Chairperson, one of our antipoverty strategies is to find change agents within households that live in abject poverty. We realised that if we tackle this challenge of poverty in that fashion, we could very well identify one or two members of a household who, with the correct focused support, could lift that family out of the poverty in which they are mired. Therefore, when we receive any resources, it will be channelled in that direction to try and ensure that these households do not pass poverty on to the next generation.
This morning I met with a group of youngsters who lived on the streets for years. Some of them lived on the streets for up to seven years. They play street football, which is now an organised sport. These youngsters have just returned with silver from Milan in Italy. Therefore they are world champs and they add to the array of world champs that we have. These are street kids. They were so inspired by what they have been able to achieve.
This is something which indicates that even for those whose conditions seem quite hopeless it is possible to find a way of assisting. There are two gentlemen who are managing and coaching them. Now they've got support from a group of Americans and a film about their achievement, which will be shown across the globe, is about to be made. The timing is perfect, because we are hosting the 2010 Fifa World Cup next year.
To be more direct in responding to the question, our approach in tackling the issue of poverty is one that seeks to empower people. We do understand that relief by way of grants is but a palliative; it's not really a solution to the problem.
I'm not aware of a consolidated database of the indigent across all municipalities. The Ministry for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs will, without a doubt, work on the efforts of trying to consolidate that. At the moment I'm not aware that they already have that. Thank you.
Assessment of progress made in respect of gender transformation in the public service
4. Ms N D Ntwanambi (ANC) asked the Deputy President:
(1) Whether, over the past five years, there has been an assessment or audit of gender transformation in the Public Service particularly at management and senior management levels to determine the progress that the government is making in implementing its commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women; if not, why not; if so,
(2) whether such progress is satisfactory; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?