Honourable Chairperson,
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature,
Distinguished guests,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen.
1. Introduction
One presents this budget at a time when our province is undergoing serious challenges where we have witnessed a number of human rights violations, where children and elderly find themselves on the receiving end. This unprecedented wave of abuse of the vulnerable has compelled the Department to employ new strategies to mitigate the negative impact these notations have in our communities. These social ills have left permanent emotional and physical scars on many victims and their loved ones.
Fate has also bequeathed the department an enormous task of ensuring the well-being of millions of citizens who find themselves having to face grinding poverty on a daily basis.
However, despite all the challenges, I would like to assure this House and the citizens of this Province that this Government is unflinching in its resolve to bring about a better life for all our people. Our work on the ground is living proof of how committed we are to improving the standard of living of the people.
The Department of Social Development has always endeavoured to ensure that it reacts swiftly to ensure that it relieves those in distress. We do this because we believe that everyone is entitled to a better life. As I present this budget, I will be providing details on the kind of interventions we are making in this regard.
Social welfare services
Substance Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation (R45 580m)
To coordinate substance abuse services in the Province, the Department of Social Development planned to establish the Provincial Substance Abuse Forum and Local Drug Action Committees. As a build up to the establishment of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Substance Abuse Forum, consultations were facilitated in all eleven district municipalities in the previous financial year, reaching out to a total of 1 523 stakeholders.
The KwaZulu Natal Substance Abuse Forum was launched on the 27th of February 2013 in Pietermaritzburg. The chairperson of the forum is the Honourable Premier, Dr Z. Mkhize, with the MEC for Social Development as the Deputy Chairperson and Mr Sam Pillay from the civil society as the second Deputy Chairperson.
The department conducted capacity development and facilitated workshop in order to empower staff and stakeholders on substance abuse-related issues. Capacity development focussed on Kemoja, Guiding the recovery of Women (GROW), Draft Drug Master Plan, relapse prevention and family support and training on Teenagers Against Drug Abuse Programme.
Further, the department piloted nationally developed models such as outpatient treatment model at SANCA Durban, inpatient treatment model at Sitholimpilo Rehabilitation Centre, reintegration and aftercare models at Sanca Nongoma and community-based model at SANCA Empangeni.
