Chairperson, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, hon members, children of South Africa, comrades and friends, I am singularly honoured and privileged to be given this opportunity to make a contribution to celebrate International Children's Day. Children have a special place in our society and in our hearts, and Parliament has every reason to celebrate this.
We celebrate the fact that more than ever before, access to primary and secondary schooling has almost reached universal enrolment. More children have greater access to free primary healthcare, and more than 8 million children in South Africa receive social assistance transfers.
As we celebrate International Children's Day, we should resolve to accelerate our progress towards the full realisation of the rights of children as envisioned in our Constitution.
Now, after the 1994 elections, South Africa under the visionary leadership of our former President Nelson Mandela committed itself as a country to implement the First Call Principle for Children. In demonstrating its commitment to the cause of children, South Africa has become a signatory to and also ratified international treaties and conventions, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Both make provision for the survival, health, social security, protection and development of our children.
The Children's Act of 2005 as amended, which came into operation on 1 April this year, gives effect to these national and international instruments that bind our country. The protection of children is one of the priorities of our government. The protection of children's rights leads to an improvement in the lives of other sections of our community.
In response government, under the leadership of the ruling party, the ANC, has introduced a range of child benefits, namely the Child Support Grant, the Foster Child Grant and the Care Dependency Grant. In addition, caregivers are being supported with income by way of the old age grant, disability grant and social stress relief. In addition, there are a range of services, including a free primary healthcare service for children less than six years of age, the school nutrition programme, no-fee schools, the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, the early childhood development programmes, community home-based care, the housing and free municipal services - I can go on and on.
As the ANC, the protection of our children is not a cheap political slogan, but a commitment to securing a brighter future for our children and for generations to come.
Hon members, poverty and unemployment have been persistent over a long period in South Africa. It is estimated that 47% of the population could be living below the per capita poverty line of R322 per month. Unemployment rates are generally high, especially for African women and female-headed households.
Poverty impacts on the wellbeing of children and threatens their protection, their rights and their needs. Children's growth, development, welfare and safety depend to a large extent on the ability of their parents or guardians to provide for them.
Poverty is a major cause of child separation and lifting a family out of poverty can make the difference between a child growing up in a loving family environment or growing up frightened and alone. In South Africa, six out of every 10 of our children live in poverty, with children in rural areas more likely to be poor than those in urban areas.
Poor households have less access to essential services, such as water and sanitation and have long distances to travel to health facilities. Children in poor families are less likely to complete their schooling and are more likely to be subjected to crime and violence.
With this in mind, ladies and gentlemen and hon members, the early years of a child's life are regarded as a critical stage of human development.
Children need early stimulation and the early childhood development programme is one of the key priorities of social development and government as a whole. The best way to break the vicious cycle of poverty is to ensure that children from poor households receive at least a complete primary education.
Investment in this programme is an investment in our future. Most ECD facilities are run by welfare organisations, NGOs, community organisations and private providers. Provincial departments of social development provide subsidies to children whose parents cannot afford ECD and who qualify according to a flat rate of subsidisation. Parental involvement is viewed as key to ECD. As part of the EPWP, unemployed parents and caregivers are provided with skills and job creation opportunities.
I am now coming to a very important issue, hon Chairperson, and that is the issue of adoptions. Improving the wellbeing of our children is not only the business of government but of society too. When we, as the ANC, stated that together we can do more, we were not merely babbling clichs and slogans, we were asking South Africans to act in solidarity with each other.
We were particularly asking those of us who have resources to support policies that seek to support the vulnerable. At times we should directly support those who are in need of assistance. We have thousands of children whose lives would be improved beyond measure if those of us that have the resources, and who can, would adopt orphans and vulnerable children.
I take this opportunity to ask South Africans to put a smile on a child's face, provide the space where you can and where they can be nurtured so that they can indeed become our future. You can do that by adopting children in need of care and protection.
So, let's work together to increase the rate of adoptions in our country. Caring for our children is an investment in their lives and ultimately ours as it contributes to a more equitable, caring and stable society. Hon Chairperson, the murder of the late Caleb Booysen of Manenberg at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend shocked the citizens of the Western Cape, especially those living in Manenberg. But what were also shocking were his pictures as he lay dead on the couch in a daily tabloid newspaper. It showed pictures of several parts of his body on three pages.
Now I know that the decision to use gruesome pictures is up to the editors of newspapers, but shouldn't that be weighed up against the respect for the deceased's dignity and the potential trauma of family and friends? Children can be significantly affected by reading newspapers in which gruesome visuals appear - images on the front page are extremely traumatic to children.
Little Caleb received no dignity in death. He received no respect for privacy. His face was exposed as well as the whole of his body. The focus was on his dead body and not on the story or the event, which is poor journalism.
I want to urge the Department of Social Development and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to look into developing a protocol that will protect the dignity and privacy of our children, especially in cases of trauma and gruesome events.
As we undertake this exciting journey with the future leaders of our country, I would like to remind our children that the rights they enjoy come with responsibilities. They have a responsibility to respect their parents and the elders in their communities.
I just want to respond to hon members Walters and Duncan. I want to tell them that healthcare to the poor, especially children, is a priority for this government. We all know that the prevalence of HIV and Aids has a negative impact on the infant and maternal mortality rate.
The Minister has said that in the House and we agreed with him. It is there in the UN for everyone to see. We have a challenge as Members of Parliament to motivate all pregnant women to know their status so that they can go on treatment as soon as possible.
I also want to add, just to remind hon members, that the DA has been in power for one year. So they are building on the good legacy of the former ANC provincial government. Hon member Robinson lamented the fact that the ANC government handds out caps at events, and so on. [Interjections.]
I want to say that it is very important for the government to keep in touch with its citizens. Keep it up, Minister! We have to carry the message of government to the people so that we can all work together as a government and as a society.
Advocacy is very important in getting the priorities of government across and getting the buy-in of your citizen. I understand the negativity of the hon member of Cope and her despondency.
If I look at her speech, it reminds me of Nigerian Chinua Achebe's book that I read when I was a student: Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold. [Applause.] We, as MPs, need to work together so that we can make South Africa a better place to live in. I thank you.
Debate concluded.