The ANC rises in support of Vote No 17 on Social Development. We do so because of the significant and strategic role that the Portfolio Committee on Social Development has to do in social transformation of our people's lives for the better. The primary goal is to uplift our people and empower them - to lift them out of poverty. This means that we are agreeing that our social development narrative must transcends from being perceived as an engine of disbursing social grants but one of development. Our people must see and use grants as instruments of entering the economy.
We have to boldly state that despite the sentiments expressed by the opposition to the budget of the department, there is a general consensus that we have, that is to work together, to take social development to where it should be. It can be that the opposition is continuously raising challenges, but we have to be collective and ensure that this sector, through this budget, not only achieve its target but that see meaningful impact and transformation in the
lives of our people when conducting oversight. If the DA really care about the wellbeing and empowerment of our people as they allege, we as the ANC do not understand the opposition and rejection to this budget.
The budget will ensure amongst others the following, the social assistance programme which provides social assistance remaining the main spending focus. [Interjections.] The finalisation of the finance strategy of early childhood centres, ECDs, will ensure a long-term approach to finding quality improvements and increasing coverage across a group, using different approaches such as learning playgrounds, toy libraries and home visiting programmes for parents. It will ensure that payments are transferred for the national development agents - we will ensure that sustainable community- driven projects are implemented to support nonprofit organisation working on ECDs - and also ensure the implementation of the White Paper on the right of persons with disabilities. Upon implementation, this is important as a measure to ensure reasonable accommodation support measures are available in all social development services for persons with disabilities. The ANC support the Budget Vote. Thank you.
Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Vote No 18 - Correctional Services - Put
Declarations of votes made on behalf of the African National Congress.
Division demanded.
The Council divided.