Hon Speaker, on 26 May 2011 we recommended to Cabinet that they consider endorsing the intention by the SA Sports Confederation Olympic Committee to bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games. Cabinet decided not to endorse the intention by South Africa to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
Cabinet's rationale is that the cost implications are too high and the country should focus its attention on consolidating the gains made from the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Cabinet also decided that at this moment in time the resources of the country will be better spent on the delivery of basic services to all South Africans.
Although we are extremely sensitive to the needs of the poor and service delivery in this country, were the following items or reasons or rationale ever explored at Cabinet level: first, was there a budget done on the cost of hosting the 2020 Summer Olympic Games? Was it made known to Cabinet that Moses Mabhida Stadium, for example, was designed to seat 87 000 people and has a track fit to host field and track events, as well as opening and closing ceremonies? Of course, that was built at great expense to the country. Further, was it made known to Cabinet that the private sector was prepared to partner government in many of these initiatives, for example, in an equestrian centre and a rowing centre that would be world class? Was it taken into account that there are cities around the country that are capable of hosting numerous events, mainly because of our natural facilities and resources, but also because of the expense from the World Cup?
Finally, was the Ministry for Tourism consulted? I think that there are about 109 membership countries, which would have meant that the tourist base visiting the country in 2020 would potentially have been far larger than the tourist base of the Fifa World Cup.
Firstly, with regard to the budgeting issues raised, I think there was no detailed plan that was considered. Overall the spirit of the resolution of Cabinet was that it is important for us to focus on consolidating the gains from the 2010 Fifa World Cup. It was not conclusive in the presentation that Moses Mabhida was the city that would have won because it was not only Moses Mabhida that would have been considered. There were also Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. The short- listing process was actually led by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, Sascoc. There was no conclusion that Moses Mabhida was the destination. It was only the propaganda media campaign that had already concluded that Moses Mabhida in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, would have won the bid from the Sascoc short-listing process.
The fact that the private sector was coming to the party was only realised after the decision was made, where we received a lot of goodwill and people who were ready to support and partner in the hosting of the Olympics.
The Ministry of Tourism had not been engaged, broadly speaking, because the submission to Cabinet was the first stage. Thereafter we would have been in a position to quantify the bid in terms of the resources, including from the context of sport tourism, which would have required the participation of the Department of Tourism. That was all part of the process. That consultation and engagement did not take place.
Hon Minister, you have been quoted as saying that you would like to motivate a reversal of Cabinet's decision not to spend the $50 million to host the Olympics. Do you have reason to believe that the spending of this money and the hosting of this event will benefit the poor, or increase our capacity to deliver the needed services, and where will those benefits lie? Thank you.
What we said was that if there was the possibility of engaging further on this particular issue, it would be most welcome. That process would involve civil society and the private sector where, like I said, there has been a reservoir of goodwill. South Africa might not have the same opportunity to host the Olympics after 2020 because that reservoir of goodwill also comes from the international community and from within the Olympic movement. So, in this particular instance, out of a process of engagement, in which persuasive arguments were made from all directions within South Africa, the question was raised - and I think it was raised out of goodwill by ordinary citizens and international people in the Olympic movement - whether or not there was a possibility for us to revisit that particular decision. So, if that will occurs in the near future, it will be out of a process of engagement.
One of the reasons given by the Minister was that Cabinet wanted us to consolidate the gains made during the World Cup. One of these gains is the infrastructure and stadiums we now have, but now there is the massive problem of maintaining those stadiums. My question then is: What are we going to do to assist municipalities and cities to maintain and consolidate these gains?
At the present moment we are finalising our country report. Part of that work is the question of what we are going do with the stadia that were built so that communities can actually benefit. Those gains include the fact that those facilities must be utilised by different people in poor communities. As it is now, they cannot access them. There is the potential for these stadiums to become white elephants that are only being accessed by people who are actually well off, and so on.
Part of consolidating the gains is to work with local government and, at the same time, look at the possibility of ensuring that ordinary poor developmental sport clubs in different communities can access these facilities. But that is not the only issue. There is the question of social cohesion and nation-building programmes that we actually need to sustain after the World Cup, as part of consolidating the gains of the World Cup.
Infrastructure development is ongoing and ever expanding, even in areas where people did not have access to certain things, such as sporting facilities and so on. To date we are running a programme of delivering artificial pitches in the rural and far-flung areas of South Africa. We are developing pitches and more throughout South Africa as part of the 2010 legacy, working hand in hand with the departments of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements.
In the near future, we are going to finalise the resolution around infrastructure grants at the local level, in terms of the roll-out plan of facilities. This is part and parcel of the legacy that we celebrate going forward, in terms of facility and infrastructure expansion at the local government level.
Minister, what I want to know is what the situation is for future bids. If we bid for any international event or game, are you prepared to consider it?
In terms of the question of bidding in the future, at the present moment we are working on a bidding strategy. That is because what is happening in South Africa today is this: you go to China, you meet a few people there who do karate and you pronounce yourself the president of the karate association. You commit, without consulting government, that yes, you can come to our country. When? Tomorrow. So, we need a bidding strategy so that everyone who wants to bid can understand that you cannot simply go and commit the country, with all due respect, without consultation with the South African government.
In the bidding process, we need to understand what is major and of interest to the country, such as the economic spin-offs and the things that help us in our sport tourism journey - job creation and the like. We need to know what the mega events are that we would choose as a country, because everybody looked at South Africa after 2010 and realised that this was the perfect place to host most sporting events. So, we are in a process of developing a bidding strategy that will be tabled for proper discussion and adoption, both here in the House and out there in engagements with the federations in South Africa's sporting fraternity.
Position regarding application of criteria based on race and/or culture when children are adopted or placed in foster care
37. Adv A D Alberts (FF Plus) asked the Minister of Social Development:
(1) Whether the Government applies any criteria that are based on (a) race and/or (b) culture when persons apply to (i) adopt children or (ii) place children in foster care; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether the persons, who are applying for such (a) adoption or (b) foster care, may state preferences with regard to race and/or culture; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NO1744E
The answer to question 1(a) is no. Government prioritises the best interests of the child when placing children in foster care and adoption. In the matching and placing of an adoptable child, as required by the Children's Act, Act 38 of 2005, priority is given to prospective adoptive parents of the same race and culture as the child before considering parents from a different race and culture. This is intended to ensure stability and continuity in the child's life and the potential to provide the child with, for example, the privilege of growing up within his own community and to continue with his own home language.
This practice is in line with section 232(3) and 240(1)(a), (2) and (3) of the Children's Act, Act 38 of 2005, which stipulate that an adoption social worker may take the cultural and community diversity of the adoptable child and prospective adoptive parents into consideration during the assessment. The Children's Court may take into account all relevant factors, including the religious and cultural background of the child, the child's parents and the prospective adoptive parents when considering an application for adoption.
The answer to question 1(b) is also no. Persons applying to adopt a child can state preferences with regard to race and culture. The prospective adoptive parent or persons applying to adopt a child are given the opportunity during assessment by the adoption social worker to state their preferences regarding the race, culture, age and gender of the child they would like to adopt. The national Department of Social Development keeps the register of all adoptable children and prospective adoptive parents in South Africa.
With regard to question 2(b), the prospective foster parents are able to state their preferences in applying for foster care. However, section 184 (1) and (2) of the Children's Act prescribe that before a Children's Court places a child in foster care by a court order, the court must consider a report by a designated social worker about the cultural, religious and linguistic background of the child. It further clarifies that a child may be placed in the foster care of a person from a different cultural, religious and linguistic background to that of the child, but only if there is an existing bond between that person and the child, or a suitable and willing person with the similar background is not readily available to provide foster care to the child.
I want to pose this question to the Deputy Minister: how many children have been adopted in South Africa during the period April 2004 to 31 March 2009? Could she also give us a breakdown of adoptions by different racial groups?
That is a very lengthy question to answer now. [Interjections.] I think I will ask the hon member to allow me to give the full answer in writing. [Applause.]
Deputy Minister, according to the records of your own department, we have 2,1 million maternal orphans - those who have lost a mother - and 873 000 double orphans - those who have lost both a mom and dad, resulting in a child-headed household. Surely, Deputy Minister, one of the solutions is to start promoting adoption. My question is: Will the Deputy Minister give this House the assurance that an aggressive adoption campaign will be led by the Minister to promote adoption in order to reduce foster care, orphanages and the ever-increasing child-headed households, ensuring that the best interests of the child are promoted? Thank you.
I agree with you that there are many children who need to be adopted. African children, especially black children, make up the bulk of those children. In South Africa, African, Indian and coloured children are less likely to be adopted than white children. The majority of children who are orphaned or abandoned, or who are in alternative care, are Africans. Indian communities have very close family bonds. If a child's parents are unable to take care of that child, relatives assume responsibility. But that does not happen with Africans. I think we have a duty to educate our people on the adoption system of our country. I thank you very much for raising this issue. [Applause.]
Position regarding success of steps taken to deal with a shortage of social workers, including a review of salaries
34. Mrs C Dudley (ACDP) asked the Minister of Social Development:
(1) Whether she has found that steps taken by her predecessors to deal with a shortage of trained social workers have been successful; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (2) whether she has found that the specified steps have had an impact in dealing with the different facets of family breakdown, particularly in rural areas; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether there has been a review of salaries for social workers in the public and private sector; if not, why not; if so,
(4) whether the salaries were found to be adequate with regard to enabling trained social workers to continue in their careers instead of seeking alternative employment; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NO1534E
Ngiyabonga Sihlalo, ngiyabonga lungu elihloniphekile. [Thank you, Chairperson; thank you, hon member.]
Yes, the regrading of the salaries of social workers and the implementation of the occupation specific dispensation, OSD, ensured competitive remuneration for social workers and managed to retain social workers within the profession.
Since its inception in 2007, the scholarship programme has managed to train and recruit a total number of 5 574 students and absorbed 3 237 into employment in the various provincial departments of social development.
The department is currently undertaking a study to evaluate the implementation of the recruitment and retention strategy to determine whether the interventions put in place have addressed the challenges of the shortage of social workers in the country. The study will be finalised by the end of the 2011-12 financial year.
The department has also embarked on the development of and training on programmes for families. This will ensure that newly qualified social workers are equipped with the knowledge and skills to address the breakdown of families in rural areas. The development of a White Paper for families, which aims to promote family life and strengthen families, will also improve service delivery in all communities, including rural areas.
Yes, there has been a review of salaries for social workers, only in the public sector, in 2004. This involved the regrading of social worker salaries and the implementation of the OSD, which took place in 2008 and 2009, through the implementation of the Policy on Financial Awards to Service Providers, which has recently been reviewed. The department will implement programme funding instead of providing subsidies for salaries to nongovernmental organisations, NGOs. This will ensure that NGOs receive optimal funding for salaries of social workers.
The regrading of the salaries of social workers and the implementation of the OSD ensured a very competitive remuneration package for social workers and managed to retain social workers within the profession.
Ngiyabonga Sihlalo, nakuwe lungu elihloniphekile. [Thanks to you, Chairperson, and you, hon member.]
Hon Deputy Minister, in the Budget Vote debate the ACDP focused attention on the fact that foster-care grants have ground to a halt. Since then an urgent court order was obtained in Gauteng, giving the Minister and MECs until the end of 2014 to find solutions to the crisis. Now a senior social worker has said that the backlog was caused primarily by the general shortage of social workers. So, without social workers, can we now expect the court order or any amended legislation to make any difference? Are we doing enough? Obviously there is a lot that needs to be done, but in the particular area of social workers, have we done everything we possibly can?
Chairperson, I don't have all the details on that particular issue. Can I come back to you at a later stage?
Hon Deputy Minister, are there any mechanisms in place to increase the enrolment of students to study social work. If so, what are the details thereof?
Hon member, I do have information on that. The department has established a joint management forum, comprising departmental officials, institutions of higher learning and the Department of Higher Education and Training. One of the primary objectives of the forum is to look at increasing the intake of social work students without compromising quality. The department conducts a careers fair annually to high school students to intensify the marketing of the social work profession. Radio and newspapers are also being used to encourage the youth to enrol for the social work profession.
In addition, the department has increased the scholarship payment. We all know that the scholarship was R40 000, and we have increased that to the full cost per student. [Applause.]
I thank the Deputy Minister for the response. While we recognise that there are several plans in place to encourage and assist students to take up social work as a career, and while we know that there are funding and bursaries and that communication is being done with the universities and schools, the problem is that izingane zethu [our children] are not taking social work seriously as a respectable career. They feel that doing travel, tourism and marketing is much better than social work.
What strategy can be implemented to market the field to the youth so that it is seen as a viable, important and respected career choice by the youth? As we speak, there are many matriculants at home who could be taking up the opportunity, seeing that government is funding the training, but they say that it's a career yabantu abadala [for the elders] and not for them.
IPHINI LIKANGQONGQOSHE WEZOKUTHUTHUKISWA KOMPHAKATHI: Ngiyabonga lungu elihloniphekile, futhi ngibonga nalo mbuzo owulethayo kule Ndlu yesiShayamthetho. Yiqiniso elingephikiswe ukuthi abantwana bethu abawufuni lo mkhakha wezenhlalakahle. Abanye abantwana njengoba sibanxenxa ukuthi baye emanyuvesi ukuyofunda kulo mkhakha, bayavuma uma besasemakhaya, bathathwe bangene emanyuvesi bafunde unyaka owodwa, uma sebephakathi nonyaka bashintshele kokunye ngoba vele bebengawuthandi lo mkhakha wezenhlalakahle.
Ayikho enyo into esingayenza ngaphandle kokuthi senze lo msebenzi wezobusonhlalakahle ube muhle njengeminye imisebenzi. Njengokuthi sibheke ukuthi imiholo yabo injani kanye nezindawo abasebenza kuzo, ikakhulukazi ezindaweni zasemakhaya. Uzokhumbula ukuthi akuzona zodwa nje izifundo zosonhlalakahle abangafuni ukusithatha kodwa nezinye izifundo njengezifundo zolimi nje, abantwana sebeyazibalekela.
Kukithina ukuthi sibakhuthaze emakhaya, ezindaweni lapho sihlangana khona emphakathini, sibakhombise nobuhle balo msebenzi ukuthi umsebenzi wezenhlalakahle umsebenzi owakha isizwe, okhulisa ubuntu bethu kusukela ebuncaneni ukuya ebudaleni bethu. Ngiyabonga Sihlalo. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOMENT: Thank you, hon member. I also thank you for the question that you are bringing here to the National Assembly. It is true that our children do not like the social work field. Some children agree to study this field when they are requested to do so whilst they are still at home, but once they are admitted to the universities, they only study it for one year, and then change to something else as they do not like social work in the first place.
There is nothing else that we can do but to make this social work as attractive as other jobs. We should look at how their salaries are structured, as well as at the conditions at the places where they work - especially in the rural areas. You will remember that it is not only social work that they do not want to do, but that there are other fields like language studies that they do not like - children are shying away from them.
It is up to us to encourage them from home, in social gatherings, and also to show them the good side of social work - that it is a job that builds a nation, our ubuntu from the young age to our old age. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]]
In her response during the oral questions session in this House on 10 March 2010, your predecessor, Mrs Edna Molewa, said:
We are aware of the challenges that face the private sector as well as the NGOs with regard to bringing their salary package on par with that of government. And, indeed, we have engaged with the private sector and, in particular, the NGOs to try to find the mechanism to support those NGOs.
My question is: What was the outcome of those discussions? Secondly, were those mechanisms implemented? If they are not being implemented, why is that? After all, this is a crisis that is facing us.
IPHINI LIKANGQONGQOSHE WEZOKUTHUTHUKISWA KOMPHAKATHI: Ngiyabonga kwilungu elihloniphekile, futhi ngiyawubonga nombuzo wakho. Anginayo imininingwane yalo mbuzo owubuzayo manje kodwa ngingaya kohlala phansi ngibheke ukuthi umphumela walokhu okwashiwo nguNgqongqoshe obekhona ngaphambilini ube yini. Okwamanje anginayo imininingwane ephathelene nalokho.
Ngiyacela-ke kwilungu elihloniphekile ukuthi linginikeze isikhathi sokuthi ngihambe ngiyobheka lokhu elikhuluma ngakho manje nokubhekelelwa kwemiholo yezisebenzi zikahulumeni. Kodwa-ke, esikwaziyo thina sonke ukuthi empeleni imiholo yabantu abasebenza kuhulumeni nabantu abasebenza ezinkampanini ezizimele ayilingani; yingakho abasebenzi bephuma lapha emisebenzini kahulumeni baye lapho kunamadlelo aluhlaza khona.
Ngalokho ngicela ukuthi sibe nesikhashana sokuthi sibheke ukuthi umphumela walokhu okwavunyelwana ngakho ukuthi waba yini. Ngiyabonga Sihlalo. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Thank you hon member, and I also thank you for your question. I do not have the details pertaining to the question you are asking now, but I can sit down and look at what the outcomes were of what the previous Minister said. But right now I do not have the details pertaining to that.
I am, therefore, requesting you, hon member, to give me time to go and look into what you are talking about now and also to look into the salaries of government personnel. But we all know for a fact that the salaries of the people who are working for government and those who are working for private companies are not the same, and that is why people leave government jobs for greener pastures.
That is why I am requesting some time to look at what the outcomes were of what was agreed upon. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]]
Particulars regarding Government's response to acid mine drainage, and costing of recommendations contained in report
54. Mr G R Morgan (DA) asked the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) What is the current status of the government's response to the acid mine drainage in the (a) western, (b) central and (c) eastern basins;
(2) whether the recommendations in the report entitled Mine Water Management in the Witwatersrand Goldfields with special emphasis on acid mine drainage have been fully costed; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?