Social Development South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 - South Africa Yearbook 2015/16
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Social Development
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16
Social
Development
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 377Social Development
The mandate of the Department of Social value of R128 billion in the 2015/16 financial
Development (DSD) is to ensure protection year.
against vulnerability by creating an enabling The focus of the DSD over the Medium Term
environment for the provision of a compre- Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period will
hensive, integrated and sustainable social be on: increasing access to social assistance,
development service. strengthening community participation,
The strategic goals for the DSD are to: improving household access to food and
• review and reform social welfare services and nutrition, reforming and standardising the social
financing welfare sector, expanding social development
• improve and expand early childhood services, and protecting and promoting the
development (ECD) provision rights of children.
• deepen social assistance and extend the These priorities are all premised on the NDP,
scope of the contributory social security which describes five functions of social protection:
system protective measures to save lives and reduce
• enhance the capabilities of communities to levels of deprivation; preventive measures which
achieve sustainable livelihoods and household help people avoid falling deeper into poverty and
food security reduce their vulnerability; promotive measures
• strengthen coordination, integration, planning, which enhance the capabilities of individuals
monitoring and evaluation of services. South communities and institutions; transformative
Africa has made good progress in building measures which tackle inequities through
social cohesion and promoting a new single changes in policies, laws and budgets; and
national identity. The biggest barrier to developmental and generative measures which
increasing social cohesion is the remaining increase the poor’s consumption, promoting
inequality in society, which needs to be local economic development.
attended to. The department’s work over the medium term
More than half of all households in South Africa also gives effect to Outcome 13 of government’s
benefit from government’s social assistance 2014-2019 Medium Term Strategic Framework
programme. (MTSF) – an inclusive and responsive social
Comprehensive social security alleviates and protection system.
reduces poverty, vulnerability, social exclusion In accordance with the reorganisation of some
and inequality through a comprehensive social national departments, announced by President
protection system. Jacob Zuma in May 2014, R123,9 million over
Empowering young and old people, those with the medium term has been shifted to the DSD
disabilities as well as women in particular, helps from the former Department of Women, Children
rebuild families and communities. and People with Disabilities.
Welfare services create and provide social The progressive realisation of the rights of
protection to the most vulnerable of society children and people with disabilities has become
through the delivery of social welfare services part of the DSD’s mandate, while the new
via provincial government and non-profit organi- Department of Women will continue to promote,
sation (NPO) structures. advocate for and monitor the realisation of the
rights of women.
Budget Over the medium term, the DSD will continue
A total of R113 billion (93%) of the DSD’s R120 to provide social assistance grants to the
billion budget went towards the payment of elderly, children, war veterans and people with
social grants. disabilities. These grants boost the incomes
The social assistance budget has increased of poor households, which bear the brunt of
by an average of 11% a year since 2008/09, in persistent unemployment, poverty and inequality
part due to the extension of the Child Support in South Africa.
Grant (CSG) to the age of 18. Grants take up 94,2% of the department’s total
The CSG is the largest by number, totalling budget allocation over the 2015 MTEF period,
just below 12 million, which represents approxi- and the department projects paying social
mately 31% of the South African population. The assistance grants to about 17,5 million benefi-
various social grants recorded an average of ciaries by the end of 2017/18.
55% growth in value since 2006, for example, The department’s planned improvements to
the Old Age Grant grew from R820.00 to the appeals adjudication process will support
R1 500.00 in 2016. South Africa now spends increasing access to social assistance grants,
close to 3% of GDP on social assistance to the and a business information system will be
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 378Social Development
developed to speed up the adjudication process The number of people with access to the
itself. programme was set to increase to 900 000
Expenditure on grants is expected to increase by 2017/18. The cost of implementing the
at an average annual rate of 7,3% per year programme is reflected in the projected 11,4%
over the medium term, reaching R149 billion in average annual growth over the medium term
2017/18, mostly due to adjustments to the value in transfers to households in the Social Policy
of the grants and growth in the number of benefi- and Integrated Development programme.
ciaries. Transfers to the South African Social Some R17.4 million over the medium term is
Security Agency (SASSA) make up 98,6% of reprioritised within the department’s budget for
the Social Security Policy and Administration establishing an office to oversee the implemen-
programme. tation of the programme.
The transfers fund both the administration
and distribution of social grants. Administration Reforming and standardising the social
costs constituted 5,5% of the budget for social welfare sector
assistance grants in 2013/14 but are expected A key element of Outcome 13 of government’s
to decline to 5% in 2017/18, partly due to 2014-2019 MTSF (an inclusive and responsive
efficiencies from the new payment contract social protection system) is reforming and
implemented in 2012/13. standardising the social welfare system.
Project Mikondzo, a nationwide service- Reforms will largely be driven by the review of
delivery initiative to assess the footprint and the 1997 White Paper for Social Welfare, funded
impact of the social development sector, will in the Service Standards subprogramme in
continue over the medium term. the Welfare Services Policy Development and
Through direct interaction with municipalities Implementation Support programme. The review
and community members, the project aims to will be completed by 2017/18.
monitor service delivery at community level, Social workers are essential to improved and
determine the gap between policy formulation standardised social welfare services. Training
and implementation, and understand service social workers is therefore crucial to social
delivery challenges and backlogs. welfare reform, and the department expects to
It is one of the two main spending drivers award 1 654 new scholarships for social work
over the medium term in the Community in 2017/18.
Development subprogramme in the Social Policy Scholarships, funded in the Social Worker
and Integrated Service Delivery programme. Scholarships subprogramme, constitute 42.6%
The department also runs a range of outreach of the budget of the Welfare Services Policy
programmes such as Child Protection Week, Development and Implementation Support
the Active Aging programmes for older persons, programme over the medium term, and are
youth camps and youth dialogues. Between administered by the National Student Financial
2 000 and 5 000 people participate in the events, Aid Scheme.
and the department covers their travelling costs. Improved processes for registering and
These participatory programmes drive monitoring NPOs, which are key partners in
expenditure in travel and subsistence, venues providing social welfare services, will also
and facilities, and catering across several of support the reform. The department plans to
the department’s budget programmes. Partici- review the NPO Act of 1997 to improve the
pation often exceeds what the department has regulatory framework, and will also improve the
expected, resulting in increased expenditure. management of the NPO database and enhance
To contain expenditure, the national department the efficiency of the registration process.
will share such costs with provincial departments The target is that 100% of applications for
over the medium term. The department has also registration will be processed within two months
reviewed its procurement processes for the by 2017/18. The Registration and Monitoring
events, and the resulting efficiencies can be of NPO subprogramme receives 25,3% of the
seen in the projected decrease in spending in non-transfers budget of the Social Policy and
the Youth and Older Persons subprogrammes Integrated Service Delivery programme to
over the medium term. support these activities.
By 2015/16, nine provincial food distribution
centres and 72 community nutrition development Expanding social development services
centres were expected to be fully operational To support the department’s ongoing work
and 600 000 people would have access to food to expand social development services,
through the department’s food relief programme. over the medium term the department will
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 379Social Development
focus on managing the command centre (a working with children are meant to be screened
24-hour call centre for victims of gender based against the register. Organisations providing
violence), drafting legislation on victim support services to children, such as ECD centres,
services, and enhancing the implementation cannot complete their registration process
and monitoring of social crime prevention and unless they have screened all employees.
gender based violence programmes (such as
programmes that provide shelters). Spending on Legislation and frameworks
these activities is in the Social Crime Prevention The department derives its mandate from the
and Victim Empowerment subprogramme of following legislation:
the Welfare Services Policy Development and • Advisory Board on Social Development Act,
Implementation Support programme. 2001 (Act 3 of 2001)
Substance abuse is a key social challenge • Children’s Act, 2005 (Act 38 of 2005)
in many South African communities, and the • Children’s Amendment Act, 2007 (Act 41 of
Prevention of and Treatment for Substance 2007)
Abuse Act of 2008 prescribes that each province • Fund-Raising Act, 1978 (Act 107 of 1978)
must have at least one public treatment centre. • Mental Healthcare Act, 2002 (Act 17 of 2002)
By mid-2016, there were seven centres in four • National Welfare Act, 1978 (Act 100 of 1978)
provinces. Using funds allocated in the 2014 • National Development Agency (NDA) Act, 1998
Budget (R50 million per year), the department (Act 108 of 1998)
was expected to construct substance abuse • NPO Act, 1997 (Act 71 of 1997)
treatment centres in the Northern Cape, Eastern • Older Persons Act, 2006 (Act 13 of 2006)
Cape, North West and Free State in 2015/16 • Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency
and 2016/17. Act, 1992 (Act 20 of 1992)
• Prevention of and Treatment for Substance
Protecting and promoting the rights of Abuse Act, 2008 (Act 70 of 2008)
children • Probation Services Act, 1991 (Act 116 of 1991)
The department, in consultation with a range of • SASSA Act, 2004 (Act 9 of 2004)
stakeholders, has developed a government-wide • Social Assistance Amendment Act, 2008 (Act 6
ECD policy and programme. The objectives of of 2008)
the policy are to: ensure that comprehensive, • Social Service Professions Act, 1978 (Act 110
quality ECD services are in close proximity of 1978). The Act also provides for the
and equitably accessible to all children and appointment of the Independent Tribunal in
their caregivers; enable parents to lead and a way to be prescribed by regulation, and
participate in the development of their young contains a number of technical amendments
children through the use of these services; and to and corrections.
ensure alignment and harmonisation across the • In terms of the Social Assistance Amendment
different sectors responsible for ECD services. Act, 2010 (Act 5 of 2010), beneficiaries and other
Over the medium term, the department will applicants may now ask SASSA to reconsider
be putting the required systems in place for the relevant decision before appealing to
implementing the policy and the programme. the tribunal. All applications for appeal must
The department will also be working towards now show that they have gone through the
alignment and harmonisation with municipal reconsideration process at SASSA.
bylaws and provincial legislation, especially According to the National Development Plan
related to infrastructure development and (NDP) 2030, South Africa needs to pay careful
management. attention to the design of policies between now
To meet these objectives, an ECD programme and 2030 to ensure that vulnerable groups and
office will be established, starting in 2015/16. citizens are protected from the worst effects of
Spending is in the Children subprogramme of poverty.
the Welfare Services Policy Development and These social protection measures proposed
Implementation Support programme. seek to support those most in need, including
The Children’s Act of 2005 requires the children, people with disabilities and the elderly
department to establish and manage a national and promote active participation in the economy
child protection register as part of the overall and society for those who are unemployed
child protection system. The aim of the register and under-employed through labour market
is to have a record of all reports of abuse and all activation measures, employment services,
convictions, and to use the information to protect income support programmes and other services
children from unsuitable persons. All persons to sustain and improve quality of life.
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 380Social Development
The plan acknowledges that the country has to work with children.
built an advanced and comprehensive social In terms of this law, child-care facilities,
protection system with wide reach and coverage, including welfare organisations offering foster
but the system is still fragmented, plagued by care and adoption, are able to check prospect-
administrative bottlenecks and implementation ive employees, foster parents and adoptive
inefficiencies. parents against the register.
As a result, the various elements of the social The register is not open to the public and all
protection system are not operating seamlessly. requests for information must be directed to the
The priority should be improving efficiency in the DSD.
delivery of services, addressing exclusions by The Children’s Amendment Act of 2007
identifying and reaching those who are entitled provides for:
to the existing benefits of social protection, • the partial care of children
reducing the administrative bottlenecks that • ECD
prevent people accessing benefits. • protection of children
• prevention and early-intervention services
National Family Policy • children in alternative care
The DSD is tasked with implementing the • foster care
National Family Policy and provides training • child and youth care centres, shelters and
in family-preservation services, marriage drop-in centres
preparation and enrichment, parenting/primary • new offences relating to children
care-giving and families in crisis to service • the plight of child-headed households
providers in the area of family services. • respect for parental rights by providing that no
The White Paper on Families emphasises the person may take or send a South African child
need for all to build strong families that protect out of the country without the consent of the
the most vulnerable members of society. parents or guardian
The purpose of the White Paper is to provide • the discipline of children.
a platform for all South Africans to engage and The national guidelines to protect and care for
exchange views on how to build stable families. children include the Constitution, the Child Care
It also addresses some of the challenges Act, 1983 (Act 74 of 1983), as amended, the
faced by individuals in families, including the White Paper for Social Welfare (1997) and the
abuse of women and children, the elderly as well Children’s Act of 2005, as amended.
as people with disabilities. Section 137 of the Children’s Act of 2005,
proposes new protection measures for child-
Childcare legislation headed households.
The Children’s Act of 2005 sets out principles This section defines children from child-headed
relating to the care and protection of children; households, provides for appointing an adult to
defines parental responsibilities and rights; supervise a child-headed household and allows
and provides for matters such as children’s children in child-headed households to access
courts, adoption, child abduction and surrogate social grants and other material assistance.
motherhood.
The Act also: Role players
• gives effect to certain rights of children as Department of Women
contained in the Constitution The Department of Women is situated in The
• provides for the issuing of contribution orders Presidency. The mandate of the department is to
• provides for intercountry adoption champion the advancement of women’s socio-
• gives effect to the Hague Convention on economic empowerment and the promotion of
Intercountry Adoption gender equality.
• prohibits child abduction and gives effect to Its mission is to accelerate socio-economic
the Hague Convention on International Child transformation for women empowerment and
Abduction the advancement of gender equality.
• recognises new offences relating to children
• provides for matters relating to the trafficking National Development Agency
of children and the implementation of the The NDA is a public entity, listed under Schedule
relevant protocol. 3A of the Public Finance Management Act,
The Children’s Act of 2005 provides for the (PFMA) 1999 (Act 1 of 1999).
establishment of the National Child Protection
Register that records all people found unsuitable
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 381Social Development
Its mandates are to: for an efficient and effective social assistance
• contribute towards the eradication of poverty benefits administration system
and its causes by granting funds to civil- • deliver innovative and cost-effective services
society organisations (CSOs) to beneficiaries and potential beneficiaries
• implement development projects in poor through multiple access channels
communities • pay the right grant to the right person at the
• strengthen the institutional capacity of CSOs right time and place.
that provide services to poor communities SASSA ensures the provision of comprehensive
• promote consultation, dialogue and sharing of social security services against vulnerability and
development experience between CSOs and poverty within the constitutional and legislative
relevant organs of State framework.
• debate development policy The agency’s key functions include the effec-
• undertake research and publication aimed at tive management, administration and payment
providing the basis for development policy. of social assistance, as well as:
The NDA supports the work of civil society in key • the processing of applications for social assis-
areas of concern. tance, such as social grants, grant-in-aid and
It is an important partner in the department’s SRD, the verification and timely approval of
efforts to promote ECD by using its grants to grant applications
strengthen the capacities of ECD community- • the management and reconciliation of grant
service organisations, which support the depart- payments to eligible beneficiaries by contrac-
ment’s efforts to reduce violence against women tors
and children by providing key support to the • the marketing of social assistance
gender-based violence sector. • quality service assurance by ensuring compli-
NDA programmes include grant funding, ance with norms and standards, and fraud
capacity-building and research, policy dialogue prevention and detection.
and impact assessment. SASSA managed to increase the number of
Capacity-building interventions are geared social grants in payment by 2% from 16 642 643
towards ensuring that recipients of grant funding at the end of 2014/15 to 16 991 634 at the end of
are not only given money to start and run their the 2015/16 financial year.
projects, but that they are empowered with the The majority of these grants are children’s
necessary skills to ensure sustainability. grants totalling 12 573 955, representing a 1,99%
The NDA has established the Programme growth from the 2014/15 financial year total of
Management Unit, which is responsible for 12 329 716. A total of 479 238 SRD applications
offering project management services to private were awarded during the 2015/16 financial year.
and public-sector stakeholders who wish to fund This number includes 112 469 awards for
poverty-eradication projects. people who were assisted in time of disasters.
Particular emphasis is placed on those in The awards were issued in various forms rang-
the NDA’s primary areas of focus, namely food ing from vouchers, school uniform, cash and
security, ECD, enterprise development and food parcels. Most of the SRD awards were food
income generation programmes. parcels 171 120, followed by vouchers 156 142.
Alongside transforming the payment system,
South African Social Security Agency the agency has extended its footprint in each
SASSA, an agency of the Ministry of Social municipality. With such a footprint and high
Development, was established in terms of the levels of efficiency, the agency has lived up to
Social Assistance Act 13 of 2004 to provide its slogan, “Paying the Right Social Grant, to the
comprehensive social security services to eligi- Right Person, at the Right Time and Place. Njalo!
ble poor and vulnerable South African citizens. In line with its goal to improve the conditions
Since it started operating, the entity has played under which beneficiaries are served, SASSA
an important role of breaking the cycle of poverty converted 262 open pay points to fixed struc-
through provision of social grants and also Social tures across all nine regions and continues to
Relief of Distress (SRD) such as school uniforms convert as and when the need arises.
to children from poor households. This number includes both steel structures
SASSA’s core business is to administer, constructed and migration to community struc-
finance and pay social security transfers. The tures, such as churches and community halls.
agency is required to: SASSA implemented its fraud prevention
• develop and implement policies, programmes, strategyand anti-corruption policy towards curb-
standard operating procedures and systems ing incidences of fraud and corruption.
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 382Social Development
This was done through awareness campaigns the DSD, is working on proposals for the crea-
conducted in all regions. tion of a comprehensive social security system
The rewards of these campaigns were evident that combines contributory and non-contributory
in the 16% reduction of reported cases from elements to eradicate poverty and income pro-
1 328 in 2014/15 to 1 122 in 2015/16. SASSA tection for everyone living in South Africa.
investigated 83% of the reported cases with vari-
ous sanctions imposed to affected individuals. Advisory Board on Social
As reaffirmed by the Ministerial Advisory Development
Committee, SASSA is taking over the manage- The Advisory Board on Social Development’s
ment and control of the payment process that key functions include:
is currently performed by a third party, from 1 • advising the Minister on all matters related to
April 2017. The intention is to have a single pay- social development
ment platform, which will facilitate the payment • identifying, promoting, monitoring and
of Social Assistance through multiple channels. evaluating policy, legislation and programmes
Insourcing the payment processes will ensure regarding social development
that SASSA is in control of the entire operational • facilitating dialogue with and the participation
value chain. This will further improve the delivery of civil society.
of its services.
On 19 July 2016, President Zuma led the South African Council of Social
celebrations of 10 years of the existence of the Service Professions (SACSSP)
SASSA. The SACSSP is a statutory body with the primary
The 10 year celebrations served as an focus of developing and protecting the integrity
opportunity for government to assess progress of the social service professions and the interest
made since its inception and also to have direct of the public at large.
interaction with social grant beneficiaries. To The SACSSP is established in terms of sec-
date, SASSA pays social grants to more than 17 tion 2 of the Social Service Professions Act,
million South Africans with a monthly investment 1978 (Act 110 of 1978).
of R11 billion. All professionals who practice any of the social
Social assistance has over the years assisted service professions incorporated in the scope of
families and children including those who are the SACSSP are obliged by the Social Service
orphaned due to HIV and AIDS. In addition, Professions Act of 1978 to register with the
there are many families that would not be able SACSSP. Failure to do so constitutes a criminal
to put food on the table if it was not for the social offence.
grants, given the gloomy economic climate The council guides and regulates the Social
which makes the creation of jobs difficult, and Services Professions in the country in aspects
also given the fact that some of the job seekers pertaining to registration; by ensuring compli-
are unemployable due to lack of skills. ance by pactitioners in order for the sector to be
To expand its reach to vulnerable children in serviced by registered persons, education and
communities, the DSD adopted a community- training; ensuring continuing professional devel-
based prevention and early intervention child opment and compliance by training instutions
and youth care services model known as Isibindi and professional conduct ensuring compliance
Model. by all registered practitioners in terms of profes-
In 2015, more than 455 922 learners living sional and ethical services to communities and
in youth-headed households passed matric individuals.
through the intervention of Isibindi Programme The council has two professional boards under
and 304 913 of these learners survived on social its auspices:
grants. • The Professional Board for Social Workers.
South Africa has been able to achieve goals of • The Professional Board for Child and Youth
reducing extreme income poverty due to govern- Care
ment’s comprehensive social protection system,
which includes social grants, access to free edu- National Action Committee for
cation to more than nine million children, primary Children Affected by HIV and AIDS
healthcare for the poorest and the provision of The National Committee for Children Affected
free basic services of lights and water to indigent by HIV and AIDS is a multisectoral structure
members of society in municipalities. made up of government departments, CSOs,
Noting the successful extension of social development agencies and donor organisations.
grants to over 16 million, government through It is a formal structure used for collaborative
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 383Social Development
planning and decision-making concerning issues provide information and listen to challenges
pertaining to orphans and other children made faced by the sector.
vulnerable by HIV and AIDS. NPOs registered with the DSD are required in
It has a steering committee initiated through terms of the NPO Act to submit their annual
consultations between government departments, reports (narrative and financial reports) to the
civil society and non-governmental organi- department. This applies to all NPOs registered
sations (NGOs), and is currently composed of under the NPO Act, whether funded or unfunded.
representatives of government and civil society. Currently, there are 140 513 registered NPOs
The committee is chaired by the DSD, and and 87 565 or about 62% of them are
co-chaired by a nominated member from civil
society. Programmes and projects
16 Days of Activism for No Violence
Relief boards Against Women and Children
Four relief fund boards were established in terms The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against
of Section 16 of the Fund-Raising Act of 1978. Women and Children is an annual awareness
• Board of the Disaster Relief Fund: The key campaign observed globally.
functions of the board are to assist people, It addresses policy and legal issues and calls
organisations and bodies that suffer damage for the elimination of all forms of gender-based
or loss as a result of a disaster. violence.
• Board of the Refugee Relief Fund: The key The campaign runs from 25 November, which
functions are to assist refugees as the board was officially recognised by the UN in 1999
may deem fair and reasonable. as the International Day for the Elimination of
• Board of the State President’s Fund: This Violence against Women.
board’s functions are to assist victims of any South Africa has added children to the
act of terrorism in respect of their medical campaign, as there is growing concern about the
treatment and rehabilitation, and assist such increasing violence against children.
victims and their dependants during any The campaign ends on 10 December –
financial hardship or financial distress caused International Human Rights Day.
directly or indirectly by any act of terrorism. Other important days commemorated annually
• Board of the Social Relief Fund: The key during this 16-day period include World AIDS
functions of the board are to make funds Day on 1 December and the International Day
available to organisations capable of assisting for Persons with Disabilities on 3 December.
people with psychosocial challenges, and In November 2016, President Zuma launched
rendering such social distress relief to victims the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence
of violence. Against Women and Children campaign in
Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, under the theme;
Non-profit organisations “Count Me In: Together Moving a Non-Violent
The NPO Directorate of the DSD administers the South Africa Forward”.
Register of NPOs in South Africa. The United Nations (UN) has proclaimed 25
It is a voluntary registration facility that November as International Day of No Violence
enhances the credibility of the registered NPO Against Women.
as it reports to a public office.
Registration promotes effective, efficient and Project Mikondzo
accountable management within the sector. Project Mikondzo (which means “footprint” in
To strengthen the capacity of NPOs, the Xitsonga) compels office-bound officials from
department will continue to build their capacity the department, the NDA and the SASSA to join
and monitor their compliance to legislation. frontline officials to interact with communities in
One of the functions of the department is to a bid to tackle social problems such as poverty,
monitor all registered NPOs in terms of their malnutrition, violence against women and child-
compliance with the NPO Act of 1997. The headed households.
compliance rate has improved by 26%. The 1 300 wards form part of 23 district munici-
Training was provided to 1 200 NPOs and palities from seven provinces, which Cabinet
community-based organisations (CBOs). has prioritised for additional support.
Plans to strengthen the sector include: The project includes an audit of ECD centres
• increasing the number of staff in the and the setting up of a command centre with
department who deal with registrations a toll-free hotline open 24 hours a day, seven
• increasing the number of road shows to days a week. It also includes a substance abuse
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 384Social Development
awareness campaign targeting sports and music re-integration programmes
events, the targeting of gender-based violence • registration and establishment of treatment
and the strengthening of NPOs. centres and halfway houses
The project helps government reach the about • the committal of persons to and from treatment
two million children who qualify for CSGs but centres and for their treatment.
who have not registered with SASSA to receive The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on
grants. Combating Alcohol and Substance Abuse, is
The department began training caregivers to to coordinate government’s collective national
improve assistance to child and youth-headed efforts, including prevention, community mobili-
households. sation, treatment and law enforcement amongst
The department audited 92 000 child-headed others.
households that are in the Statistics South Progressive policy decisions have emanated
Africa database to ensure compliance with from the IMC plan of action, such as the removal
the Children’s Act of 2005 definition of a child- of liquor outlets from residential areas and near
headed household. places of worship and schools, restrictions on
Government celebrated Social Development operating times and on the location and content
Month in October 2016 by highlighting poverty- of advertising related to alcohol, and a reduction
alleviation programmes and extending its of the current legal alcohol limit for drivers.
footprint through Project Mikondzo to reach all In its efforts to reduce incidents of gender-
vulnerable South Africans. based violence which are often caused by abuse
Since the inauguration of Project Mikondzo of alcohol and drugs, the DSD has launched
in 2013, government officials have visited more Gender-Based Violence Command Centre
than 900 wards with high levels of poverty and (GBVCC) – a 24-hour call centre.
unemployment to better understand the diverse The GBVCC, which has been named the Best
needs of communities. Technology Innovation – Small Centre in the
Government continues to implement the world at the Global Best Contact Centre Awards
service delivery initiatives, Project Mikondzo and in Las Vegas on 5 November, provides support
the Integrated Community Registration Outreach and counselling to victims of GBV. As the Gold
Programme (ICROP) to improve the sector’s Medal Winner, this means the GBVCC is ranked
services and to increase access to social number one in the world in its category.
assistance for the impoverished communities. Victims of gender based violence are
During the 2015/16 financial year, 570 ICROPs encouraged to contact 0800 428 428 (0800
and 78 Project Mikondzo interventions were GBV GBV), a toll free number to speak to a
conducted in poor wards identified as a priority social worker for assistance and counselling.
by Cabinet. Callers can also request a social worker from
the Command Centre to contact them by dialling
Anti-Substance Abuse Programme of *120*7867# (free) from any cell phone.
Action The department had commissioned a review
Alcohol advertising is regulated by the Liquor of the Ke Moja Drug Awareness Campaign
Act, 2003 (Act 59 of 2003) which outlines to ascertain its effectiveness and strengthen
the guidelines for liquor advertising. The dissemination of information tools.
alcohol industry is self-regulated by the Code One of the common drugs, Tik, is sold as
of Commercial Communication of Alcohol a combination of amphetamines and talcum
Beverages, something to which most companies powder, baking powder, starch, glucose or
and advertisers adhere. quinine. The drug changes users’ behaviour and
The Central Drug Authority Board developed some symptoms associated with usage of its
regulations for the Prevention of and Treatment usage and addiction range from loss of appetite,
for Substance Abuse Act of 2008. weight loss, aggression, anxiety, headaches as
The Act complements both the National Drug well as change in dress code.
Master Plan (NDMP) (2013 – 2017) and the Health professionals are also concerned about
Anti-Substance Abuse Programme. the devastating effects of this drug on the user
The Act provides for a comprehensive national which among its many effects induces psychotic
response for combating substance abuse in symptoms, such as seeing or hearing things that
South Africa through: are not there, and violence, making it a far more
• mechanisms aimed at reducing demand and dangerous drug than most other drugs available
harm in relation to substance abuse through in South Africa.
prevention, early intervention, treatment and Government departments are collaborating
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 385Social Development
with other sectors of society to implement the EPWP Contractor Development Programme. It
NDMP to respond to the scourge of drugs and is a subprogramme of the EPWP Infrastructure
substance abuse. Sector and it is aimed at training and developing
The Central Drug Authority is charged with emerging contractors within the construction
the responsibility to develop and implement a industry.
coordinated approach encompassing supply The programme develops the administrative,
control and demand reduction progress. technical, contractual, managerial and entrepre-
Provincial substance abuse forums have neurial skills of the learners within a learner
been established as well as local drug action contracting entity. The Vuk’uphile Learnership
committees which consists of social workers, Programme uses labour-intensive methods of
teachers, justice and committee representatives. construction and the opportunities that are
By mid-2016, the Department of Health was created through the programme feeds to the six
looking into the draft Control of Marketing million EPWP work opportunities to be created
of Alcohol Beverages Bill that is about the by 2019.
marketing and promotion of alcohol. The EPWP Knowledge Management
The UN General Assembly, in its resolutions Committee is composed of various national
42/112 of December 1987, declared 26 June as government departments such as Social
the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Development, Environmental Affairs (DEA),
Illicit Trafficking. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(Cogta), with the DPW leading the committee.
Expanded Public Works Programme The Knowledge Management is a process
(EPWP) of creating, acquiring, capturing and using
The EPWP is a nationwide programme under knowledge wherever it resides to enable learning
the auspices of government and state-owned and performance in an organization.
enterprises.
The programme provides an important avenue Early Childhood Development
for labour absorption and income transfers to Government has identified ECD as a key focus
poor households in the short to medium term. area in its effort to improve the quality of basic
It is also a deliberate attempt by public sector education and care for children.
bodies to use expenditure on goods and services The department recognises that one of the
to create job opportunities for the unemployed. ways of breaking the cycle of intergenerational
EPWP projects employ workers on poverty is investment in children to aid their
a temporary or ongoing basis either by development, especially from the ages of 0 – 4.
government, by contractors, or by NGOs under There are plans in place to ensure that all
the Ministerial Conditions of Employment for ECD centres are registered and early childhood
the EPWP or learnership employment condi- practitioners appropriately trained. Programmes
tions. for parental training are also in the pipeline.
In March 2016, social sector departments, led
by the DSD and Department of Public Works War on Poverty Campaign
(DPW), hosted the 12th annual EPWP Social The Cooperative Shop Project is aimed at
Sector Conference in White River, Nelspruit, combating poverty by linking social grant benefi-
in Mpumalanga, under the theme: “Advancing ciaries (particularly the caregivers of children
People’s Power for Revitalisation of mining receiving CSGs and other vulnerable groups to
communities through EPWP Social Sector meaningful socio-economic opportunities. The
Interventions”. department and its entities will identify cooper-
It also served as an opportunity to assess atives that need support, with the intention of
progress made by the EPWP Phase 3 of the developing the skills of the cooperative members
social sector. During the launch, the EPWP to ensure they are able to produce goods of
social sector participants share testimonies quality.
about the impact of the social-sector initiatives The project is in line with the developmental
towards improvement of their lives. agenda of government and could be seen as
The EPWP Phase 3 was expected to create six an addition to the grants that are provided. The
million work opportunities and out of this overall primary intention is not to take people out of the
targeted figure, the projected work opportunities grant system but to provide opportunities for
to be created by the EPWP Social Sector is grant beneficiaries to supplement their income.
1 037 000 work opportunities by 2019. Child poverty in South Africa has declined
The Vuk’uphile Learnership Programme is an but more still needs to be done, according to
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 386Social Development
a report released by the South African Human income support to:
Rights Commission (SAHRC) In June 2014. The • Old Age provides income support to people
SAHRC and the UN Children’s Fund SA based aged 60 and above who earn less than
the report, “Poverty traps and social exclusion R64 680 (if single) and R129 360 (if married)
among children in South Africa”, on a study. a year, whose assets do not exceed R930 600
It said according to three income and (single) and R1 861 200 (married).
expenditure surveys, the estimated poverty rate • War Veterans provides income support to
decreased from 65% in 2000 to just below 40% men and women who fought in World War II
in 2010. The child poverty rate dropped from or the Korean War who earn less than R64
76% in 2000 to just below 50% in 2010. 680 (if single) and R129 360 (if married) a
Education, health, assets, social networks, year, whose assets do not exceed R930 600
family, and geography are highlighted as areas (single) and R1 861 200 (married).
that require intervention to escape poverty. • Disability provides income support to people
According to the report, poverty-stricken with permanent or temporary disabilities
households are at greater risk of contracting earning less than R64 680 (single) and R129
disease. 360 (married) a year, whose assets do not
Often, health problems lower productivity. exceed R930 600 (single) and R1 861 200
Ill health can induce perpetual poverty from (married).
nutrition deficiencies and undernourishment • Foster Care provides grants for children
can affect behaviour. Child hunger affected the placed in foster care.
ability to learn and function. Policy interventions • Care Dependency provides income support to
that improve children’s health can dramatically parents and caregivers whose annual earnings
increase their chances of escaping poverty. are less than R169 200 (single) and R338 400
(married), to help them care for children who
Food for All Programme are mentally or physically disabled.
The department is tasked with facilitating and • Child Support provides income support to
monitoring the implementation of the Food for parents and caregivers of children under 18
All Programme. whose annual earnings are less than R39 600
To this end, distressed households were being (single) and R79 200 (married).
provided with food through the department and • Grant-in-Aid is an additional grant to the
Food Bank South Africa programme. recipients of the old age grant, disability grant
While SRD provides short- and war veterans grant who require regular
term relief for poor households, government attendance from another person due to their
recognises that longer-term solutions are physical or mental condition.
needed. • SRD provides temporary income support,
Government is committed to improving its food parcels and other forms of relief to those
efforts at ensuring food security for all in the facing undue hardship.
country, starting with vulnerable households and
communities. Job creation and poverty alleviation
To this end, households have been assisted in The Mid-year population estimates by Statistics
establishing food gardens to produce their own South Africa (Stats SA) show that South Africa
food, thus participating in their own development. still has a relatively young population. Two
thirds of the population is younger than 35
Social security and assistance years old. Those aged 15 to 35 years, which are
The CSG is the largest by number, totalling just defined as youth, comprise almost 40% of the
below 12 million, which represents approxi- total population. The youth are also the fastest
mately 31% of the South African population. growing age group in the country.
The various social grants recorded an average This trend creates the prospect for a so-called
of 55% growth in value since 2006, for example, “Demographic Dividend”, in which resources are
the Old Age Grant grew from R820.00 to R1 invested into activities that promote social and
500.00 in 2016. South Africa now spends close economic development and growth.
to 3% of GDP on social assistance to the value South Africa, like most countries, is grappling
of R128 billion in 2015/16 financial year. with the challenge of youth unemployment. Youth
Ensure the provision of social assistance to unemployment in South Africa is estimated to be
eligible beneficiaries, where their income and 36,1%, which is significantly higher than adult
assets fall below the set thresholds, by extending unemployment at 15,6%.
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 387Social Development
Government has recognised the problem of Youth-care workers from local communities
poor economic participation of young people and are recruited and trained for the Isibindi Model at
has put in place numerous policy interventions 260 sites throughout the country.
geared towards bringing youth into the The aim is to recruit 10 000 child and
mainstream of the economy to enhance social youth-care workers over the next five years. It
inclusion and cohesion. is expected that the recruitment and deployment
Through the National Treasury and Department of this cadre of social service professionals
of Labour, DSD introduced youth unemployment will go a long way towards upholding govern-
policy options for South Africa with the aim of ment’s constitutional obligation to protect and
incentivising entities to employ young people. provide care and support for orphans, vulnerable
The NYDA has provided the Integrated Youth children and youths affected by HIV and AIDS
Development Strategy (IYDS) with the key in South Africa.
mandate of implementing interventions geared
towards the economic participation of young HIV and AIDS advocacy, awareness and
people, namely, youth work, national youth outreach programme
services, and education and skills relevant to Achieving a meaningful and clear understanding
economic empowerment. of the scientific facts about HIV and AIDS will
Government strives to provide an opportunity lead to individual self-management regarding
to raise the share of youth-owned businesses the risk of HIV infection.
and to support youth to engage in cooperatives The awareness programme has the following
in the country. main pillars:
The NDP is clear about the need for skills • disclosure
development in promoting economic growth • communication
and reaching related goals and the country has • rights
done well in the past 20 years of democracy to • facilitation.
ensure that practically all children who should be The programme also deals with the physical and
in primary school are there. emotional consequences of HIV and AIDS.
It addresses the following challenges:
Food banks • the lack of accurate and current information on
With effect from 1 October 2016, FoodBank SA HIV and AIDS
is now known as FoodForward SA. • the lack of access to care, support, treatment
It collects edible surplus food from manufac- and new healthcare developments
turers, wholesalers and retailers, and • discrimination against the infected and
redistributes it to verified NPOs that collectively affected.
feed thousands of hungry people daily. The programme aims to involve people living
FoodForward SA works with over 600 with HIV and AIDS in initiatives that directly help
member beneficiary organisations that in turn affected and infected people to alleviate stigma-
feed over 175 000 people daily. At least 85% tisation.
of the beneficiary organisations undertake skills
development, education, or remedial activities. Care and support partnerships
The DSD developed a new National Action
HIV and AIDS support Plan for orphans, vulnerable children and youth
The National Strategic Plan on HIV, AIDS, affected by HIV and AIDS (2012 – 2016), which
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and is aligned with the National Strategic Plan on
Tuberculosis (TB) 2012 – 2016, which addresses HIV, STIs and TB (2012 – 2016).
the social drivers and social impact of HIV and The action plan calls for meaningful
AIDS, is a key component of the department’s involvement and participation by all stakeholders
fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS. in the national response to orphans, vulnerable
children and youths affected by HIV and AIDS.
HIV and AIDS Youth Programme
Most funds continued to be disbursed to Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP)
loveLife, enabling it to increase and extend South Africa’s Victim Empowerment Policy is
its HIV and AIDS awareness programmes, based upon the concept of restorative justice.
and scholarships for social work students. By Victim empowerment is a means of facilitating
2015/16, the number of students benefiting access to a range of services for all people who
from these scholarships was expected to be have individually or collectively suffered harm,
4 248. trauma and/or material loss through violence,
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 388Social Development
crime, natural disaster, human accident and/or organised business, organised labour and
through socio-economic conditions. non-governmental organisations. The lead
It is the process of promoting the resource- department is the Department of Labour.
fulness of victims of crime and violence by The CLPA is South Africa’s roadmap
providing opportunities to access services towards the prevention, reduction and eventual
available to them, as well as to use and build elimination of child labour. The CLPA was first
their own capacity and support networks and to adopted in 2003 after extensive consultation
act on their own choices. within government, with a wide range of organi-
sations outside government and with groups of
National Directory on Services for teenage children involved in different forms of
Victims of Violence and Crime child labour. The programme sets out specific
The National Directory on Services for Victims actions to be taken and assigned responsibility
of Violence and Crime is updated annually for these actions.
in collaboration with the provincial VEP The third phase of the CLPA will cover the
managers or coordinators and their provincial period April 2013 to March 2017.
counterparts.
Childline South Africa
Prevention and treatment of Childline offers a 24-hour toll-free crisis line
substance and drug abuse (08000 55 555) to children and families across
Sobriety Week, is a national campaign aimed at South Africa. It provides immediate assistance
creating awareness among the general South to children and families in crisis who need
African public, particularly the youth, women counselling and information. Childline is an NPO
and pregnant women about the adverse effects that works to protect children from all forms
of liquor abuse. of violence and create a culture of respect for
Sobriety Week incorporates the International children’s rights.
Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Day, which is Programmes delivered through the provincial
observed internationally on 9 September every offices include:
year to highlight the irreversible damage caused • a crisis line
to unborn babies when their mothers consume • child rights and education
alcohol during pregnancy. Government • training and education of volunteers
recognises challenges such as unemployment, • training of other professionals who work with
which result in people using and abusing liquor. child protection and children
• therapy for abused and traumatised children
Children and youth and their families
The Home Community-Based Care (HCBC) • court preparation of child witnesses
programme is the centrepiece of government’s • networking and coordination
interventions to build a protective and caring • lobbying and advocacy
environment for vulnerable children. • analysis of law and policy.
Most services to orphans and vulnerable
children are rendered through the HCBC People with disabilities
programme and include early identification of In March 2016, the DSD published the White
vulnerable children and their families, referrals, Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
training of community caregivers and psycho- which was approved by the Cabinet in December
social support and material assistance. 2015, for public information. The White Paper
This approach is geared towards keeping takes its cue from the Constitution of the
children within their families and communities. It Republic of South Africa and a number
is aimed at providing comprehensive care and of international instruments, including the
support, which is complemented by proactive Convention on the Rights of Persons with
action at community level. This includes linking Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, Vienna
families with poverty alleviation projects and Declaration and Programme of Action, the
other services in the community, such as food Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of
security initiatives and ECD services. Action, and the sustainable development goals,
which reaffirm the human rights of persons with
Child Labour Programme of Action disabilities.
(CLPA) The White Paper is a crucial step along
The CLPA is a national partnership initiated by the journey of improving the lives of persons
government, civil-society partners comprising with disabilities and moves us closer to a
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 389Social Development
fully inclusive society. Africa.
It is intended to accelerate transformation These standards relate to the development
and redress with regard to full inclusion, and maintenance of Braille codes; production
integration and equality for persons with of quality Braille; the teaching of, access to and
disabilities. South Africa had to collectively promotion of Braille; Braille examinations; and
contribute to the empowerment of people many other Braille-related matters.
with disabilities through accessible disability Members of SABA include schools for the
information services, inclusive ECD opportu- blind (approximately half the members), con-
nities and accessible rehabilitation services. sumer organisations of the blind, student disabil-
This would enable persons with disabilities to ity units, Braille producers and the South African
take up the opportunities created in much larger Library for the Blind.
numbers, improving performance in achieving Through SABA, South Africa is a member
equity targets. country of the International Council on English
Persons with disabilities represent the Braille (ICEB).
voice of the sector in institutions such as the ICEB membership enables South Africa to
South African Human Rights Commission, the stay abreast of and participate in international
Commission on Gender Equality, the Board of Braille-related matters.
the South African Broadcasting Corporation,
National Youth Development Agency and many South African National Council for the
transformation and developmental entities. Blind (SANCB)
The South African experience has also helped The SANCB is the coordinating body for over
to shape the UN Convention on the Rights of 100 member organisations that span the full
Persons with Disabilities and the Continental spectrum of services offered for and to blind and
Plan for the African Decade of Persons with partially sighted people throughout the country.
Disabilities. South Africa has been celebrating The SANCB comprises four core business
the International Day for Persons with Disabilities areas, namely Social Development, the Bureau
annually since 1997. for the Prevention of Blindness, Education and
lastly fund-raising and public relations.
Blind SA To combat as much as 80% of avoidable
Blind SA is an organisation for the blind, and is blindness, the council regularly undertakes tours
governed by the blind. Situated in Johannesburg, with its mobile eye care clinics to rural areas for
it is aligned with other member organisations eye screening, referrals and to perform cataract
throughout South Africa. removal operations.
Blind SA’s main focus is to improve the quality The SANCB provides entrepreneurial training,
of life of all South Africa’s visually impaired adult basic education and training, and facilitates
people by empowering them through education. skills training such as computer literacy and call
Its objectives are to protect and promote the centre programmes through its Optima College.
interests of people with visual impairment and
enable all visually impaired people to achieve Support for the deaf
their optimal potential through independence; South Africa’s national organisation for the deaf
and by providing development care for and is the Deaf Federation of South Africa (DeafSA).
protecting the rights of those who, owing to DeafSA has nine provincial chapters through-
circumstances beyond their control, are unable out South Africa.
to do so themselves. Two other national organisations for the deaf
Orientation, mobility and skills development to are Deafblind South Africa and SHHH South
blind and newly blinded people is an important Africa, the South African organisation for the
aspect of the work undertaken by Blind SA. hard of hearing.
The organisation provides, among other things, An estimated 500 000 to 600 000 South Afri-
study bursaries for visually impaired students for cans use South African Sign Language. As sign
further education, Braille publications in all of language has grown in South Africa – particularly
South Africa’s official languages, Braille training baby sign language – an NPO, Sign Language
that entails writing and reading, and orientation Education and Development, has been formed
and mobility training. to promote sign language.
Signing with hearing babies and children is
South African Braille Authority (SABA) being promoted through the Signsational Kids
SABA’s purpose is to set and maintain standards website.
for Braille in all 11 official languages of South South Africa has a long-established deaf edu-
South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 390You can also read
