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Comrade Speaker
Comrade Premier
Honourable Members
Honoured Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Today, here we are, presenting what we believe is a caring budget that will serve as a shield and spear to those under attack from poverty, neglect and abuse. Today, here we are, tabling a budget that serves as an evidence of our caring Government. Today, here we are, with a budget that is strengthening our desire to better the lives of our people.

The ANC in the 1999 election campaigns committed itself to accelerate and improve the delivery of our services to all our people so as to create a better live for all. This budget caries this commitment across.

The political will and desire to provide care and support to all our vulnerable people remains unshakeable as we strongly push back the frontiers of poverty.

It became apparent from the input of both the President and the Premier at the opening of parliament and legislature respectively, that we should consolidate our efforts towards the creation of a better life. Where there's abuse and neglect, care and support should dominate.

The Premier, Cde Mbhazima Shilowa, correctly captured it when he boldly declared that Gauteng is now a better place to live.

Here is proof.

- Our target of child grants was 250 000, today we have 355 000 children receiving social grants every month without fail in Gauteng.

- Instead of our beneficiaries waiting for 3 months to receive their grants, today, majority of our offices are now taking a month to process new applications

- Since the announcement to increase the age limit of the Child Support Grant, we now have more than 18 000 children benefiting out of the announcement by our President Thabo Mbeki, this year.

- Within the next 4 months we will launch a banking service which will allow our beneficiaries to access their grants through banks without paying bank charges.

- More than 5000 households, who never had anything to eat, currently receive food parcels and from the 1st July all child headed families including orphans in distress, across the province will now benefit from this programme.

- Orphans in distress and child headed children still at school, now receive two sets of school uniform, one for winter season the other for the summer season. The other part of the province will be covered from 01st July 2003.

- Every month, we take care of more than 1000 children awaiting trial out of prison into our secure care for rehabilitation and other purposes.

- Any person above the age of 80 years or any sick person can now appoint a person of their choice to collect their grants. This is meant to minimise deaths at our pay points.

- Our call center takes all kinds of queries through, SMS, Letters, Telephone, and email as well as through fax. This facility ensures that our people will get help immediately.

- Through our open day registration programme on Saturdays, we have reached more than 500 000 people, who were assisted by our officials from SAPS, Home Affairs and our Department. This campaign has ensured that we minimise the high number of people who continue to visit of offices.

To be appropriated by Vote: R 4,588,515,000.00.

Responsible MEC: MEC for Social Services and Population Development

Administering Department: Department of Social Services and Population Development

Accounting Officer: Superintendent-General

Overview

Mission

To deliver a people centered developmental social welfare service with all partners to enhance the quality of life of the poor and vulnerable citizens in Gauteng.

Vision

A transformed Gauteng social services system which facilitates the protection, development and empowerment of human capacity and self-reliance contributing to a caring and enabling socio-economic environment.

Purpose

To protect and develop vulnerable individuals, families and communities from a state of welfare dependence to become self-reliant.

Critical Outcomes

1. The care and support of vulnerable people.
2. Decreased social welfare dependency
3. Increase self-reliance

Departmental priorities

* SOCIAL SECURITY - Access and delivery (turn-around time; conditions at pay-points
* POVERTY - Relief, Reduction and Alleviation
* HIV/AIDS - Mitigate the social and economic impacts of HIV/AIDS on vulnerable groups.
* DECENTRALIZATION - (Integration, Improvement & Access to services of the Department, Local Authorities and NGOs)
* WELFARE SERVICES - To promote the rebuilding of families and communities through programmes empowering the young, old, disabled as well as abused women
* POPULATION Integrate population and demographic decision making information into planning processes of the departments.
* TRANSFORMATION - Transform the department's structures, systems, human resources and organisational cultures to improve service delivery.

REVIEW OF FINANCIAL YEAR 2002-2003

Care, support of the poor and vulnerable individuals, households, and communities; increasing self - reliance, and reducing welfare dependence, is the cornerstone of the Department's commitment to contribute to the implementation of the Government's policies of ensuring "A Better Life for All".

In order to fulfil the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act and the Public Service Regulations the Department of Social Services and Population Development has put in place a comprehensive strategic management system that ensured that it accelerates its service delivery based on its National and Provincial mandates.

The strength of this system is that it: -

i) Is guided by a comprehensive policy analysis, formulation, evaluation and monitoring approach that provides a framework for the collection of baseline research information on the target population, i.e. children, women, youths, people with HIV/AIDS, disabilities, families and communities;

ii) It contributes to the development of a comprehensive social security system and an integrated poverty alleviation strategy;

iii) Forms the basis for analysing National and Provincial Government priorities to inform the allocation and budgetary processes;

iv) Forms the basis for focusing the Department in terms of aligning its vision, mission, goals and objectives, strategies, programmes, resources and structures;

v) Provides for a holistic performance monitoring system that takes into consideration the Department's capacity to deliver services to its citizenry, impact on the services rendered, the extent to which it uses its resources productively, as well as the extent to which it minimises the effects of inflation.

OUTLOOK FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2004

The Department is set out to achieve the departmental and provincial priorities while still being guided by the Ten Point plan of the National Department of Social Development:

- Restoration of the ethics of care and human development into all programmes. The rebuilding of family, community and social relations in order to promote social integration, 5% of risk population targeted.

- Implementation of an integrated poverty eradication strategy that provides direct benefits to those who are in greatest need with a sustainable development approach. In other words, addressing poverty in rural and urban areas with the prime beneficiaries being women, youth and children.

- Improving and maintaining effective and efficient administration of Social Security by the cutting of lead times in respect of the processing of grants, improvement in the accessibility for beneficiaries, informing the public of their Social Security rights and responsibilities and eradicating any backlogs.

- Responding to the brutal effects of all forms of violence against women and children targeting 3% of risk population, as well as effective strategies to deal with perpetrators. Attending to the restoration of the dignity and prevention of abuse of the elderly and people with disabilities.

- The provision of a range of services to support the community-based care and support for people living with HIV/Aids as well as those affected such as Aids Orphans.

- The development and implementation of strategies to reduce youth criminality and youth unemployment, targeting 3% of risk population.

- Making social welfare services accessible and available to people in rural, peri-urban and informal settlements as well as ensuring equity in service provision is critical to the transformation process. The opening of additional services and satellite points through Siyanda project throughout the province.

- Providing services to people with disabilities in ways that promote their human rights, economic development and assist with their integration into mainstream society.

- The Department is commitment to co-operative governance and it will work in partnership with communities, organisations and institutions in civil society. Strengthening of the partnership between non-profit organisations (NPOs), community-based organisations (CBOs) and Faith Based Organisations in rendering social welfare and social development services.

- Facilitate the systematic integration of population factors in all policies, plans, programmes and strategies at all levels and within all sectors and institutions of government in the Gauteng Province.

Basic Service Delivery Indicators for the Vote

Service Delivery indicators - Number of grant beneficiaries paid
00/01 - 374 758
01/02 - 467 685
ACTUAL by 25/05/03 - 686 200

Service Delivery indicators - Number of grant applications processed
00/01 - 68 769
01/02 - 127 309
ACTUAL by 25/05/03 - 233 459

Service Delivery indicators - Turn around time for grants applications
00/01 - 3 months
01/02 - < 3 months
ACTUAL by 25/05/03 - 1 month

Service Delivery indicators - Waiting time in pay point queues
00/01 - 4 hours
01/02 - < 2 hours
ACTUAL by 25/05/03 - 1 hour

Service Delivery indicators - Number of NGOs and CBOs financed
00/01 - 759
01/02 - 765
ACTUAL by 25/05/03 - 788

Service Delivery indicators - To rebuild families, communities and social relations
00/01 - N/A
01/02 - 25 016
ACTUAL by 25/05/03 - 26 110

Service Delivery indicators - Developmental projects financed (beneficiaries)
00/01 - 150
01/02 - 66 (4369)
ACTUAL by 25/05/03 - 25(15 350)

Service Delivery indicators - To support community based care for people living and those affected by HIV/AIDS
00/01 - N/A
01/02 - 7410
ACTUAL by 25/05/03 - 8155

Service Delivery indicators - Number of Social Work Institutions and Decentralised offices within the department
00/01 - 21
01/02 - 21
ACTUAL by 25/05/03 - 26

Service Delivery indicators - To respond to the brutal effects of violence against women and children as well as effective strategies to deal with perpetrators
00/01 - N/A
01/02 - 24 762
ACTUAL by 25/05/03 - 28 577

Summary of Expenditure : VOTE 6.

Table1: Programmes

Sub-programmes Structure: 1: Administration
2000/01 (Actual) R'000: 49,246
2001/02(Actual) R'000: 5,027
2002/03(Estimated Actual) R'000: 6,567
2003/04 (Voted) R'000: 251,988

Sub-programmes Structure: 2: Social Assistance Grants
2000/01 (Actual) R'000: 2,141,451
2001/02(Actual) R'000: 2,461,516
2002/03(Estimated Actual) R'000: 3,458,890
2003/04 (Voted) R'000: 3,824,645

Sub-programmes Structure: 3: Social Welfare Services
2000/01 (Actual) R'000: 235,909
2001/02(Actual) R'000: 300,264
2002/03(Estimated Actual) R'000: 335,684
2003/04 (Voted) R'000: 427,667

Sub-programmes Structure: 4: Development & Support Services
2000/01 (Actual) R'000: 165,757
2001/02(Actual) R'000: 187,697
2002/03(Estimated Actual) R'000: 203,033
2003/04 (Voted) R'000: 82,453

Sub-programmes Structure: 5:Population Development and Demographic Trends
2000/01 (Actual) R'000: 19,303
2001/02(Actual) R'000: 3,725
2002/03(Estimated Actual) R'000: 7,865
2003/04 (Voted) R'000: 1,763

Sub-programmes Structure: 6: Population Unit
2000/01 (Actual) R'000: 1,220
2001/02(Actual) R'000: 1,465
2002/03(Estimated Actual) R'000: 1,209
2003/04 (Voted) R'000:

Sub-programmes Structure: 7: Welfare Facilities Development and Maintenance
2000/01 (Actual) R'000: 13,759
2001/02(Actual) R'000: 23,254
2002/03(Estimated Actual) R'000: 19,605
2003/04 (Voted) R'000:

Sub-programmes Structure: 8: Auxiliary and Associated Services
2000/01 (Actual) R'000: 276
2001/02(Actual) R'000: 34,559
2002/03(Estimated Actual) R'000: 45,132
2003/04 (Voted) R'000:

Sub-programmes Structure: Total Administration
2000/01 (Actual) R'000: 2,626,921
2001/02(Actual) R'000: 3,017,507
2002/03(Estimated Actual) R'000: 4,077,985
2003/04 (Voted) R'000: 4,588,515

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS

As part of broadening our safety net to accommodate those who qualify for grants but not receiving them, we have allocated R3,8 billion for social assistance grants. There are now 686 200 beneficiaries who receive grants monthly in Gauteng.

It has come to the attention of the department that there are people who continue to receive our grants even though their status has changed. It is either they got employed, or partners now paying maintenance, or the children are no longer staying with them or the child has passed away. We call upon these beneficiaries to immediately cancel their grants by the 14th of June 2003. If they do so by that date, no penalty or questions will be asked. But failure to cancel their grants by the 14th of June 2003, the department jointly with the relevant law enforcement agencies will take very harsh actions.

It has also come to our attention that people who do not qualify for our Disability grant are fraudulently trying to access our disability grants. We have so far removed more that 300 grants from our system and arrested 5 members of various syndicates, which operate around Gauteng. We thus warn future fraudsters to stop their antics because we have mechanism through our systems to identify them and to flash them out as well as to ensure that they are arrested and convicted.

Plans at national to establish an Agency that will be responsible for the overall payment of grants is at an advanced stage. As per the address by the National Minister, Dr Zola Skweyiya, the agency will be responsible for the payment of grants and will ensure that proper administration of grants in our country is geared up. This we hope will ensure proper co-ordination and support of grants payments.

REGULATION 11: BACKPAY

There are thousands of our beneficiaries that are owed by government due to misinterpretation of the regulations.

Today, I am proud to report back that 184 000 beneficiaries have shared R95 million as part of demonstrating our love and care for our beneficiaries. We are now in the process of finalising these payments and we hope to conclude them soon.

SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES

As part of fostering partnership with organs of civil society, a total amount of R298 million has been allocated. The care for children and families especially infected and affected by HIV/Aids will receive the largest portion of this amount that is R110 million while the care for the elderly will receive R91 million. The allocation for the elderly was increased to take care of our believe that senior citizens are becoming a major resource in our fight against HIV/AIDS.

Organisations assisting People with disabilities, as part of our new policy to empower Persons with Disabilities we have increased the budget with R9 million to increase the Budget Overall budget of Persons with Disabilities to R2 million and the remainder will be shared with shelters for homeless people (R17 million). With trends indicating that more youth and children are becoming addicted to substance abuse at a younger age, we have thus allocated R45 to Million to combat this trend.

Last week we had our Child Protection Week, which culminated to the Children's Conference. This represents our dedication and commitment to ensure that children enjoy being children. It also cements our fearless partnership with our communities to flush out those who continue to abuse our children and women as well as the elderly.

We support the acceleration of legislation on children, which will be released later this year by the National Minister, Dr. Zola Skweyiya. This legislation will go a long way in curbing the abuse of children in our society.

For this cause, we have allocated R185m for the protection and care of children and families, while R62m will go to care of persons with disabilities. Treatment and prevention of substance abuse is allocated R30m whilst the Support of The Aged will be allocated R108m.

We are proud as government that since the inception of the first democratic government in 1994, we have brought changes that has indeed confirmed our desire to better the lives of our children.

Today's budget tells us that our children are in the forefront of our country's return to normality.

Additionally, this department has taken note of the increase in abuse and violence against vulnerable groups such as: children, older persons, persons with disabilities and women and as a result, we have increased all allocation targeted to these groupings.

HIV-AIDS: THE FIGHT CONTINUES

The ANC correctly captures our view when it states that the Aids epidemic is one of the greatest challenges that our society has ever faced. The difficult and complex questions it raises and the pressure it exerts on families require unity of purpose and action among all of us.

There is hope because South Africans have the internal strength to ensure their self-preservation as individuals, as communities and as a nation.

It is within this context that we have allocated R12 million to support community initiatives for the care of people affected and infected with HIV/ Aids. Above that, we will continue to utilize part of the R3,8 billion social grants budget to pay disability grants to bed-ridden people as well as the foster care grant and the care dependency grant for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

We agree that there is hope because the partnerships that we built over years are an important resource and would continually be strengthened.

As part of fighting the effects of HIV/AIDS the department together with thousands of volunteers has just concluded a door-to-door orphan identification Programme. We will use this information to re-prioritise our programmes so as to ensure that we give support to orphans and child- headed families.

POVERTY STRATEGY

The fight against poverty is intensifying at all fronts. Our National Department has allocated us R27 million to provide food parcels and food security to vulnerable groups. In Gauteng we have proposed to use this money to reach child headed families as well as orphans in distress. Pending approval by national, we intend to roll out our food parcels from the 01st July 2003. may I take this opportunity to thank thousands and thousands of volunteers who conducted door-to-door visits to identify beneficiaries. The department is grateful to these cadres for their support and loyalty.

Our primary focus therefore in fighting poverty will mainly be the establishment of development centres in partnership with local government. We have already opened 5 development centres, by the end of this year we intend to launch 10 more centres. We have partnered with NDA to provide support of these centres.

We will also strengthen our partnership with other departments to provide food security to the vulnerable.

We have thus allocated R30million to advance our work against poverty as well as to strengthen the orientation and capacity of the department to advance the fight against poverty.

We have successfully concluded the evaluation of the 368 projects that we used to fund. Based on the available information, it is now clear that many things were not properly done. On this basis, it becomes difficult to pursue this matter further due to insufficient information and systems.

To us this matter is now finally closed.

The Department has also established a Gauteng inter-departmental Poverty Unit, which intends to co-ordinate all poverty related programmes across Gauteng Provincial Departments. Our previous HOD, Dr Vernon van Wyk, has been deployed to lead and co-ordinate this function on our behalf. This unit will also co-ordinate our links with local government as well as national government and our international partners.

CAPITAL PROJECTS

As part of expanding our services a total amount of R29, 5m has been allocated for new facilities.

RESTRUCTURING OF THE DEPARTMENT

As part of our transformation and restructuring agenda, the department together with unions are set to conclude a major restructuring process. This process which is done through Resolution 7 and 8 of 2002: Framework Agreement on Restructuring and Transformation will ensure the strengthening of our service delivery regions. In simpler terms we will create five (5) regional directorates together with twelve (12) new deputy directors and twenty four (24) new assistant directors. We will also strengthen head office with appointments of new chief directors. We will also upgrade the salary scales of social workers, social auxiliary workers and front line social security staff. This is in line in with our quest to support these workers who continue to work under difficult circumstances.

DECENTRALISED SERVICE OFFICES

- The focus of service delivery improvement will be on the Decentralised Service Offices.

- The Department will be implementing 5 new regions: Johannesburg; Sedibeng; Northrand; Westrand; and Ekurhuleni, aimed at further decentralising service delivery to grassroots level.

- In the above, norms, standards, statistics, population data will be applied to align our service delivery to the needs of the community.

- The Department is going to formally launch the following additional service points during this financial year: Tembisa/Kempton Park; Midrand; Zonkizizwe; Mamelodi; Lenasia; Klip&Kruisfontein; Eersterust; Zithobeni; Rethabiseng; Stanza Bopape; Geluksdal; KwaThema; Expansion of Soshanguve

- A very intensive exercise to put a Service Delivery Improvement Plan in place for each region, is already underway. Hopefully, this will be linked to a service excellence award program.

- Emphasis of the regional model will be to establish dedicated management and leadership capacity for service points.

- The Department will also embark on an exercise where the salary levels of Social Workers, Social Auxiliary Workers, and front line Social Security staff, will be reviewed for market relatedness.

The department has also commissioned a study to evaluate the current remuneration of staff in DSO's and Institution with an intention of balancing responsibilities and remuneration.

PARTNERSHIP: Social Assistance & Social Work Services

- The number of organisations funded was 780 reaching 115 000 beneficiaries.

- New poverty alleviation strategy developed to drive back the frontiers of poverty.

- Equitable shift to youth and women substance abuse programmes

- Operation Dignity aimed at increasing quality life of aged persons in communities

- Special emphasis was placed on gender sensitivity social services with emphasis on women and poverty, women and violence.

- Access for deaf persons was increased through training staff in sign language and sign posters

- Three services offices open for access and services delivery improvement

Our current partnership with Non-Governmental Organisations has been reviewed and we have now introduced a new accountable, transparent and transformation based Service Level Agreement with NGOs. This Service Level Agreement will ensure that NGOs do what is the priorities of government and also identifies areas that need assistance.

On this basis welfare summit with NGOs is planned for June 2003. The Department is also in a process of developing a costing model for funding of NGOs to address equity and transformation. This model will ensure that government is not perceived as just a funder but must be viewed as a partner that purchases a service from the NGO sector.

ANNOUNCEMENT: PROCESS TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE DEPARTMENT

With the establishment of the National Social Security Agency, the department will now focus on its social development programmes. In doing so, all our programmes will be geared to strengthening the development component of our mandate thus removing our beneficiaries from a state of dependency to that of self-reliance. It is within this context that we will resume a process to rename our department to the Department of Social Development. This will also allow us to be in line with our national department.

Today, we will also unveil our website which will now allow us to open our information to our beneficiaries.

WORD OF THANKS

My sincere gratitude's to the Premier and Members of the Executive Council, our Standing Committee in the legislature, the new HOD, Mr Oupa Seabi, & the previous HOD, Dr Vernon van Wyk, the department's executive management team, heads of office and institutions, our general staff, Unions, NGOs and CBOs as well as Faith Based Institutions for the continued support to our programmes.

My sincere gratitude to the staff in my office, my husband, Dr Mathole Motshekga, for his understanding and support as well as the rest of my family.

CONCLUSION

This budget is indeed a budget intended to uplift the poor and the vulnerable. It is a budget that will lend a caring hand of hope and support.

To us it represents our desire to shamelessly destroy the shackles of those still trapped in poverty.

The desire and the aspirations of our people remain firmly and safely in our hands as we approach a decade of our freedom.

I Thank You!

For more information contact Panyaza Lesufi on 082 469 0822

ISSUED BY: DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT, GAUTENG PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

For media releases, speeches and news visit the Gauteng Provincial Government's website at www.gpg.gov.za