ANNUAL REPORT OF THE JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND DISABLED PERSONS: OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2004 AND JANUARY – DECEMBER 2005

 

  1. Name of the Committee: Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons

    2. Chairperson: Mrs Wilma Susan Newhoudt - Druchen

    Deputy Chairperson: Mr Dumisani Dennis Gamede

    Committee Secretary: Mrs Lungiswa Sylvia Matshikiza.

  2. Chairperson’s Overview: The Committee was able to work well as a team despite its inability to quorate most of the time, due to clashes with other Committees among other reasons. The Committee covered most of the work set out on its programme for the year, however it could not cover all the work due to the fact that the fourth term was shortened for voter registration preparations among other reasons. The Committee will scrutinise the departmental annual reports and conduct its oversight work next year. The Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson wish to extend their word of appreciation to members of Committee who participated in all the Committee activities despite many other commitments and to members of staff. A word of appreciation also goes to the National Youth Commission (NYC), Office of the Status of Disabled Persons (OSDP), and Office of the Rights of a Child (ORC) and Departments for their co-operation to appear before the Committee.

  3. Vision and Mission of the Committee: The vision of the Committee is to monitor and evaluate progress with regard to the improvement of quality of life and status of children, youth and disabled persons in South Africa with specific reference to government commitments and international instruments as stated in the Joint Rules of Parliament. The mission of the Committee is to improve the quality of life and status of children, youth and disabled persons based on the principles as set out in the Constitution and in the President’s State of Nation and to work towards the betterment of all people’s lives in the country.

  4. List of Public Entities over which the Committee exercise oversight: (NYC), (OSDP), (ORC) Umsobomvu Youth Fund, all National Departments and all Provincial ORCs in the MEC’s offices. Disability Desks also report to the Committee.

  5. Number of meetings held and those cancelled: The Committee held 17 meetings and cancelled two meetings.

  6. Legislation referred to the Committee: The Committee had no legislation referred to it during the period under review but participated in briefings on the Children’s Bill. The Committee met jointly with the Portfolio Committee on Social Development in the cleaning up of the said Bill.

  7. Oversight (Local) visits: The Committee did not undertake any study visits during the period under review.

  8. International Visits: The Committee did not undertake any study visits during the period under review.

  9. Budget Vote:

    10. Briefing by department 26 August 2005

    Public Hearings: still awaiting a follow up briefing

    Report publication (No date agreed upon yet)

     

  10. Other Committee Activities (briefings on other issues, workshops,)

    11. 2004 Briefings

    Date: 22 October 2004

    Agenda: Election of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson

    Venue: Committee Room E 340, 3rd Floor, New Wing

    Resolution: Mrs L Matshikiza presided over the election of the chairperson and the deputy chairperson and both were elected unopposed.

    Mrs Newhoudt – Druchen and Mr Gamede thanked members of the Committee for their attendance and the trust they had place on them.

    Date: 29 October May 2004

    Agenda: Briefing by Mr K Handiek, Secretary: National Assembly on the functions of the Committee.

    Venue: Committee V226, 2nd Floor, Old Assembly Wing

    Resolution: The meeting was postponed due to poor attendance and the Committee resolved that it would reconvene in two weeks.

    Date: 10 November 2004

    Agenda: Briefing by Mr K Handiek: Secretary: National Assembly, on the functions of the Committee.

    Venue: V227, Second Floor, Old Assembly Wing

    Resolution: The Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee thanked Mr Handiek for the informative briefing and the Committee took a resolution that joint monitoring committees should conduct workshops to receive training and define their needs, roles and vision.

    NB: The minutes of the above briefings were adopted in the meeting that was held on 24 June 2005 due to the inability of the Committee

    to quorate.

    2005 Briefings and Workshops

    Date: 15 February 2005

    Agenda: Planning for the Strategic Planning Workshop and other related business

    Venue: Committee Room E443, 4th Floor, New Wing

    Resolutions: It was resolved that the Committee should discuss its mandate and find out, which stakeholders are for the Committee within and outside government. Umsobomvu Youth Fund was cited as one of such stakeholders. It was agreed that the Committee should revisit the Rules of Parliament so that they can empower disabled persons. The Committee also agreed that Mr G Q M Doidge should brief the Committee on its mandate based on Mr K Handiek ’s discussion document, as this would enable political debate to run smoothly and without unnecessary delays.

    The National Youth Commission (NYC), Office of the Status for Disabled Persons (OSDP) and the Office of the Rights of a Child (ORC) should brief the committee on their responsibilities i.e. their role and function. A concern was raised that the committee covers three sectors and has a lot of work before it therefore it needs a researcher and a subject specialist. Accordingly, it was agreed that the committee secretary should write a proposal for the subject specialist and forward it to Mr Doidge and Ms Kondlo, would take up the research issue with the Chief Whip’s office. It was resolved that the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson would identify facilitators for the workshop,

    It was also agreed that directors form the three sectors should do the briefings themselves and that they should not delegate this task to their officials. Lastly it was agreed that the Minister in the office of the President should be invited to set the tone for the workshop and Mr Doidge would ’s briefing would follow this keynote address.

    Workshop

    Date: 04 – 05 March 2005

    Agenda:

    The aim of the workshop was to strategise and discuss issues that pertain to the smooth running of the Committee, to revisit its mandate,

    to discuss outstanding matters of concern and clarity and to draw a comprehensive programme for 2005 – 2006.

    Venue: Villa Via Hotel, Gordon’s Bay

    Presenters: Dr E Kornegay, Chief Director: ORC; Mr L Mboyi, Chief Executive Officer: NYC; Mr J Mbalula, Chairperson: NYC;

    Ms S Matsepula, Director: OSDP; Mr G Q M Doidge, House Chairperson: Committees, National Assembly (NA))

    Resolutions: The Committee could not formulate its programme for 2005 to 2006 due to the work that members had to cover within the two days of the strategic planning workshop. It was important for the Committee to first wait for the report that would emanate from the workshop in order to come up with a comprehensive programme. It agreed to hold a follow up workshop for this purpose. The Committee took a resolution that it would report to both Houses on its work and follow up on its recommendations by checking the implementation thereof.

    Joint Workshop of JMC on Children, Youth and Disabled Person with Portfolio Committee on Social Development

    Date: 12 – 13 April 2005

    Agenda: The aim of the workshop was to seek clarity on certain policy issues related to the Children’s Bill [B70 – 2003]

    (Re – introduced).

    Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre

    Presenters: Ms P Proudlock, Children ‘s Bill Working Group (CBWG); Advocate A Skelton, Centre for Child Law, University of the Witwatersrand; Mr H van der Merwe, Office of the Master of the High Court; Ms L Mngomezulu, South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO); Ms C Bower, (RAPCAN); Dr E Seobi; D J Giddy, HIV Programmes: McCord’s Hospital, KwaZulu – Natal;

    Ms J Lofell, Johannesburg Child Welfare Society; Professor J Sloth-Nielsen, University of the Western Cape.

    Resolutions: The Committee managed to clean up the Bill on many issues that were not clear and resolved that it could no spend more time debating policy issues however the next step would be for the department’s legal drafters to provide the Committee with alternative drafts of those clauses that had been identified for further refinement. The Committee would then consider them in their next meeting after the recess.

    Date: 27 May 2005

    Agenda: Briefing about the upcoming events for the National Children’s Day and the National Youth Day Celebrations.

    Venue: Committee Room 2, Ground Floor 120 Plein Street

    Resolution: The Committee resolved that Lungi should follow up on the availability of the old assembly chamber and she has to give

    clarity displays or exhibitions that were to be set up with Non Governmental Organisations to showcase their projects and programmes

    and on catering arrangements. She also had to report back on schools contacted and the list of attendees, transport arrangements for

    children and media involvement in the event.

    Date: 01 June 2005

    Agenda: Celebrating National Children’s Day

    Venue: Old Assembly Chamber, Old Assembly Wing

    Presenters: Minister E Pahad

    Resolutions: It was resolved that more will be done to ensure that all questions raised by children regarding gangsterism and violence in

    schools and in the community at large are answered satisfactorily. The Minister promised that his office would liaise with

    Mrs N M Pandor, the Minister of Education and other relevant ministries like Mr Z Skweyiya, the Minister of Social Development to

    ensure that more is done to avert the crisis that is prevalent in schools.

    He also advised children that identification is a serious problem in that it can affect them in future therefore they should ensure that their

    accurate names are recorded on their identity books. The Minister requested teachers to go back to their schools and report their

    experience in Parliament. They should also establish what the children had to say and to bring those suggestions forth so that the ministry and Parliament can help children to have better solutions to their problems. Mr Pahad said that it is part of governments’ agenda to close the gap between the schools of previously disadvantaged and previously advantaged children. The child protection units and family counselling provisions are aimed at addressing children’s problems as far as possible and toll free lines were given to children so that they can use them whenever they need help. They are: Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation - 0800 220 250 and Cape Gateway Call Centre 0860 142 142.

     

    Date: 14 June 2005

    Agenda: Celebration of National Youth Day

    Venue: National Council of Provinces Chamber, Ground Floor, and NCOP Wing

    Presenters: Mr M Gigaba, Deputy Minister: Dept of Home Affairs; Dr J Benjamin, Deputy Minister: Dept of Social Development

    Resolutions: It was resolved that future engagement with the young people of the country should be ongoing as these information

    sharing sessions would help other young people in realising their future goals.

    Date: 24 June 2005

    Agenda: Consideration and adoption of the strategic planning workshop, committee programme and adoption of minutes. Exchanging of views with the Vietnamese delegation.

    Venue: Committee Room 1, Ground Floor, and 90 Plein Street

    Resolutions:

    The strategic planning workshop report was adopted with minor amendments. The minutes of 22 October, 29th October and 10 November 2004 respectively were also adopted with minor amendments. The Vietnamese delegation discussed a number of issues with the Committee and both agreed that future engagements would assist both countries in addressing common issues affecting children, youth and disabled persons. The Chairperson on behalf of the Committee thanked the delegation for their visit and for the information shared.

    Date: 02 August 2005

    Agenda: Briefing by Mr D van Vuuren, Commissioner: NYC on progress and challenges and on learnership programmes. Briefing by

    Director: Communication on communication strategy; Briefing by Mr A Motsoahae, Manager: National Youth Service Programme on

    participation of youth in Interdepartmental Committee on Youth Affairs.

    Venue: Committee Room V119, 1st Floor, Old Assembly Chamber,

    Resolutions: The committee was requested to assist with lobbying government departments towards National Youth Service

    Programmes (NYSP). Committee members requested the following information to be forwarded to them - the location of the NYSP

    in terms of urban or rural areas and that committee should be invited to the National Youth Convention.

    Date: 12 August 2005

    Agenda: Interrogation of departmental briefings with a view to monitor funds allocated for children, youth and disabled persons by the

    following departments – (i) Dept of Justice and Constitutional Development (ii) Dept of Health iii) Dept of Social Development

    (iv) Dept of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

    Venue: Committee Room 1, 90 Plein Street, and Ground Floor .

    Presenters: Ms C C Kotzenberg, Cluster Manager: Non Communicable Dieses,, Dr Anna Amos; Mr Amos Mathiba, DEAT;

    Mr K B Tshabalala, Chief Director: Promotion of the Rights of Vulnerable Groups, Department of Justice; Dr M Mabetoa,

    Director- General: Dept of Social Development; Mr M Radebe, Director: Youth Development Services; Mr T Mathiba; Director: Environment and Tourism

    Resolutions: Mr Mathibe acknowledged that his department that was not doing enough in involving disabled persons. Upon his inquiry

    to the Committee on how best they, as the department could be assisted in meeting the Committee’s expectations the Committee

    resolved that it would send a detailed letter to the department regarding the matter.

    Date: 26 August 2005

    Agenda: Briefing by Ms M Rantla, Director: ORC on mainstreaming of Children’s Rights in the Provincial ORC offices; briefing

    on Communication Strategy; briefing by Dr E Kornegay, Chief Director: on Programme 5 (budget vote 1) and the role of the

    Committee in the budget process, briefing on the working relationship of the Committee with the Presidency and adoption of minutes.

    Venue: Committee Room V454, Fourth Floor, Old Assembly Wing

    Resolutions: The Committee resolved that there should be a follow up meeting on programme 6 and the Committee still needs clarity on

    its role in the budget process.

    Date: 09 September 2005

    Agenda: Briefing by Mr B Palime, Director: OSDP on disability desks; progress and challenges since the last workshop; briefing on

    budget allocated to disability units; briefing on communication strategy and adoption of minutes

    Venue: Committee Room G 26, Ground Floor, New Wing

    Presenters: Dr E Kornegay, Chief Director: Programmes, Mr B Palime, Acting Director: OSDP, Ms Joanna Doorsamy: Administrative

    Officer, OSDP

    Resolutions: The Committee agreed that a review of the focal points at local and provincial level should take place and that the four

    provincial offices should be invited to the next meeting for the Committee to assess service delivery generally. The Committee was

    requested to interact in the budgetary process of the Chief Directorate on programmes so that it can establish reasons behind the

    consistently low budget and that of the Provincial OSDP’s.

    Date: 14 October 2005

    Agenda: Interrogation of departmental briefings with a view to monitor funds allocated for children, Youth and Disabled Persons by the following Departments – (i) Dept of Education (ii) Labour

    Venue: Committee Room M201, Second Floor, Marks Building

    Presenters: Ms Penny Vinjevold, Deputy Director – General (DG): Further Education and Training, Department of Education (DOE);

    Ms Lucy Moyane: Chief Director – General, Education and Training, DOE; Mr Sam Morotoba, Acting Deputy Director – General:

    Employment and Skills Development Services, Department of Labour (DOL); Ms Anna van Zyl, Executive Manager: DOL,

    Mr Ganga Tsengiwe, Senior Executive Manager: Office of the Director – General Human Resources, DOL, Mr Bahume Matebese,

    Executive Manager: Finance, DOL.

    Resolutions: The Committee resolved that there is a lot that still needs to be done by these departments in order for them to meet the

    required expectations of the Committee for the betterment of the livelihood of children and youth more especially the disabled

    persons and that it is looking forward to further briefings with the said departments.

    Date: 21 October 2005

    Agenda: Interrogation of departmental briefings with a view to monitor funds allocated for children, Youth and Disabled Persons by the following Departments – (i) Dept of Agriculture and land Affairs (ii) Dept of Correctional Services (iii) Dept of Transport

    Venue: Committee Room V475, Old Assembly Wing

    Presenters: Ms J E Sishuba, Chief Deputy Commissioner: Development and Care, Department of Correctional Services (DCS);

    Mr Patric Gillingham, Chief Deputy Commissioner, Finance, (DCS), Ms Sina Moruane, Director: Social Services, DCS; Mr Chris

    Khonkwane, Manager: D G office, Transformation, Department of Agriculture (DOA), Mr Tshuba Mogashoa, Director: Transformation

    Unit, Department of Land Affairs (DOLA), Mr Rooi Booysen, Director: Financial Administration, DOLA; Mr Jerry Makokoane: Chief

    Operating Officer: Department of Transport (DOT); Ms Hellen Mnguni, Director: Capacity Development, DOT; Ms Althea Belford,

    Deputy Director: Employee Assistance Programme and Special Programmes, DOT.

    Resolutions: The Committee resolved that it was clear that a lot still needed to be done regarding the improvement of quality of life

    of children and that the committee would interact more with respective departments to ensure that these matters are addressed. The

    Department of Correctional services promised that it would forward written responses to the Committee on some of the questions that it

    could not respond to during the meeting.

     

    Date: 28 October 2005

    Agenda: Interrogation of departmental briefings with a view to monitor funds allocated for children, Youth and Disabled Persons by the following Departments – (i) Dept of Science and Technology (ii) Dept of Sport and Recreation.

    Venue: Committee Room S26

    Presenters: Mr Lindile Ndabeni, Director: Head of Department, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Mr Joseph Tshikomba:

    Deputy Director, Human Capital Development, DST; Prof Denver Hendricks: Head of Department: Department of Sport and Recreation

    (DS&R), Mr Greg Fredericks: Chief Director: DS&R; Ms Noma Kotelo: Manager: Client Services, DS &R; Ms Kelly Mkonto, Head:

    Mass Participation, DS&R.

    Resolution

    The Committee resolved that as there were many questions that were not answered and it would be looking forward to another briefing to

    ensure that the Department of Science and Technology improvise in the improvement of quality of life of children, youth and disabled

    persons in its budget. Accordingly, Mr J Tshikomba promised that he would provide the Committee with written responses via the

    secretariat on all questions that were not satisfactory answered or that were not answered. The Committee agreed that it would be looking

    forward to future engagement with the department Sport and Recreation more especially on disability issues.

  11. Budget of the committee

 

  1. Outstanding Matters:

 

13. SUPPORT STAFF

Committee Secretary: Mrs Lungi Matshikiza

Manager: Committee Section: Mrs Zanele Mene

Committee Assistant: Mr Fuad Holliday

Secretary to Chairperson: Ms Ntsiki Tiko

Researcher: The Committee has no dedicated researcher assigned to it.

 

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COMMITTEE SECRETARY DATE: -------------------------------------

 

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MANAGER: COMMITTEE SECTION DATE: ------------------------------------

 

 

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COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON DATE: -----------------------------------

 

 

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DEPUTY COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON DATE: -------------------------------

 

The Committee considered the Committee Annual Report and adopted it on 24 March 2006.

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