concerns with poverty and inequality and related social problems.
Presenting the findings of the Ministerial Committee, University of Cape Town’s Professor Viviene Taylor (Committee Chairperson), said it was encouraging that there are many new and amended policies, legislation and programmes to address poverty, basic human needs and the social development priorities of all people. But she said there were shortcomings in implementation.
“While legislative steps have been taken to reverse the effects of the past inequitable, inappropriate and ineffective legislative framework, the implementation of new and amended policies, legislation and programmes has often not met expectations,” said Professor Taylor.
She said the Committee has found that funding disparities on poverty, basic human needs and the social development priorities has reduced. “The worst province spent R8 per R100 of best per poor person in 2 000 versus R35 per R100 of best in 2015,” she said.
The Committee also noted variations in budget allocations per province for poverty, basic human needs and the social development programmes. For instance, in 2015/16 financial year, the Eastern Cape Province allocated R264 per poor child, as against R1 323 in the Gauteng Province; and the KwaZulu-Natal Province allocates R2 per poor person, compared to R79 in the Northern Cape Province.
These findings suggest there is a need to standardise budget allocations across provinces.
Access to social services, according to the Committee’s findings, is still determined by the ability to pay for services. While private service centres are available in urban areas, people in previously disadvantaged areas are largely left without access to services because of their inability to pay for them. For example, the Committee has found that the fee barrier and “cultural differences” hamper integration in residential facilities for older persons.
The committee has received wide-ranging recommendations which it will test for feasibility and responsiveness. The final recommendations will be provided in a phased approach taking into account short term, medium term, and long term objectives.
The summit ended with great excitement from all stakeholders, with a feeling that they have participated in a ground-breaking process for reshaping the vision for social development.
The final report is expected to be given to Minister Dlamini by March 2016.
Media inquiries may be forwarded to:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
