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MECs for Social Services,
Representatives of the social development sector, faith-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, community based structures, government and the voluntary welfare sector

I am pleased to welcome you to this second national consultative process. Today's consultative process reinforces our commitment to accountable, transparent and democratic governance.

When I met with the broad range of welfare and development organisations during October 1999, I listened to your concerns and proposals. The emphasis during the first consultative process was the extent of the social crises and the impacts on the poorest people. We realised that the social development crises required a collective vision and strategy that is responsive to both the structural causes of problems as well as their social manifestations. Importantly, we also began to identify ways through which we could forge new partnerships to address the problems and challenges that confront all of us. This is important as we attempt to reassert the vision of a people-centred society.

Today, we should review and consolidate existing partnerships and forge new initiatives to accelerate the implementation of the Ten Point Plan. Furthermore, we need to discuss progress made and some of the many persistent problems and obstacles that prevent delivery in the sector. We must begin to strengthen our ability to build "unity in action" to address the plight of the excluded and poorest members of our society. To do this effectively we must have a unified action plan, we must "see with one eye-Ngasonye," is the Xhosa term that captures this.

That South Africa is undergoing fundamental change is without doubt. Yes, we are attempting to put into place democratic, responsive and sustainable systems and measures of social development to address social exclusion, poverty and inequality. But we must still ask ourselves fundamental questions. Have we gone beyond analysis, beyond complaints and blame to united critical action that makes a difference in the lives of the poorest?

To what extent have the "lived experiences" of those we say we serve, those who remain on the sidewalks of our society, become a part of our service delivery? Are we just making token gestures or do we take seriously our mandate to accelerate social delivery and address poverty?

Through an extensive consultative process, that brought together hundreds of people representing civil society organisations working in social development, a strategic vision and plan was developed. Provincial MECs and organisations were also involved in the process. A 10 Point Plan incorporating key priorities was formulated and launched in January 2000 to provide strategic direction for the Departments of Welfare at National and Provincial levels. Central to the implementation of this plan is the role of non-governmental, faith based and other civil society sectors. This role has to harmonise with government's programme to better respond to the needs of the poorest people.

A strategic programme with concrete objectives, timeframes and resource allocations is in place to address the National priorities that we agreed on together. The plan includes the transformation of the departments of welfare within a social development paradigm. It also provides for an effective response to the brutal effects of all forms of violence against women and children as well as strategies to deal with the perpetrators. A more comprehensive approach to child protection is under consideration, as the current approach tends to focus mainly on child abuse. The drafting of comprehensive childcare legislation by the South African Law Commission can no longer be delayed. It has to be accelerated and become operational to ensure that children's rights and development are brought into line with the Constitution.

The provision of a range of services to support community-based care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS, particularly women and children affected, including orphans and child headed households is also underway.

The development of a national strategy to reduce youth criminality and youth unemployment within the framework of the National Crime Prevention Strategy has also been given priority attention. In this regard, a programme to divert youth from the criminal justice system has influenced the lives of 18 063 youth. Secure care facilities have been established in seven provinces, providing children and youth with appropriate alternatives to adult correctional facilities and places of safety. Probation officers have been trained and retrained to provide effective services to youth who are in trouble with the law. A draft national strategy on drug prevention has been developed to focus on youth. There will be an increased focus in the Poverty Relief Programme on the establishment of urban regeneration initiatives for unemployed youth and youth at risk.

A high level Task Team consisting of MECs for Social Welfare has the responsibility of reviewing and accelerating the implementation of the Financing Policy. The work of the task team is expected to provide guidelines on the implications of welfare financing and to identify criteria for funding to ensure social development services are accessible and available to people in rural, peri-urban and informal settlements. Moreover, it will ensure equity in service provision is being addressed. The financing policy is also expected to be the means to promote co-operative governance in welfare. This includes working with and building the capacity of different spheres of government and civil society organisations.

During July 2000 to March 2001, I visited all the provinces to review initiatives on social development and poverty eradication. Given the many difficulties on the ground we had to identify and deal with some of the immediate blockages to service delivery. During these visits, I found that the wanton breakdown of family and community life as a result of apartheid remains a persistent feature. Poverty, unemployment and the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS have resulted in greater fragmentation, alienation and hardship for many. Our traditional forms of social solidarity have been eroded.

These problems are made more complex by the impacts of this phase of globalisation on households, communities and our capacity to manage the process. Globalisation has created new forms of poverty, with structural unemployment and a lack of work opportunities in the formal labour market placing increased demands on government and people.

The provincial visits highlighted many positive trends in the ways communities are organising themselves to address poverty and deprivation. But significant blockages remain and need urgent attention.

Inadequate infrastructure continues to be an over riding problem with the lack of clean water in rural areas and informal settlements, posing serious health risks. Together with poor physical infrastructure at pension pay points and small, remote offices, services at the point of delivery are inadequate, inaccessible and tend to be unresponsive.

Human resource constraints remain a persistent problem. The social development sector is understaffed and is unable to respond to the increased demand for welfare and development services given the HIV/AIDS crisis and widening poverty. At district and community levels, many provinces do not have development workers to facilitate poverty reduction processes. Skills deficits are evident in critical areas such as planning, financial management, basic administration and specialised areas such as development management, social security and HIV/AIDS.

Little attention is paid to the principles of Batho Pele and the Code of Conduct for Public Servants. In many instances, citizens were unable to claim their rights to fair, efficient and accountable professional services. Violations of citizens' rights go unchecked and supervision of staff is limited.

Private voluntary welfare institutions receiving state subsidies in some provinces still operate within an apartheid paradigm and generally do not serve the majority in need. Certain welfare organisations have made little attempts to ensure that their Boards are representative in terms of race, gender and the served population.

Provinces continue to operate within significant budget constraints when it comes to the provision of welfare services. Furthermore, existing resources do not have the maximum impact because of institutional and administrative blocks. While the re-registration process was necessary to deal with maladministration and fraud in the system, its impact has also been negative for many. The elderly and the disabled who have not been brought back into the system have experienced the worst impacts. Services to people with disabilities are being redesigned to ensure that their human rights are protected and to promote their full participation in all spheres of mainstream social and economic development.

WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES TO DELIVERY

Corrective measures have been put into place to implement an integrated poverty eradication programme and effective allocation of poverty relief funds. Efforts are underway to build the capacity of poor communities to ensure community self-organisation and management of poverty and social development projects. More than 40% of poverty projects have the potential to become sustainable and provide income - generating work. A detailed report of the provincial reviews of poverty and social development programmes will be released by the end of this month.

The social security system we have today in South Africa no longer discriminates on the basis of race. It is however fragmented and poorly structured. Due to the substantial task ahead of us in South Africa, a Committee of Inquiry into a Comprehensive System of Social Security has been appointed. The Committee is expected to provide proposals to respond to urgent, immediate needs as well as medium- and long-term reform requirements by July 2001.

The challenge for the Committee is to ensure that our social security system is responsive to the needs of those who have experienced structural disadvantages, who are at risk and who are vulnerable. In other words transforming the social security system to enable all sectors of society -government, business and civil society to address issues of poverty and social inequality is a central objective.

A Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into Abuse and Neglect of Older Persons established in May 2000 has completed its work and has submitted its report. This report will be launched on the 26 March 2001. The policy and programme implications of the findings for all government departments and institutions caring for the elderly are under considerations. Some of the findings expose the callous disregard with which the elderly are treated.

Other measures have already been taken to deal with urgent and chronic problems identified in the provinces.

DEALING WITH PROBLEMS AT PENSION PAY-POINTS

Meetings were convened with private pension contractors (CPS, All Pay and PQ Africa) to discuss problems of poor service delivery. Existing contracts have been analysed to ensure that explicit standards are included for pension payment services to be delivered with penalty clauses for inefficiency and lack of humane conditions. Private pension payment contractors were also given an opportunity to identify how they intend improving service delivery.

The National Department is completing work on uniform norms and standards to guide provincial departments and service providers on acceptable professional procedures that must be put into place to deal with the terrible conditions that are experienced by pensioners and other grant beneficiaries. Better access to information is to be provided for beneficiaries.

AUDIT OF WELFARE INFRASTRUCTURE

Although an audit of welfare infrastructure was initiated to assess what resources exist on the ground progress has been limited due to lack of capacity in the department. This audit is essential to ensure co-ordination of government's infra-structural development programme with basic social service provision. Steps have been taken to commission the HSRC to assist the Department in conducting this audit.

DIRECTING RESOURCES AND FINANCES TO THE POOREST

Issues related to spending patterns within provinces on social welfare and poverty relief have been discussed and suggestions made to improve these with all concerned. In addition, urgent steps must be taken by provinces to ensure reprioritisation of financial allocations in line with governments' commitments towards the poorest and most underserved communities and organisations.

Discussions have also been initiated with the business sector and donor community, to ensure that they are aware of government's priorities with regard to poverty and social development. The existing trend of support to already well-resourced and largely urban- based non-governmental organisations to address poverty does not enable those small struggling initiatives within under resourced areas. With the support of Business and other donors, awards are being proposed in recognition of the innovative contributions made to social development and poverty eradication.

A Human Resource Development strategy in line with the Ten Point Plan and strategic direction of the National department is being developed for social development services. This strategy is expected to identify the gaps in human resources given the changed socio-economic context and the provision of basic social welfare services that are required of government. The strategy is to cover critical areas of skill deficit and re-orientation of officials to social development.

BUILDING SOLIDARITY FOR UNIFIED ACTION

There is growing consensus that government together with civil society and the private sector have a shared responsibility to act to ensure social protection for the poorest and excluded. We are beginning to see concerted action replace indifference and despair. There is more emphasis on working with communities, greater commitment to addressing poverty and many projects and initiatives that reflect the creativity, resilience and ingenuity of poor people themselves. In poor rural areas, faith based organisations continue to provide support to people and their role should be enhanced.

In some provinces, the private sector and faith-based organisations have shown a readiness to co-operate and co-ordinate their efforts with government. In many communities, people are organising to deal with their daily problems on a collective basis. Poor people and women in particular, are trying to mobilise new forms of organisations. There were many positive stories of successful self-help initiatives. Notable among these are the contributions made by:

Mrs Zodwa Mqadi and her team in the AGAPE home for children, Mrs Thuli Tsela at the Mayosi Home Based Care Project, Mrs Mlambo from St Clement's Home Based Care Project, Mrs M T Mnisi of the Mission Society and Mrs Nyembezi of Zimbambeleni Clermont Women's Society. It is their energy, dedication and commitment together with the many others who ensure that there is hope amidst the continuing despair, failures and increasing fragmentation and alienation. Our thanks, acknowledgement and support goes to them and their organisations.

We must promote solidarity at international, regional, national, provincial and local levels to ensure the creation of a society where social justice prevails and any actual or perceived unfairness in access to a better life is removed. Our political liberation was achieved through national and international solidarity. Let us use our experiences from the past to promote unity in action -Ngasonye! I look forward to our continued engagement as we build partnerships and solidarity for united action to accelerate the creation of a caring society.

End

Issued by: Ministry of Social Development, 20 March 2001