Hon Minister, your speaking time has expired. I will give you another three minutes just to wrap up.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: In September the Deputy Minister will lead the South African delegation to New York to attend the conference of state parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, I wish to send my deepest condolences to the family of the respected cleric and liberation stalwart, Rev Motlalepula Chabaku. She was one of the few surviving leaders of the resilient group of activists, including Lilian Ngoyi and Helen Joseph, who led an estimated 20 000-strong Women's March in 1956 to the Union Buildings to protest the apartheid-era pass laws. She was the first Speaker of a democratically elected Free State legislature, and a deeply spiritual person who carried an abiding sense of community and compassion for all people, especially women, the poor and the downtrodden. We thank her for dedicating her life to the liberation of our people and acknowledge the role she played in the nation's reconstruction and development. May her soul rest in peace.
Hon Chair, if you allow me, I wish to raise a concern. I have observed that none of the provinces have sent special delegates to come and participate in this budget speech, except for Mpumalanga, and we thank you very much, Mpumalanga, for that. Hon Chair, I also wish to start my speech from the end, by saying that the ANC supports the Budget Vote.
The Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities has identified the following key priorities for this financial year: advocating the promotion and protection of the rights of women, children and people with disabilities; monitoring, evaluating and ensuring the mainstreaming of gender, disability and children's rights; strengthening institutional capacity; and increasing participation in strategic bilateral and multilateral initiatives that contribute towards the empowerment of and equality for women, children and people with disabilities.
Moreover, the department has also identified its roles with regard to researching, monitoring and evaluating, targeting key role-players to influence what they focus on, how they do it and ensuring that all key causal factors affecting women, children and people with disabilities are addressed.
While the budget of the department grew from R143,1 million in the 2011-12 financial year, to R172,2 million in the 2012-13 financial year, this department's budget constitutes a mere 0,01% of the overall national Budget.
As was the case in the last financial year, the women's empowerment and gender equality subprogramme consumed most of the budget, at 55%. Notwithstanding the budgetary allocation, the department is still expected to deliver on the aforementioned objectives with limited resources.
The select committee has conducted numerous oversight visits, not only to oversee the executive, but also to assess and investigate the challenges that face women, children and people with disabilities. Oversight visits were conducted in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. They highlighted various issues that have shed light on poor living conditions and services for people with disabilities. The oversight visits also revealed that whilst South Africa has the Domestic Violence Act, its implementation leaves much to be desired, and women continue to face challenges in terms of accessing services when faced with violence and abuse.
Hon Minister, I wish to bring to your attention that the committee engaged with the Western Cape provincial department of social development on challenges raised during our oversight visits to the Saartjie Baartman and the Thuthuzela Care Centre. To date, the status quo remains the same; nothing has changed. We need your urgent intervention in this regard, and the department needs to be reminded that it is still accountable to the people of the Western Cape.
With these challenges and observations in mind, a budget of R13,5 million has been allocated for children's rights and responsibilities; R15,4 million has been allocated for people with disabilities; and an operating budget of R21 million has been allocated for women's empowerment and gender equality, which amounts are absolutely insufficient.
I wish to congratulate the Minister and the department on filling most of the critical and strategic positions within the directorate. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, the chairperson from Mpumalanga and hon members, firstly, I wish to thank the department for their presentation to our committee. The budget of the department, which is Budget Vote 8, increased from R143,1 million for the 2011-12 financial year, to R172,2 million for the 2012-13 financial year. Please forgive me if I repeat myself, but our chair said this department has once again received the smallest budget allocation, which constitutes a mere 0,01% of the overall national Budget.
As was the case in the last financial year, the women's empowerment and gender equity subprogramme consumed some 55% of the budget. Whilst this is still a relatively new department, under Programme 1: Administration, some 53,7% is allocated for the compensation of employees. While most of the top posts will be filled, there are still some 74 vacant posts in the department; some, of course, being unfunded posts.
After two years, many of the same problems still exist, namely insufficient budgetary allocations, and a lack of skills and capacity. The committee was, however, pleased to hear that the internal audit unit in the department will now be fully functional by 1 July 2012.
The aim of the department is to drive, accelerate and oversee government's equity, equality and empowerment agenda on women, children and people with disabilities, especially in the poor and rural communities. One of the primary objectives is to facilitate gender equality through the mainstreaming of our government's policies and programmes. An amount of R27,5 million was set aside, according to the Estimates of National Expenditure 2012 for the implementation and co-ordination of the National Women's Day celebration, 16 Days of Activism and the 365 Days National Action Plan.
A large part of this amount is spent on advertising, catering and travel. Other state departments, such as Health, Justice and Constitutional Development, Social Development and Police, and the provincial governments must assist this department to carry out the implementation and organisation of these functions. More often than not, these are allocated to a desk in the provinces based in the premier's office. The bulk of the resources continue to be within other departments, nongovernmental organisations, NGOs, and the private sector.
Under Programme 4: Rights of persons with disabilities, the department must assert its authority and insist that the 2% employment target, with regard to persons with disabilities, is now implemented by all state departments. The Minister herself stated at the recent International Day of Persons with Disabilities that the failure by both the government and industry to achieve a 2% target was an indictment on the country's commitment to the Constitution, with which we concur.
One of the main stumbling blocks, however, to fast-tracking this target is to provide reasonable accommodation for disabled persons, which is very expensive and slows down implementation.
Of concern is that many of the department's programmes and projects will only be starting during the 2012-13 financial year, some two to two-and-a- half years after the department was established. The department is in the final year of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period and it must now expedite the implementation of its programmes in line with its set objectives and budget.
Rural women, meanwhile, continue to be the poorest of the poor, remain excluded from economic development and growth, and are often denied access to desperately needed services. We are also concerned with the protection of women's rights and children in regard to the proposed Traditional Courts Bill, and trust that women will attend the public hearings in the various provinces in large numbers, to voice their concerns to ensure reconciliation, and that redress takes place. The Saartjie Baartman Centre for abused women, which we have visited with our committee in Athlone, and the branch in Worcester, are examples of poor funding and assistance. These centres have had to turn away many abused women because of a lack of funds from government and - can you believe it - because they are dependent on money given by the National Lottery. Fortunately, it would appear that monies will be made available by the provincial government of the Western Cape to keep these centres open for the next few months.
This is happening throughout the country. The epidemic of sexual violence against women was revealed, with videos being filmed of a mentally disabled girl being gang-raped by a group of youths between the ages of 14 and 20. This episode is a damning indictment of the state of morality in our country and the moral decay that exists in our society.
The DA believes that the establishment of special rape courts and the reinstatement of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units will help to reduce the high incidence of rape in South Africa. We must also appeal for an effective child protection register to ensure that everyone with a history of sexual offences against children is recorded.
A recent High Court judgment has revealed a fatal omission in the new Sexual Offences Act, which will have a disastrous effect on sexual assault cases. Apparently, anyone accused of crimes in terms of the new Sexual Offences Act cannot be charged because legislators - how this ever happened, I do not know - omitted to prescribe sentences for at least 29 offences listed in the Act. This could result in a rush of people applying to have their convictions set aside. This is clearly contrary to the principles of our law and Constitution. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon chairperson of the select committee from Mpumalanga, hon members, in welcoming the Budget Vote speech made by the hon Minister, I would like to make an observation that I believe form part of the core functions of the Ministry; this being to translate into reality the rights of women, children and people with disabilities.
We are indeed proud of the countless measures that our government has put in place to advance our collective efforts to ensure the protection of women, children and people with disabilities. This Ministry serves as a reminder that we are committed to putting our shoulders to the wheel and mobilising every resource and muscle to ensure that the most vulnerable in society also enjoy the fruits of our freedom.
We can say with the utmost affirmation and without fear of contradiction that our nation is on course to dismantle the apartheid social relations and the social ills of our divided and atrocious past. However, we are worried about the continued violence perpetuated against women and children and the discrimination that many people with disabilities still experience. Hence, I want to join the Minister in congratulating the real men who do not abuse women and children and who continue to take part in the awareness campaigns against abuse.
We want to acknowledge the efforts of this Ministry to continue in our national quest to mobilise our society to join the fight against gender violence and the abuse of women and children in our society. We rise to acknowledge the tireless efforts of the Ministry to mobilise all our people to be the defenders and champions of the rights and dignity of people with disabilities.
We want to express our profound disappointment that, despite all these efforts, women and children continue to endure unprecedented levels of violence in our society. Whereas this Ministry has succeeded in mobilising various government departments and nongovernmental organisations to take up the fight to combat all forms of antisocial behaviour, especially gender- based violence and discrimination, our nation and many communities across South Africa continue to witness the most gruesome cases of gender-based violence and abuse. Women and children do not feel safe behind the closed doors of their homes.
We want to make an appeal to the Ministry to continue with its tireless efforts to stand on the shoulders of our society and to speak out against gender-based violence and abuse. It must continue to champion our national efforts and interventions to focus on what once was termed "the RDP of the soul" - the Reconstruction and Development Programme - in order for us to achieve our national objective of putting an end to gender-based violence and abuse.
The Minister has already outlined in her budget speech that the police are giving more resources to Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units and that the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is increasing the number of children's courts. All of these efforts are appreciated and will surely go a long way towards assisting the victims of gender-based violence in our society, and ensure that those who dare touch a woman face the full might of the law.
My humble submission is that the root cause of this bad behaviour has to be addressed by all of us, starting with the basic unit of our society, the family. In coming to this House, members of this august House, we need to do more to teach our children to respect women and children. We need to ask ourselves, as government institutions and, most importantly, as communities, the difficult and uncomfortable question: What drives a group of young men to abuse a mentally challenged girl and make a recording of their deed, while not even one amongst them has the conscience to stop his friends? What has happened to a person's sense of right and wrong when they dump a newborn child, as happened in Soweto this week? Why are young children, particularly boys, joining gangs at such a young age? Ubuntu bethu buyekuphi? [What happened to our ubuntu?]
It is with those concerns in mind that I stand before you to welcome your announcement during the Budget Vote that Cabinet is going to establish a National Council Against Gender-Based Violence to be led by the Deputy President.
The second area that I wish to focus on is the shelters or institutions that house our children and people with disabilities and abused women. Of concern here is whether any work has been done or a plan is in place to monitor and promote the safety standards in these institutions by the Ministry. As we work to reaffirm the dignity of vulnerable groups, we must be concerned about their safety and comfort.
Whilst we understand that the approval of building plans is a municipal competence, it would be better to get a sense of the state of safety in these facilities so that we are seen to be proactive in this regard, rather than responding when a tragic incident has already occurred.
In conclusion, I wish to commend the Ministry, other government departments and all other stakeholders for their dedicated efforts to ensure that we build a caring South Africa that takes care of its vulnerable citizens through promoting their rights and ensuring their dignity. We need to measure up to this challenge. We are marching side by side with you towards a fully inclusive society, free from unfair discrimination, inequality, abuse and exploitation. We must all remember that umntwana wami ngumntwana wakho my child is your child. The ANC supports the Budget Vote. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Chairperson, hon Minister, hon members, "the greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives". This was said by one of the leaders of the philosophical movement in 1842, William James, and it is still relevant to this day.
People with disabilities are, more often than not, left on the periphery of society owing to discriminatory attitudes and stereotypes, as well as inhospitable and inaccessible environments. The level of ignorance we have come across in our work with government officials across all three spheres of government requires urgent political intervention.
This was also amplified by the lack of qualitative as well as quantitative data and information contained in the departmental, provincial and district submissions for the first country report on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Ministry, therefore, embarked on a provincial road show over the past three months to discuss with provincial executive councils the acceleration and understanding of the disability agenda and its priorities. The national disability agenda has been aligned with the priorities as reflected in the manifesto of the ANC.
On issues of education, we all agree that education remains a crucial weapon to liberate people from oppression. Taking into consideration that the Community Survey of 2007 projected that 467 000 children with disabilities of compulsory, schoolgoing age were not in school; that the 2002 National Audit of Special Schools revealed that 813 incidents of sexual abuse and a staggering 233 cases of suicide were reported over a three-year period in these special schools; and that the 2006 accessibility audit of more than 10 000 mainstream schools across all nine provinces indicated that less than 2% of the schools surveyed had basic access such as ramps and wheelchair-accessible toilets, we can begin to understand that it cannot be business as usual.
Hon members, you are therefore invited to join the national Education for All campaign that will be launched in September 2012, to encourage parents to enrol their disabled children in the school nearest to their home in support of our inclusive education policy that was passed in 1996. This will require collective action to monitor exclusions, and make these schools' curricula and buildings accessible to those children.
Regarding the creation of decent work, at the centre of the right to dignity is the right of people with disabilities to economic independence and their contribution to the ideals of a developmental state. As the Minister has already highlighted with regard to the 2% set target, let us reflect on the performance of our nine provinces.
The highest province in performance, at the moment, is the North West, at 0,40%; followed by Mpumalanga at 0,39%; the Eastern Cape at 0,38%; the Western Cape at 0,31%; Limpopo at 0,28%; the Free State at 0,21%; the Northern Cape at 0,19%; KwaZulu-Natal at 0,13%; and Gauteng at 0,12%. We can all agree that none of them is anywhere near the 2% which they are required to meet by 2012. I hope that the National Council of Provinces will assist us in delivering the 2% set target with their respective provinces by 2012.
Of particular concern is the fact that the Western Cape continues to discourage the employment of people with disabilities, with rapidly declining percentages. I walked into this Chamber without knowing the answer, but thank you so much, hon Worth, for actually giving me the answer as to why your numbers are declining so rapidly, namely that reasonable accommodation is very expensive.
We call on members, when engaging with the Expanded Public Works Programme, to ensure that the 2% target is also achieved in this programme across all sites. The Expanded Public Works Programme should also be used as a tool in redressing accessibility issues across all sectors in all communities.
On the issue of rural development, we acknowledge the progress rural development is making through the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme sites as well as the National Rural Youth Service Corps, Narysec, programme. Once again, we emphasise the need to ensure that rural infrastructure and work opportunities comply with the principles of equal and universal access.
On issues of health, the roll-out of the NHI in the 11 pilot districts holds significant hope for our rural communities, especially for people with disabilities. Members are requested to ensure that the improvement of services in these districts also improves access for people with disabilities, particularly as it pertains to access to rehabilitation services, assistive devices, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, PMTCT, and access to antiretrovirals, ARVs.
Particular attention should also be given to disabled people and their organisations in rendering community-based rehabilitation services. We can all learn from Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, which have piloted this model.
On issues of safety, the recent exposure of incidents of child-on-child violence and the rape of young children with disabilities speaks to the mental state of our nation - albeit not a new phenomenon.
The protection of children and women with disabilities from exploitation and sexual abuse is a constitutional obligation placed on every South African, especially on us as Members of Parliament as we take our oaths and affirmations.
These incidents have once again brought to the attention of ordinary South Africans the realities disabled people and their families live with daily. The abuse often goes unreported, but even if they do speak out, they are unlikely to be believed. It is, however, regrettable that this ongoing abuse has to go viral on social media before South African society sits up and takes notice.
The media, regrettably, often unintentionally contributes to an environment in which abuse of people with disabilities occurs because of the manner in which they portray people with disabilities as powerless, helpless victims and objects of pity. It is the responsibility of the media to ensure that they use the power of words and images responsibly and that their reports promote a culture of respect, dignity and human rights with regard to people with disabilities.
We also realise that our work in this department will never be done unless South African men stand up and proclaim: "Not in our name". I would like to invite members to join me as we all plan for our future. There are very few people in this House who can with any certainty proclaim that disability will not directly affect them in their lifetime. We have all submitted our applications to become disabled. The only thing we are all waiting for is an authorisation. With our lifestyles, every morning when we wake up, that button that says "send" is ready.
We urge all members, through their oversight commitments, to ensure that any infrastructure development in their constituencies complies with the universal access design principles. In this way, we will all prepare to enjoy our golden years in the midst of our families and communities, and no one will be sent away to be cared for in isolation. I can assure you that everybody that reaches the age of 65 will experience one disability or another.
On issues of HIV and Aids, we remain committed to ensuring that the face of HIV and Aids changes from that of the burden of a black woman, to that of society in general. We will be monitoring the implementation of the national strategic plan, and we have made contributions to the operational plan as it affects women, children and people with disabilities, and as it is implemented by provinces. We call on members to familiarise themselves with these plans and to monitor the implementation thereof.
Our work in this department cannot be done unless we recognise that without partnerships and collective action across all sectors of society, spanning all three spheres of government, we will not succeed.
This week we convened the intergovernmental component of the National Disability Machinery as part of our commitment to strengthening our capacity to respond more effectively to the rights of people with disabilities.
We will, in keeping with advancing the principle of self-representation, convene the disability sector component of the National Disability Machinery on 14 and 15 June 2012. Members, please note that all provinces should be represented across all national disability formations and opinion- makers in the field of disability.
South Africa will be hosting the 11th World Down Syndrome Congress in Cape Town from 14 August to 17 August, and we extend an invitation to members, as this will be an opportunity for members to learn and understand what Down syndrome is.
Similarly, members are invited to join us at the launch of National Disability Month on 3 November this year, to be hosted in KwaZulu-Natal, and they are invited to the provincial and district Disability Month activities during the month of November, and to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, to be held in Mpumalanga.
Allow me to thank the Minister for her leadership, my family, the team in the office of the Deputy Minister, the disability unit and the department as a whole, and the director-general, who is still on sick leave, for their continued support in pursuing the disability agenda. I also want to thank the select committee for their ongoing support, together creating a caring, inclusive society that we can deliver as we have been given the responsibility. I thank you. [Applause.]
Order! I am going to read the longest title now: the chairperson of the provincial select committee on the improvement of quality of life and status of women, youth, children and people with disabilities, the hon J P Ngubeni-Maluleka from Mpumalanga. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson M J Mahlangu, hon Deputy Chairperson T C Memela, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members of the NCOP, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to greet you all.
It is really disappointing to see that provinces are not taking advantage of these opportunities to come and echo their provincial sentiments on these vital issues that affect women, people with disabilities and children. This should really be condemned. Nevertheless, Mpumalanga is represented here. I am here today. [Applause.]
As we continue to celebrate the centenary of the ANC, I am delighted to be invited not only to support the budget speech by Minister Lulu Xingwana, but also to add a voice of reason to this debate with regard to issues of women, children and people with disabilities.
I must say that South Africa as a whole must go beyond a conformist mind- set and focus on enhancing performance through empowerment for there to be socioeconomic inclusiveness. The improvement of the quality of life and status of women, children and people with disabilities has not yet been fully implemented and integrated into our work ethos.
There is a need to intensify the oversight function of all constitutional institutions that are mandated to ensure a better life for women, children and people with disabilities. It is important that we should not merely conform to the new legislative regimes, but develop a way of thinking and acting that reflects our embracing of this legislative regime to really empower and engage the full spectrum of our country's diverse people.
We welcome the innovative thinking of the hon Minister and support the initiatives to implement the commitment made by the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, to put aside R50 million for people with disabilities, as well as over R200 million towards the women's empowerment fund. That fund will assist women to be independent, and not to depend on men for a living. As the province of Mpumalanga, we also welcome the Techno Girl programme. It is really appreciated; we are going to implement it. Thank you, Minister.
Admittedly, there are challenges that the ANC government faces in pursuit of our transformation agenda within government and all state organs focusing largely on the improvement and quality of life of these marginalised groups. The challenges evolve around mainstreaming for socioeconomic and sociopolitical inclusion that should be decentralised in all departments' plans and monitored continually as we oversee the performance of all state organs.
It is important to strengthen the state machinery by strengthening the transformation agenda, which includes capacity-building; developing data- based policy-making and programme information; eliminating violence against women, children, youth and people with disabilities; creating decent employment for all of them; and working together more with marginalised groups.
Another crucial element is enhancing partnerships with civil organisations that deal with various aspects affecting the youth, children and people with disabilities. Continual interaction with these various groups will provide us with first-hand knowledge regarding the extent to which government and enacted policies contribute to the improvement of quality of life.
I would like to briefly mention that, as parliamentarians, our duties and responses to the social ills levelled against women, children and people with disabilities leave a lot of unanswered questions. I remember, Minister Lula Xingwana, that on 15 May 2012, when addressing a meeting of the National Disability Machinery, some thought-provoking questions were raised by people who were disabled, such as: Where is government in the midst of all this? What is government doing to protect people with disabilities against abuse and discrimination?
These questions suggest that we have neglected our people. Our presence has been overshadowed by the escalating failure just to meet the 2% employment equity target for people with disabilities; the inability to provide accessible housing for people with disabilities; the inability of our education system to produce competent disabled graduates and matriculants who can be employed by our government; the inability to transform the mentality of all directors-general, deputy directors-general, heads of department and other officials who are disability-conscious; and the inability to provide accessible public transport to allow people with disabilities to reach places of work and even school.
The Deputy Minister has clearly indicated here that Mpumalanga is still at 3,9% when it comes to people with disabilities. It is a figure that is not pleasing, and it is the same with all provinces. What we have discovered in Mpumalanga is that departments are not ready to absorb these people. They have no plans. They only target people who are in wheelchairs.
People who are blind are not recruited because they need a person to support them. They need resources such as Braille or voice-interactive computers. So, there is no plan or even a budget for these things. That is why these disabled people are not absorbed into the mainstream workforce of government.
We must all remember that no one is immune to disability. We need to take care of these people and think about them all the time. I will not rest if these issues are only debated for the sake of compliance with the constitutional requirements following the budgetary process by the Minister, and yet after this we fail to implement all that we say. Performance bonuses are paid annually to officials who disregard the political direction that we have provided, and yet Ministers and MECs are made to approve bonuses for this political defiance.
The boardroom silencing of women in the workplace has been noted as an issue that is gaining momentum. It is breeding another form of violence and abuse of women. Some organisations employ women in strategic positions to address equity. However, their views and contributions are neglected, which is equivalent to oppression. Women are used for window-dressing for the sake of compliance, which is tantamount to fronting in tendering; they are not treated as equal to men. The root impetus of this boardroom violence is located within the history of unemployment, inequality, exploitation, and men's inferiority complexes, which says that women should not be equal partners in decision-making.
Another painful thing that we witness in our communities is the torture levelled against our children. The communities' families, schools, churches and social organisations have lost their moral values. Children are sexually abused and harassed in these situations continually. In spite of the laws that we have passed, our schoolchildren are still subjected to corporal punishment.
Children are raped by their fathers, educators, priests and community leaders. Of late, this has become volatile. Children are exposed to domestic violence and experience uncontrolled exposure to offensive acts of pornography on cellphones, televisions and the Internet. The question is: What type of generation are we raising? What behaviour do we expect from these children when they are adults? That boggles my mind. When these children in future become serial rapists and serial killers, we will all be surprised. Yet, we are all contributing.
Hon member, your speaking time has expired. I will give you two minutes to wrap up.
In conclusion, there is a need to resuscitate moral regeneration, and to remember that we are all walking to the future through the feet of our children. They need to be taken care of. Therefore, as the Mpumalanga ANC, we support this budget. Thank you. [Applause.]
Chair, I think you were lucky: Yesterday a stone would have been thrown at you. Some people came here demonstrating with stones that they were throwing in Johannesburg when they were marching to the Congress of SA Trade Unions, Cosatu, House.
Hon Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister, members, ladies and gentlemen, just a few weeks ago, on 27 April, as the people of this beautiful country we were celebrating 18 years of our hard-fought-for democracy. Since the demise of apartheid in 1994, we have witnessed our nation at work, dismantling apartheid social relations. We have seen the utmost determination of the ANC-led government working tirelessly to fight against poverty and inequalities. Our people have seen and experienced huge changes in their lives. We are truly a nation at work, united in our diversity and national quest to build a better life for all.
I am sure all of us in this House will agree that the masses of our people and our lives are better today, and we know for sure that tomorrow will be better than the dreaded years of apartheid social relations and discrimination.
We realise the immense challenges that we must still overcome. As the ANC government, we agree that a lot more still needs to be done and changed for the better. Our movement of the people, the ANC, has for years been about changing the lives of our people for the better, and we dare not for a second lose our focus. Instead, let us continue to work hard and strengthen social development even more, particularly education and health.
This point was emphasised even more by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan during his third Budget Speech this year when he said:
Education, health and social assistance will remain the largest categories of expenditure, sustaining and expanding the social wage over the Medium- Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period ahead. Investment in people is at the centre of our growth and development strategy.
The Minister went on to say:
Social development is critical for sustaining the long-term viability not only of economic growth, but also of democracy itself. ... Social development does not simply involve quantitative advances but also incorporates critical normative elements.
On the one hand, it includes a focus on addressing problems of poverty, and expanding access to quality education, and health care and, on the other hand, it also involves addressing issues of social exclusion such as discrimination and lack of voice in social and economic processes.
What is at stake is quality of life with a sense of dignity ... "the ultimate goal of social development is to improve and enhance the quality of life of all people".
Today our focus is on women, children and people with disabilities. We are therefore called upon to take stock of or evaluate whether, as a government, we have been able to deliver in terms of improving and enhancing the quality of life of these most disadvantaged groups of our people. In doing so, one does not have to be a rocket scientist to be able to arrive at a conclusion that says: Yes, our government has covered a lot of ground, but a lot still needs to be done as these groups still suffer the most inequalities and discrimination in our society. Perhaps we need to remind ourselves about a critical issue, which is the creation of this Ministry.
If you read its background, it says: The creation of the Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, announced on 9 May 2009, was a clear demonstration of government's commitment and political will to ensure that human rights, empowerment, equality and human dignity for women, children and people with disabilities are advanced, promoted, protected and developed.
But as we debate today, my biggest concerns are around, amongst other things, transport, education, health and access. On education, more empowerment programmes need to be developed. The process of skilling should also form part of these programmes, because I believe that education and the skilling of our women, children and people with disabilities will definitely go a long way in ensuring that indeed their dignity is restored as they will no longer be totally dependent on other people for their survival.
Most importantly, the whole question of accessibility of basic services should be prioritised and speeded up. It is indeed part of the Ministry's core function to make sure that various departments prioritise issues relating to our vulnerable people in our society. We are demonstrating our commitment and determination to ensure that women, children and people with disabilities enjoy the fruits of our freedom. It is for this reason that we support the budget of the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities. We know that this Ministry is a living symbol of our commitment to ensuring that women, children and people with disabilities also enjoy our freedom.
Chair, I must come back to this particular point. This is because unfortunately the Chair yesterday denied me the opportunity to do so. But I know that you will assist me in clarifying this particular issue. [Interjections.] [Laughter.] I said yesterday that some people want to build Europe in Africa. I say this precisely because when Europeans come to Africa - come to South Africa - they are called South Africans. When South Africans from the Eastern Cape go to the Western Cape, they are called refugees. [Interjections.] Now I want to remind them of the former leader of the "Deurmekaar [confused] Alliance", Tony Leon, who said there is no pure Jew in South Africa, and he went to Israel and married a Jew. That undermines our white people in this particular country. Thank you, Chair. [Applause.]
Order! Could I urge members to stick to the debate, please.
Chairperson, Minister and members, on behalf of society, Cope acknowledges the work of Minister Lulu Xingwana, the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities. She stated, as a reminder to the government department in Pretoria on 15 May 2012, during a meeting of the National Disability Machinery, that we dare not fail. There are only 12 months remaining to meet Cabinet's March 2013 target of 2% with regard to employing people with disabilities.
Cope asks: What is it that the Minister knows that she and the department are not revealing? Are these early warning signals or an honourable attempt to ensure delivery?
Minister, last Thursday the SA Broadcasting Corporation televised the story of a disabled woman who has a disabled child in Limpopo. Her name is Ms Makhwidikha Rasealoka. She lives in Lephephane, in the Mopane region. She is still waiting, after a promise was made to her four years ago, for intervention in her life. She walks on her knees. Therefore, I would want the Minister to fulfil that promise of that intervention in the life of that family.
Thabo Mbeki's declaration: "I am an African" encourages the renaissance of ubuntu. This includes striving to heal family dysfunctionalities, accommodating state assistance, such as grants, and empowering the dysfunctional. This allows the spirit of Africanism to assist in economic and spiritual conditions, development and the renewal of society. The intent is to speculate on the drive of our knowledge base, understanding the prosperities and growth as the fundamentals of ubuntu.
However, the implementation of these policies, under the guidance of the ANC led-government, reflects the inconsistency between intent and implementation in the Apex Priorities aspired to.
We need to teach communities how to be self-sufficient in creating an enabling environment. We urgently need policies that will encourage participation and a way forward to renew our own commitments and efforts.
We want to congratulate the government on the revolutionary policy stance taken in the Green Paper and, when it comes to families, attempting to normalise the family as an ubuntu project - a proactive, moral value and a shared responsibility unit to equalise past inequalities, and giving fathers the joint responsibility of caring for their family.
The gender-sensitive policy position for public comment will bring an end to the exploitation of women and allow fathers greater responsibilities to fulfil their roles as partners in the uplifting of their children, establishing life the way it should be.
Mr Vavi, the general secretary of Cosatu, at its international policy conference in Kempton Park, observed rightfully on Wednesday, in a critique, that the ruling party was to blame for the pending possible rebellion owing to controversial decisions, while corruption is covered because the ANC concentrates on palace politics rather than attempting to address issues of poverty. Thank you. Thank you, Chairperson. [Time expired.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, I am indeed grateful for the opportunity to participate in the debate on Budget Vote 8 of this department. I am not used to being the last speaker, but I am glad that today I have the opportunity. The only regret is I haven't been given the part of my friends like Bloem, and Liz van Lingen - although she is quiet today - and others. [Laughter.] I think that demonstrates the attitude of the DA and their friend Cope in relation to disability because what they offered here today was very immaterial.
Before 1994 the ANC assisted the disability rights movement of South Africa to have a voice at the United Nations, in which the UN standard rules on equalisation of opportunities needed to be supported. When the ANC demonstrated this from the ushering in of democracy in 1994 and continued to do so, it made it imperative and clear to everybody that the ANC was resolute in promoting and advancing the cause of those in our society who are vulnerable. The commitment has been demonstrated in various ways. The policy frameworks, the legislative environment and even the legislation itself reflect this. Hence, we are thankful to the department now that part of the work that they are committing themselves to do entails adding value in reviewing the effectiveness of these policies, and the effectiveness of implementing and designing programmes to enhance the cause of promoting equity and equality.
Indeed, we are thankful and resolute as the ANC that affirmative action has remained the core of government service delivery in order to close the gap between the poor and those that are better off. This is because, for the majority, those who are poor are women and children and people with disabilities.
Therefore, this clear demonstration speaks to why we are supporting this budget today. As we all agree, it is small but it adds value because it is going to assist and enhance government's work in various areas. I will highlight those areas because they are of concern to me as observations.
One of the areas that worry me, hon Minister - and I am glad because you and the Deputy Minister mentioned education - is that the material for the Annual National Assessments, Ana, for blind children is still not accessible. If we are serious about what we want to achieve with the Annual National Assessments then this is an urgent matter that requires an urgent intervention in that a mechanism must be created in government to develop accessible material for visually impaired children, let alone accessibility, or just material to learn. And the Annual National Assessments is one of those programmes that seek to ensure that we develop, from a young age, learners who will be good readers and good counters. Therefore, I really put the matter before this Ministry in that we need to pay urgent attention to this matter.
Government has worked tirelessly in ensuring that it positions itself better than it was before to respond to issues of children and people with disabilities. As the ANC, we have committed ourselves not only to South Africans, but to Africa and to the world. South Africa is indeed a leader, and the ANC has been leading in ensuring that government takes part in the international arena and in the continental arena.
Hon Minister, we are aware that Africa is currently trying to find solutions in terms of responding to disabilities, starting with its platform of dialogue around the issue of the African disability protocol. We want to place before the Ministry that this work is important because it will get Africa working, talking and planning around its response to disability issues in Africa and, therefore, being able to create programmes and actions that respond positively to the citizens of Africa who are disabled.
Secondly to that we know the process of the continental plan - that is on progress - and we hope that the department will lead and release members in the disability sector and experts from South Africa that will assist the African Union to develop the continental plan of action for this decade of disabled persons that was declared for Africa. The Europe-Africa partnership has a chapter on disability, and we are still to realise the benefits of the outcomes that are set out in this Europe- Africa partnership in relation to disabilities. I raise this as a pointer to what concerns civil society organisations dealing with persons with disabilities, which is the depletion of funding, that hampers the work of empowering disabled persons and capacitating their organisations, and thus being able to generate the kind of leadership in society that would be formed from engagements of persons with disabilities themselves.
Therefore we place this as part of the work that requires attention, and that must be led by the Ministry and the department to ensure that the disability sector accesses funds. We know there are problems around the lottery. We are really thankful that we have heard here today that the Minister is engaging the disability sector.
Hon member, your speaking time has expired. You have one minute to wrap up.
Thank you, hon Chairperson. I would also, hon Minister, like to emphasise the need for community-based programmes, as they were highlighted here by members from Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. The work in the Eastern Cape on community-based rehabilitation and other provinces is behind, and we think that this work will assist disabled people to get involved in community work programmes, and in the Expanded Public Works Programme.
I was approached by disabled ex-miners who had been dumped in homes in rural areas. They couldn't access houses. They couldn't even use the toilets owing to sanitation problems. They are now working with Teba Development and Lima in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality in trying to get involved. Therefore, Minister, I am highlighting that as a pointer to say that community work for people with disabilities becomes important because it enhances their capacity. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Chairperson, I understand that you have given me three extra minutes. I hope I will get it after this - towards the end.
There is a screen, Minister, to see the time.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Oh, thank you, Chairperson.
I want to thank hon members for their valuable contribution to our budget debate. Indeed, there was an outcry from the chairperson, the hon Mabe, on the 0,01% budget or slice that we are getting from the national Budget. We say: Her cry is our cry also. On the Saartjie Baartman Centre, the hon Worth should actually talk to his MEC who appeared on television - the public broadcaster - to make a commitment that he would see to it that the centre would not close. I think it is high time that the DA kept their promises. I also remember in 2010, just a month after I was appointed to this Ministry, we went with the honourable Zille to Khayelitsha during the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. One of the homes we visited was that of an 82-year-old woman who was blind and living in a shack, and young people just came in and kicked down the door and stole all her food. She promised that she would prioritise housing for her, but to date this old woman is still living there.
I also want to thank the hon Themba for her call on all members of society to fight the scourge of gender-based violence. We welcome the fact that hon members support the National Council Against Gender-Based Violence, and also request all members in their constituencies to support victims of violence and abuse.
The hon Ntwanambi has just sent me a note in which she says that Umhlobo Wenene FM announced two days ago that a five-year old, a seven-year-old and a two-year-old girl were raped by their father in Queenstown, in the Eastern Cape - a father who is suffering from Aids. I think we must all make sure that that monster dies in jail - awelwe ngumgodi [and rots there]. I will make a commitment to contact the hon Majodina, who is very committed and working on these issues, so that we can give her all the necessary support.
I agree with the Deputy Minister that indeed some of us qualify in that we have already joined the disabled sector. Some of us are now struggling to read because we forgot our glasses. The hon Deputy Minister also alluded to some of the programmes that we have prioritised and that hon members referred to, so I will not deal with them.
Hon Ngubeni-Maluleka, we thank you for your support and reference to the National Disability Machinery meeting, which was convened by the Deputy Minister. Indeed, we are still far away from accessible housing, inclusive education, meeting the 2% target and accessible public transport. Also, we have not budgeted for the tools that are required for people with disabilities in the workplace.
We also have to make sure that the performance assessments of the directors- general and heads of departments are linked to their performance in promoting the rights of women, children and people with disabilities. [Applause.] If this does not happen, we will never realise the 2% and the 50:50 targets that we have set for our government and for the private sector.
We want to see accessible housing, accessible transport, accessible schools and accessible courts, including sign language in the courts. I note that sometimes we don't have sign language here in the House, hon Chair. Imagine if you are blind and you are supposed to go to court and are expected to identify the culprit, how can you be assisted by government? Or, if you are deaf and you are supposed to go and present your case and nobody understands sign language at the police stations, at the courts, at the clinics, at the hospitals - how are you supposed to present your case?
So all of these issues are the challenges that as government we still have to face and address. I am sorry, hon Chair, but I could not understand what the hon member from Cope was saying. He was just reading newspapers. I think he is thoroughly confused. I don't know if he comes from the Cope which is under the tree or the Cope that was in the hall. [Laughter.] He was confused also about the former president of the ANC, former President Thabo Mbeki. He never was confused; he never joined Cope. He is a member of the ANC. [Applause.] Just like former President Nelson Mandela is a member of the ANC until the day he dies. So, all those people who are confused, please don't come and confuse us in the House.
I want to thank the hon Nzimande for his contribution. I want to assure him that our entire disability programme is structured around the universal accessibility campaign. We have integrated it into our road shows with the executive councils in provinces, with universities and with companies, and we have also integrated it into our messages wherever we address communities or meetings. This campaign has been spearheaded by the Deputy Minister, and she launched it during Disability Month in November 2011.
We will also work towards finalising the minimum norms and standards for universal access and accreditation for auditing and advocacy of financial models for financing the disability sector. We are also working on pilot sites, such as the Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality, to assist municipalities to understand universal access in the planning and design of their programmes.
I also want to agree with the hon Nzimande that South Africa is leading the whole of the African continent, and the world is looking at us for examples of best practice. We are the only country in the world that has a Ministry that is dedicated to people with disabilities. We are the only country that has a Deputy Minister with disabilities. We are the only country in the world that has 18 Members of Parliament with disabilities, and all of them are probably from the ANC. [Applause.]
Therefore we are working very closely with the African continent in this, the African Decade for Persons with Disabilities. The secretariat is based here in South Africa, and we are working closely with them. I also want to say to hon members that we will work hard to revive and restrengthen the Europe-Africa disability partnership, because we need those partnerships. Of course, right now they have their own financial crisis, but we will make sure that we revive that and remind them not to leave Africa outside.
I also want to assure the hon Nzimande that we are working on the Annual National Assessments, Ana. The first batch has been delivered, and we will ensure through the Deputy Minister's programmes that we prioritise Ana as we understand its importance.
Right now, hon members, we are reviewing our disability policy and we hope to table that and share that with Members of Parliament quite soon. The draft is already there, but we are still finalising consultations.
As we go to the United Nations in September, under the leadership of the Deputy Minister, I hope that MPs will have deliberated both on the disability policy and on the report that we will be tabling at the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and that hon members will have made their inputs and looked at that report.
Also, Chairperson, I hope that one or two of your members will accompany the Deputy Minister as we go to the UN in New York to report on the progress that has been made with people with disabilities in South Africa.
Finally, I want to thank our officials, including our director-general, our deputy directors-general, who are here with us and who have walked the path with us. I want to inform hon members that last year in November we lost one of our deputy directors-general, Adv Nozipho Mabhena, but I am happy to say that we are welcoming a new deputy director-general today, Ms Thandiwe Mxenge, who has just been appointed by Cabinet. We are very happy to have her here amongst us. Phakama. [Stand up.] [Applause.]
I also want to thank the select committee that has really walked the path with us and has kept us on our toes to ensure that we are accountable to Parliament in our work. I also thank the NGOs and our international development partners, such as Unicef, UN Women, the United Nations Population Fund, the UN Development Programme, and organisations and agencies such as the Industrial Development Corporation, Xstrata and many others that have supported this department. I therefore hope that we will continue to work together to face the challenges that still confront women, children and people with disabilities, especially the challenges of violence and abuse of our women and children. I thank you, hon Chairperson. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.