Hon Chairperson, the FF Plus also wishes to express its condolences to the Deputy Minister in her time of bereavement. With previous state of the nation address the President has always boasted about this department and the increase in the number of social grants being paid. The latest figure according to the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa's annual performance plan and budget presentation is that 17,8 million social grants to just over 11 million adult recipients are being paid. To me this has never quite made sense. Should the government's main goal not be to decrease a number of social grants because it has eradicated poverty? Should the government not want people to stand on their own
two feet? Does the government not want their citizens to reach their full potential and to be part of the economically sound and growing South Africa? I honestly, think not.
I have done some research and I am glad to hear that the Minister knows what her department is about. I would like to quote the department's explanation as to what they are supposed to be doing. We endeavour to create a better life for the poor, vulnerable and excluded in our society. Our task is to develop and monitor the implementation of social policy that, and it is very important, both creates an enabling environment for and leads to the reduction in poverty. As social welfare professionals we act on the basis of solidarity with all of humanity and we seek to empower communities and engender a self reliance by creating conditions of sustainable livelihoods.
Afrikaans:
Die departement is egter in 'n jammerlike toestand en faal afgryslik in hierdie hoofdoel.
Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling is wel een van die belangrikste begrotingsposte, aangesien dit met die versorging van behoeftige mense en die belangrike mandaat van ontwikkeling en opheffing te
doen het. Agb Minister, deur die Voorsitter, ons hoop dat die belofte om hierdie mandaat uit te voer, nie net 'n droom sal bly nie. Om die werklike maatskaplike en welsynsbehoefte van Suid-Afrika in ag te neem, is dit duidelik dat hierdie begroting en teikens geherprioritiseer moet word.
Die departement het 'n strategiese verpligting om opheffings- en ontwikkelingswerk te doen. Ons kan nie bekostig om slegs 'n welsynstaat te wees wat miljarde rande aan welsynstoelae bestee en nie die werkloses en armes werklik ophef deur geintegreerde projekte wat onderwys en werkskepping bevorder nie.
Vroe kinderontwikkelingsprojekte is hier ook baie belangrik. Baie van hierdie projekte faal egter weens wanadministrasie en wanbesteding van fondse.
English:
We do acknowledge that the department is facing immense and increasing challenges as the demands and needs with regards to social welfare increases. Hon Minister, through you Chair, I know I am focussing on Sassa a lot but Sassa in particular has me worried. We have nine provinces and out of these nine provinces, six have
regional executive manager posts that are vacant with every new year the number of permanent staff decreases.
Afrikaans:
Met poste, en veral kritieke poste, wat nie gevul word nie, kan ons nie verwag dat die armstes van die armes ooit opgehef gaan word nie.
'n Praktiese voorbeeld hiervan is Jagersfontein in die Vrystaat, waarvandaan ek kom, waar daar slegs een dokter, een keer elke twee maande besoek afl vir die goedkeuring van mediese ongeskiktheidstoelae. Hierdie een dokter kan nie by almal uitkon nie en meeste van die persone wat kwalifiseer vir ongeskiktheidstoelaes, word weggewys.
Verder is die haglike toestande, waarin hierdie pasinte moet wag, onaanvaarbaar en verhinder dit die siek, swak en gestremdes om die nodige papierwerk te doen, om hul toelaes te ontvang. Hierdie sneeubaleffek veroorsaak dat persone en gesinne vir maande sonder enige vorm van inkomste of mediese sorg moet voortgaan.
Ons kan nie dat die mees behoeftiges in Suid-Afrika weens onbekwaamheid, gebrek aan beplanning en verkeerde prioriteite ly nie.
Voorsitter, dan het ek nog nie eers begin praat van die Suid- Afrikaanse Agentskap vir Maatskaplike Sekerheid, Sassa, se teikens wat nie behaal is of die onrelmatige uitgawes van R2 miljard nie.
English:
Hon Chair, poverty will never be eradicated by social grants alone neither by ANC rhetoric and blame shifting that we currently see in the tasks. Keeping a large part of the population dependent on social grants might be political convenient for the ruling party but it is not sustainable for South Africa as a whole. It is not good or healthy for South Africa.
Afrikaans:
Ek het ook 'n droom, soos die agb President, ...
English:
...but I dream of a South Africa where this department has become obsolete. I dream of South Africa where there are equal opportunities for all and where poverty is no more.
Afrikaans:
My droom sal egter slegs waar word, wanneer die ANC nie meer in regering is nie. Ek dank u.