Click to edit Master subtitle style 3/1/12 The State of the Nation Address [SONA] Portfolio Committee on Social Development 28th February 2012

3/1/12 Overview of the major strategy announced in the State of the Nation Address  The State of Nation Address for 2012 highlights poverty, inequality and unemployment as “triple challenges of our time”.  This bears relevance to the mandate of social development which is “to build a caring and integrated system of social services that facilitate human development and improve the quality of life for all”.  A quick glance on the findings emanating from the Social profile of vulnerable groups in South Africa ( ), show that household structures are severely disrupted and disproportionately affected by poverty.

3/1/12 Overview of the major strategy announced in the State of the Nation Address  Particular focus was given to Infrastructure Development sector. This is important for the development of other strategic goals such as access to water, electricity, housing and other basic constitutional rights.  Access to these basic commodities forms part of the DSD‘s mandate and the Department will align with the infrastructure programme to ensure that full use is made of the opportunity to maximise the social benefits of the infrastructure development.  Skills development and transfer is an important aspect of the job creation goal and forms park of DSD strategic response.

3/1/12 DSD Strategic Priorities anchors our response to the SONA Priority areas  Expanding our social protection measures to save lives and reduce levels of deprivation through social grants, community development and welfare services.  A dedicated focus on ECD, Child and Youth Care, Anti- Substance Abuse and Food for all will form part of the strategic vehicle in response to the triple challenges.  Consolidation of the current programs that proved to be effective will receive more attention. “Addressing the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment”

3/1/12 DSD Strategic Priorities anchors our response to the SONA Priority areas – Zero hunger  Social Grants continue to be vital in improving access to food in households that are most likely to experience hunger.  The Department will provide a platform for coordinating government’s interventions central in addressing citizen’s rights to food.  Cabinet established an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Food Security, co-led by the Ministers of DSD and Agriculture which is aimed at fighting food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition.  The fulfillment of this right will generate demand for the supply of nutritious food and the state will use state procurement of food as a catalyst to grow and support food production and local procurement.  Female headed households, children and people with disabilities currently in the grant system and those that fall in the policy gaps will form part of the primary target.

3/1/1266 Priority areas – Child and Youth Care  In taking advantage of the youth bulge and unlocking the potential of children and youth, the Department will expand its welfare services in the area of Child and Youth Care Services using a model commonly known as “Isibindi”.  The model has proven to be effective in addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children through the appointment of the Child and Youth Care Workers who provide direct support to children in their homes and at community level through safe parks and life skills programmes.

3/1/1277 Priority areas – Child and Youth Care  It is estimated that 1.3 million children can benefit from direct supervision and psycho social support services when the model is rolled out.  Additional efforts will be on youth development through engagement on youth leadership programs, skills development through our bursary program and profiling of CSG primary care givers which will facilitate potential entry of economically active youth into the labour market.

3/1/1288 Priority areas – Anti-substance abuse  In order to prevent people falling into deeper poverty and reduce vulnerability, the Department will have intensive focus on Anti-Substance Abuse campaigns aimed at educating our population on the dangers of abusing substances, introducing policy reforms that will bring coherence on how government deals with alcohol and illicit drugs.  This will go a long way in reducing social ills and crime expressed in a form of domestic abuse and violence especially on children, women, people with disabilities and older persons.

3/1/12 “A major achievement is the doubling of Grade R enrolment, from in 2003 to in We appear poised to meet our target of 100% coverage for Grade R by ”

3/1/ Priority areas - ECD  A focus will be on provision of quality ECD by raising subsidies to levels that will support cognitive, social and physical development of a child.  Policy measures to make ECD a public good and thereby ensuring universal access will be at the epicentre of the Department’s policy domain.  Addressing social infrastructure related to ECD will take prominence.

3/1/12 Consolidating our strategic gains… Linking grants to broader macro-economic strategy of higher growth and job creation  In 2010, SA entered a ‘demographic window’ - large youth population.  The Department will focus on profiling of Child Support Grant primary care givers [abled bodied mothers, fathers and care givers] for vocational training and sharing of this information with both public and private sector employers.  The information will be made accessible in all provinces and vigorously marketed and linked to the infrastructure development corridors announced in the State of National Address.  The Department has set a target to link at least 2000 CSG primary care givers to some form of employment and skills development by March 2013.

3/1/12 Consolidating our strategic gains… Linking grants to broader macro-economic strategy of higher growth and job creation  DSD will continue to spearhead the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) aimed at alleviating poverty through the provision of short to medium term labour intensive work opportunities to the poor and unemployed South Africans.  The emphasis therefore on infrastructure expansion in the SONA creates the ideal opportunity to introduce a labour- intensive approach in the context of large capital projects. It is envisaged that many EPWP work opportunities will be created.

3/1/12 “Strengthening of social dialogue and cooperation between government, business and the community sector.”

3/1/12 Consolidating our strategic gains… Active Citizenry – taking DSD to people  The National Development Plan 2030 vision has noted that South Africa has the potential and capacity to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality over the next two decades.  This requires a new approach – one that moves from a passive citizenry receiving services from the state to one that systematically includes the socially and economically excluded, where people are active champions of their own development, and where government works effectively to develop people’s capabilities to lead the lives they desire.

3/1/12 Consolidating our strategic gains… Active Citizenry – taking DSD to people  This approach is central to Social Development and the success of such is premised on key strategies currently being implemented to promote active participation of all South Africans in their own development:  Taking DSD to people and Social Development Month, popular known as “October month” jointly remain our trailblazer leading us into innovative solution to complex social problems with communities. [Community based plans]  The Department will in August/September 2012 convene a Social Development Summit with civil society to consult on the Ten Point Plan. This will review progress to date and strengthen the plans currently underway.

3/1/12 Consolidating our strategic gains… Active Citizenry – taking DSD to people  A social development forum constituting of leading local scholars and community development activist will be established before the end of the year to allow civil society, business and community members to bounce some ideas with government on social development matters broadly.  This initiative will be anchored by the National Development Agency with expertise on social dialogues and capacity building for civil society.

3/1/12 “The massive investment in infrastructure must leave more than just power stations, rail-lines, dams and roads. It must industrialise the country, generate skills and boost much needed job creation.

3/1/12 Consolidating our strategic gains … Social infrastructure - Improving DSD facilities  The overview by the President correctly identifies the lack of maintenance and investment on infrastructure as one of the key issues that may reverse the gains and strides that South Africa achieved [this includes social infrastructure].  The investment in social infrastructure is integral to the creation of strong, healthy and sustainable communities and contributes towards social cohesion.  The provision of social infrastructure also promotes social interaction and enhance the overall quality of life in communities.  The Department will during 2012/13 introduce a policy on social infrastructure that will guide the overall establishment and management of social facilities within the Social Development sphere.

3/1/12 Consolidating our strategic gains … National Integrated Social Information System [NISIS]  Whilst a lot has been achieved, more effort is still needed in increasing capacity of the state to coordinate information and services within the social protection ambit.  Social Development will provide a social infrastructure technology that will improve the level of coordination of anti- poverty efforts and bring South Africa more in-line with international best-practices.  The information will assist in directing government interventions, improve the ability to share such information across the sector; create ‘Service Referrals’ system to communicate needs identified, and coordinate and monitor action across the various departments and agencies responsible for the delivery of required anti-poverty services.

3/1/12 “We are also working towards a Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill, to promote compliance in both government and the private sector and to provide for sanctions in the case of non- compliance.

3/1/12 Consolidating our strategic gains Gender and women’s empowerment  The Department co-chairs the Social Cluster which will finalise consultations on the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Policy leading towards the Woman Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill.  The continued spectre of violence against women and children has led to the establishment of the National Council Against Gender-Based Violence which will be operational in the new financial year.  Reduction in the incidences of gender-based violence and greater public awareness and partnerships between government and civil society are some of its expected results.

3/1/12 Consolidating our strategic gains Gender and women’s empowerment  The Department of Social Development welcome the President’s address on heritage projects and in particular acknowledging historical landmarks such as those of Women Uprising in 1913 revolt by African women in the Free State, the 1957 anti-pass revolt by women in Zeerust, over and above the historical Women’s March against Pass Laws in  This move does not only recognize the contribution by women in liberation struggle, but places at the center of community development the culture of human rights and social cohesion. Thank you