Hon Chair, I want to state very clearly that the DA supports social grants. However, we are very concerned that only 5% of the budget is allocated to services other than protecting the poor. This is problematic because this department has a role not only in protecting the poor, but also in providing services that actually release people from poverty.
The funding allocation to formal and informal NGOs is also skewed and this impacts very badly on the availability of social workers, specifically in rural areas. As a result of this, various social ills, including substance abuse and domestic violence, cannot be adequately addressed. This has a negative impact on people's ability to make use of the economic opportunities that they are presented with.
In addition, the department does not have the capacity to adequately monitor and evaluate the impact of transfer payments. Lastly, there is a concern that the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, is currently being used as an agent for the ANC during elections, with handing out of food parcels. Therefore, we cannot support the budget. Thank you. [Applause.]