Chairperson, the reply to the question is as follows. This question was classified as an oral question, but the statistical nature of the question is such that it should have been classified as a written question, as it seeks detailed and complex information from provinces, spreading over two financial years.
In terms of NCOP Rule 246(1)(b), we respectfully require three weeks to reply. We are committed to answering this question in writing and we humbly request to be given the opportunity to submit it within the stipulated timeframe committed to by Parliament. I humbly request that we be given that opportunity. This also relates to Question 39 and Question 45.
That is the request. Hon De Villiers, what are you saying?
Hon Chairperson, I understand what the Minister is saying, but that is not my fault. The Questions department of the NCOP must inform me about the situation, and then, based on that information, I can decide to submit the question as a written question. Thank you.
Hon Chairperson, in regard to Question 45, I have written to the Minister about it but the Minister has not responded to my correspondence; hence my asking the question now. So I would be grateful if this question could be replied to in writing within three weeks. Thank you.
Chairperson, if it will take too long to give the information to the House now, can I request the Minister to hand the answer in to the Table, so that all members can have that information.
Chairperson, I need an opportunity to get the relevant information from the provinces. It is not that the information will take too long to give here now, but because of the slowness of the provinces in giving us the relevant information. So, we are asking for more time so that we can get the relevant information and give it to you in writing. If permitted, we will do that within the stipulated time.
That's how I understood it. The Deputy Minister is asking for more time and there's no reason why we cannot grant that. Thank you very much. We have then covered Questions 39, 45 and 38. They will be responded to in writing. We now move to Question 56.
Particulars regarding social workers employed in each province
56. Mrs M C Dikgale (ANC) asked the Minister of Social Development:
(1) What is the (a) total number of social workers who are employed in each province and (b) average number of persons and/or cases that each social worker is expected to attend to in each month;
(2) whether her department has put any measures in place to (a) train and (b) recruit more social workers; if not, why not; if so, what measures? CO300E
Chairperson, on (1)(a), the total number of social workers who are employed in each province is as follows, and they are employed by the department and also by nongovernmental organisations, NGOs.
In the Eastern Cape the department has 998, while NGOs have 395; in the Free State we have 333, while NGOs have 132; Gauteng has 1 398, while NGOs have 553; KwaZulu-Natal has 1 464, while NGOs have 575; Limpopo has 799, while NGOs have 916; Mpumalanga has 466, while NGOs have 184; the Northern Cape has 133, while NGOs have 53; the North West has 399, while NGOs have 158; and the Western Cape has 666, while NGOs have 263. The total is 6 655 for the department, and 2 634 for the NGOs.
On (b), the average number of cases that each social worker is expected to attend to is not determined by the number of persons and/or cases per month, but by the caseload per social worker. According to the Integrated Service Delivery Model developed by the Department of Social Development in 2005, the current caseload for a social worker is 1:60. However, with the fact that South Africa is a developing country, which has high levels of poverty and deprivation, and a high incidence of HIV and Aids, the actual workload per social worker far exceeds the above-mentioned norm.
On (2)(a) and (b), yes, the department has continued to put measures in place to train and recruit more social workers. The scholarship programme, since its inception in 2007, has awarded scholarships to a total of 8 569 students to study social work. While the department has recruited 3 883 social work graduates into the system, we know that there is a serious shortage of social workers in South Africa. We are guided by the budget in regard to our ability to absorb more graduates, and we hope that through negotiations with the Treasury for more funds we will be in a position to absorb all the graduates. I thank you.
Position regarding sponsorship of SA Olympic Team and promotion of sport in rural communities
43. Mr W F Faber (DA) asked the Minister of Sport and Recreation:
(1) What are the reasons for the SA Olympic Team being unable to find sponsorships;
(2) whether he has taken any steps to (a) promote and (b) canvass for sponsorships for the team; if not, why not; if so, what steps;
(3) what total amount will be spent to promote sport in rural communities (a) in the Eastern Cape and (b) at a national level in the 2012-13 financial year? CO286E
Hon Chairperson, on (1), it is not correct to say that the SA Olympic Team is not able to get sponsorship. When one compares it to the sponsorship for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, one sees that that team had no sponsorship at all. The 2012 team has been rewarded with more sponsorship.
The hon member will have noted by now that sponsorship from the private sector is complex, as companies are always looking for a return on their investment. Currently, the recession has not been favourable towards sport sponsorship, as companies are constantly considering cost-cutting measures. An example thereof is the latest Vodacom Challenge.
On (2)(a), the 2012 SA Olympic Team continues to receive promotion from the department, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, Sascoc, and the federations. We are using all public platforms to canvass for more sponsorship for the SA Olympic Team.
On (2)(b), the department and Sascoc continue to mobilise and canvass for sponsorship and support for the athletes and Team SA. In this regard we have been able to successfully lobby the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund to make available R70 million, in addition to an amount of R31 million that the department made available, and approximately R45 million from the private sector.
Hon Chairperson, thank you for the opportunity. May I ask the hon Minister whether he answered the third part of the question?
Oh, on rural communities. Hon Minister?
On (3)(a), the department has contributed R65 million to the Eastern Cape, for the Mass Participation Programme. That has been allocated as follows: R29,5 million for the school sport programme; R14,7 million for club development; R14,7 for hub development; and the remainder, which is R6,1 million, for training, scientific support and talent identification.
We are in the process of developing a reporting mechanism that will give us a thorough exposition of the exact amount that will be spent on rural sport development. However, we can assure you that, given the need for sport development initiatives in rural communities, the national department, together with our provincial departments, always ensure that funds are spent with a bias towards underdeveloped areas.
On (3)(b), national spending for the 2012-13 budget on sport development amounts to R721,9 million. As stated above, given the need, our bias is towards rural and underdeveloped areas.
Hon Chairperson, my question relates to the first part of the Minister's response. In the light of the sponsors having discretionary choice, how does that impact on the support given to Paralympians with all their special needs? Thank you, Chair.
Chairperson, we do not have control over the choice sponsors have of what they will contribute to the Paralympics - we can only persuade them. What I know from the side of government, talking about the Paralympics, is that we are working together and supporting the Paralympics Team towards London in regard to all their needs and whatever support they require.
In Durban recently Nedbank was a key institution in support of the Paralympics Team. In all earnest, we do not have a law in terms of which we can negotiate on the prerogative that different companies have in respect of how they want to disburse their resources. We have only relied on their goodwill to disburse resources. In this regard the majority of South African companies have come to the party to support the Paralympics and all our national teams, in particular Team SA in preparation for London.
Thank you, hon Chair and hon Minister. The point I want to make is that there are many sporting codes which, because of poor funding, are not able to make progress. The big sports like rugby, cricket and golf, which have international markets, get more funding, and companies want to follow those sports because their returns are better. I am asking if government is not able to support the smaller sporting codes, which need more time, more years, to grow and also to grow their funding. Can they support them more than the bigger sporting codes that can help themselves? Thank you.
Do you want to comment on or respond to that, hon Minister?
Well, Chairperson, I don't know. It is your choice and I am here to oblige.
No, no! You can if you want to, hon Minister.
Okay. I want to briefly explain that our focus as a government is on all the sporting codes. We are not focusing only on the big three. In our Budget Vote, which will eventually come here, we talk about building a case for sport. In this regard, we are talking about all the sporting codes, even the smallest code that is not recognised.
We are fully aware that corporate social investment has basically adopted an approach of investing in the so-called "make me nice" programmes. If a sporting code is not popular, doesn't appear on television and does not have broadcasting rights, it does not enjoy the sort of sponsorship that rugby, cricket, and so on enjoy.
With the case for sport which we have made, Cabinet has for the first time adopted the National Sport and Recreation Plan in South Africa. That sports plan is in the process of being costed. Our responsibility, and we take this responsibility, is to close the gaps, even with those sporting codes that do not get support from the government.
For instance, in netball this year we will be launching what we call the national Netball Premier League. For the first time in South Africa the girls are going to participate and play netball live on television. They are going to be full-time professionals like their male counterparts. [Applause.] That is what we are doing. You will see then that netball is the number one sport. Once it appears on TV, you are going to get all sorts of sponsors. The girls deserve it! That is the approach of government. Thank you.
Hon Chair, is the Minister satisfied that the grant to the SA Football Association by Fifa has been properly spent in the developmental programme for soccer in the townships and rural areas?
Hon member, that is a new question altogether. Hon Minister, do you want to answer that one? It is a new question.
Chairperson ... [Inaudible.] [Laughter.] I think it is a new question. With all due respect, we can take that question when we deal with the Budget Vote and be fully accountable for the issue.
See also QUESTIONS AND REPLIES.