Report of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on Budget Vote 18, dated 16 March 2005:

The Portfolio Committee on Social Development, having considered Budget Vote: 18, reports as follows:

The budget review of the Ministry and the Department of Social Development was undertaken from 1-2 March and 8-9 March 2005.

Over and above hosting presentations by the Department of Social Development the Committee also received presentations from the following bodies:

The Departmental officials who appeared before the Committee included Mr Vusi Madonsela, Director-General and Mr MC Pakade, Chief Financial Officer.

The Portfolio Committee engaged with Budget Vote 18: Social Development through a series of meetings with the Department of Social Development, as well as those entities reporting to the national Minister of Social Development.

Due to time constraints and various commitments on the side of senior departmental officials, the briefings and discussions on 1 and 2 March could only focus on the areas of social assistance, the transformation and financing of social services, HIV and AIDS care and population and development. The Committee would therefore have to deal with other aspects of the department’s programmatic work after the completion of the budget cycle.

In the discussions on the various budget items, Members of the Committee noted their interest in the establishment of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the impact that this will have on improving the delivery of social grants. The Committee therefore intends to closely monitor the establishment of the SASSA through briefings and progress reports. The question of the role of social grants and other forms of social aid to persons living with HIV and AIDS was also raised. In addition, Members expressed concern about the manner in which the food emergency scheme was managed, and about the fact that the developmental aspects of the Integrated Nutrition Strategy has not been implemented.

Members further noted that the following matters with regard to the policy-making role of the Department needed attention:

• completing policy on disability and policy on social relief of distress;
• implementing the financing policy for the non-profit sector; and
• completing the comprehensive social security policy.

The NDA briefed the Committee on its budget and strategic plans on 8 March. Discussions focused on the challenges faced by the NDA in eradicating corruption at senior level in the Agency, as well as its capacity to play its role as development agency. In the discussion with the Disaster Relief Fund, the focus was on the role of the Fund in mitigating the impact of natural disasters, and in particular, the ongoing drought in various parts of the country.

On 9 March, the Committee engaged the Central Drug Authority on its limited budget and the impact thereof on its ability to reach the most vulnerable groups through it’s drug awareness campaigns. In the meeting with the South African Council for Social Services Professions, the focus of the discussion was on the role of the Council in ensuring that there was uniformity of training for social service professionals, in the establishment of professional boards for social service professions and on the impact that it’s small budget had on its effectiveness as a statutory body.

In addition, the Committee envisages engaging in the following issues with the Department, pursuant to discussions on the Budget Vote:

Regulations to the Social Assistance Act (Act No. 13 of 2004) have recently been published for comment. The Committee may consider holding public hearings on the Regulations.

The Department’s role in poverty reduction strategies or programmes outside the realm of social assistance, especially in the area of early childhood development.