Social Work Amendment Bill [B125-98]; Aged Persons Amendment Bill [B -98]: briefing

Meeting report

SOCIAL SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE
17 September 1998
SOCIAL WORK AMENDMENT BILL [B125-98]; AGED PERSONS AMENDMENT BILL [B -98]: BRIEFING

Documents handed out
Social Work Amendment Bill [B125-98]
Aged Persons Amendment Bill [B127-98]

SUMMARY
The Minister introduced the Social Work Amendment Bill and the Aged Persons Amendment Bill to the Committee.

MINUTES
The Minister said that she had taken the unusual step of introducing the Bills herself rather than leaving it to the experts. She described the Bills as a watershed step of legislation, providing a new approach to welfare. She said that the proposed council would promote social services, protect the public, meet minimum standards and develop skills. The professional Boards would deepen integrity and ensure the status of staff. She appealed to the National Council of Provinces to work together with the National Assembly to ensure the speedy passage of the Aged Persons Bill otherwise South Africa would then be unable to join in the United Nations' Year of the Aged (1^st October 1998 to 1^st October 1999 has been designated as the International Year of the Aged).

This Bill was not an attempt to write a comprehensive piece of legislation. This would be done in 1999. The department was in the process of working on it, in line with the Constitution and South Africa's policy on helping the aged.

Replying to a question on how she intended to appoint members of the Board, the Minister said that she would not in actual fact do it as she would choose from nominations. The question of autonomy had been discussed at length.