Briefing by Minister; Policy & Programmes

Meeting report

JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITY
16 November 1999
BRIEFING BY MINISTER AND PRESENTATION ON POLICY AND PROGRAMMES

Documents handed out:
National Youth Commission Act
National Programme of Action for Children in South Africa (NPA)
(email [email protected] for this document)
National Youth Policy (National Youth Commission)
1998 Annual Report (National Youth Commission)

SUMMARY
The Minister in the President's Office, Mr E Pahad, welcomed the formation of this committee. He said it as critical to fulfill functions devolving upon the legislature by ensuring that Government policies affecting the Committee's scope are implemented. He expressed hope that the Committee and the Ministry will have a good working relationship and that its relationship with the people it serves will be harmonious.

Ms T Mkwanazi-Xaluva, the Director for the Office on the Status of Children, introduced the National Programme of Action for Children in South Africa (NPA). She termed it an umbrella structure looking at the promotion of the rights of children in the country. She said in practical terms the NPA would facilitate, co-ordinate and monitor initiatives aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of the children. She invited all those who wish to do so to get involved in the NPA.

Mr S Chalklen, Director for the Office of the Status of Disabled People, called for all forms of the media to be used in educating the public about the needs of disabled people. He announced that in spite of all the difficulties faced by disabled people, he is happy that the OAU has announced the first decade of the new millenium as the 'African decade of the disabled people.'

Ms M Bengu, Chairperson of the National Youth Commission, welcomed the privilege of a Committee that will liaise with the Youth Commission. Amongst the various endeavors by her Commission to improve the quality of life of the youth, Ms Bengu mentioned a project initiated to contribute to the alleviation of the HIV/AIDS scourge. She said the Young Positive Living Ambassadors Project was launched in 1998 with the purpose of teaching youth about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and what to do when they encounter and/or live with an infected person.

MINUTES
Deputy Chairperson Mr B Willem (ANC, Eastern Cape) apologised for the unsuitability of the venue for the meeting in terms of access for wheelchairs. He expressed hope that by next year the Committee would have its own suitable venue and he handed over to Minister Essop Pahad to address the Committee.

Statement by the Minister
Minister Pahad echoed Mr B Willem's sentiments and suggested that a ground floor venue would be more reasonable. The Minister introduced members of his delegation: Ms T Mkwanazi-Xaluva (Director for the Office on the Status of Children), Mr S Chalklen (Director for the Office on the Status of Disabled People), Mr L Du Plooy (Director in the Minister's Office) and Ms H Bengu (Chairperson of the National Youth Commission) and two of her colleagues.

The Minister pointed out that in his opinion the mandate in this area is not functioning properly and therefore 'this Committee" is critical to ensure that Government policies are implemented and if not , to find out why. "We welcome the formation of this Committee," the Minister announced. He expressed hope that the Committee and his ministry will have a close working relationship.

Statement by Ms T Mkwanazi-Xaluva
Ms T Mkwanazi-Xaluva announced that the National Programme of Action for Children in South Africa (NPA) is an umbrella structure that looks at the promotion of the rights of children. The NPA will facilitate, co-ordinate and monitor initiatives and activities aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of the children. She said the NPA is organised around sectors. She list eight area groups which will address specific issues, namely: infrastructure; special protection measures; education; early childhood development; child and maternal health nutrition; leisure; peace and non-violence. Ms Mkwanazi-Xaluva encouraged all South Africans who so wish to get involved in the NPA and come forward with their suggestions and comments.

Statement by Mr S Chalklen
Mr S Chalklen stated that the role of his office is to develop disability policy proposals and advise government departments on disability programmes and to monitor them. He mentioned the Department of Transport with whom they are currently engaged in talks. There exists a White Paper which guides departments on what needs to be done.

He noted that "one of our key responsibilities is training". Mr Chalklen announced that all forms of media should be used to educate the public about the needs of the disabled. He expressed concern at the fact that the White Paper is rather broad. He said if an impact is sought, those areas that affect the disabled most severely have to be focused on. He made an example of the Department of Welfare where he alleged the disabled often had to put up with insensitive treatment.

Mr S Chalklen said in spite of all the difficulties he was happy to announce that the OAU has declared the first decade of the new millenium as the African decade of the disabled.

Statement by Ms M Bhengu
Ms M Bhengu welcomed the privilege of having a parliamentary committee that will liaise with the Youth Commission and monitor it. She said her Commission would endeavor to work closely with the Parliament. She mentioned the key functions of the Commission: putting in place an integrated national youth plan; ensuring uniformity in all sectors of government on matters of youth and ensuring the representation of the aspirations of the youth of South Africa.

Ms Bengu said although the scope of the Commission has somewhat expanded, it was initially formed to target youth , particularly young women, people with disabilities and people living in rural communities. Amongst the successes of the Commission Ms Bengu mentioned the introduction and piloting of programmes which help the advancement of the quality of life of the youth. She gave an example of Youth Information Projects such as Call Centres.

Ms Bengu said that with policy in place, the next step of the Commission was targeting areas where illiteracy is high. She also referred to the ongoing HIV/AIDS project launched in 1998, the Young Positive Living Ambassadors Project. It teaches youth about the dangers of HIV / AIDS and how to react when they encounter an infected person.

Ms Bengu complained that the limited budget of the Committee hinders it from functioning properly. Ms Bengu said that when the Commission was formed it had had to grapple with the notion of what relationship it had with government. She said that although this Committee has a monitoring role, it could be appreciated if they respect the functions of the Commission. She expressed regret that to date there are government departments that refuse to implement youth programmes. She nonetheless expressed hope that the relationship with government can be improved. Lastly Ms Bengu expressed disappointment at the fact that some provinces still do not have a provincial Youth Commission. She attributed this to certain provinces prioritising differently.

Discussion
A committee member asked the Director of the Office of the Child whether there is information that would enable the Committee to see who is doing what especially from the NGO sector as the Committee does not know where to start.
Ms T Mkwanazi- Xaluva repsonded that they have a database which has about 500 NGOs listed. Some of them can be of much help to the Committee.

Mr M Da Camara (DP) commented to Mr S Chalklen that there is a difference between taking policy decisions and policy implementation in cases of disability. For the past five years government has said that there is no money. He believed that the Committee should be vigorously involved in the budgeting process otherwise the White Paper will not be implemented.

Mr S Chalklen replied that the White Paper is a priority. He said in terms of expenditure money must be prioritised.

Ms W Newhoudt-Druchen (ANC) complained that disabled people, in particular the deaf, do not have access to information sources such as television. She wanted to know whether the Open Democracy Bill will make provision for such people to access information.

Response (Mr Chalklen): Our main function is to have access to all Departments. Access to information should be for the deaf and the blind as well.

Mr T Setona (ANC, Free State) challenged all the members to grapple with the issues especially Ms Newhoudt-Druchen's concerns until answers are found.

Mr C Morkel (NNP): I am concerned about the interaction of this Committee and other Committees. Are we representative of all Committees?
Response by a Committee Member: If we are the bridge between Government and Parliament, then we should be representative of all Committees.

Ms N Maine (ANC) commented to Ms Bengu that HIV/AIDS statistics are obtained from antenatal clinics. She wanted to know if the Commission was able to produce statistics showing how many youths both male and female are infected?

Ms Bengu said that the only reliable statistics they have are those from the Department of Health. There is currently no other source from which to ascertain how many young people are affected. She agreed they needed to look at sources for statistics other than antenatal clinics.

A committee member asked whether is there a strategy to make sure that rural youths also benefit from the National Youth Commission's programmes.
Mr Kodwa from the Commission said that they would not succeed if they leave out the rural component of their constituency. All the pilot projects are also engaging the rural youth. The Commission plans to meet with the Government Information and Communication Service to discuss ways of bridging the information gap experienced by the rural youth.

Mr M Da Camara (DP) asked the Minister how his office works.
Mr Pahad said that matters affecting youth, children and the disabled are situated in the President's Office. These are placed in the President's office because of the importance that is placed on them. The President can use his power to get certain things done. I am appointed to assist the President.