No, thank you, Chairperson. [Interjections.]
Instead, in some areas, the level of noncompliance has increased and the amount of irregular expenditure has more than doubled. This is a reflection of a lack of capacity to address the findings, a skills shortage and a lack of commitment to ensure that governance is given priority. Only 40% of the planned targets were achieved during the 2011-12 financial year. A further 40% of the reported targets of the department were not consistent with the indicators and targets as per the approved annual performance plan.
There are still a large number of unfunded vacancies in the department, while there is also a high number of appointed staff at the highest salary levels. There are 48 staff members at salary levels 13 to 16, at a total cost of R47,3 million. In effect, this means that 48 staff members cost the department nearly R48 million. However, the capacity of the department has been improved, which the Minister alluded to, with the appointment of a director-general, a chief financial officer and a functional audit committee.
However, women, children and people with disabilities are among our most vulnerable citizens and the department is failing to protect them and to uphold their rights. There are approximately 5 million disabled people living in South Africa, of whom 1,2 million receive a disability grant. Some 10,5% of the disabled population have no education. Only 7,1% of disabled people have primary education. However, 5,55% of the department's staff members are people with disabilities. Few, if any, of the other state departments meet the minimum 2% disability employment target.
The department has been poorly managed, with - and I refer to the Auditor- General's report - a 66% underspend on the Rights of People with Disabilities Programme; overspending in the Administration programme; and overspending of 112% on employees' salaries. In the latter case, human resources management was poor, compensation was irregular and it did not comply with the Public Service Regulations. Those are just some of the items.
According to the report, the department is currently operating on a deficit due to a misalignment between the allocation, the approved organogram and the strategic plan. The department has declared that it would be making submissions to National Treasury for additional funding to rectify all the above and it proposes a turnaround strategy to be phased in over three years in order to deliver on its mandate.
The aim of the department is to drive, accelerate and oversee government's equity, equality and empowerment agenda, especially in the poor and rural communities. One of the primary objectives is to facilitate gender equality through the mainstreaming of government's policies and programmes. Other state departments, such as Health, Justice and Social Development, the Police and provincial governments, must assist this department to carry out the implementation and organisation of these functions.
Concerns have been raised about the increase in violence against women and children. The Minister has stated that the National Council Against Gender- Based Violence has been launched and seeks to address this issue. The Department of Justice was also in the process of opening the sexual offences courts, and the SA Police Service has re-established the family and child protection Units.
I wish to sincerely thank all the nongovernmental organisations, faith- based organisations, nonprofit organisations and other civil society organisations whom we rely on for 60% of welfare services. If this department does not function as it should, perhaps it is time for its budget to be handed over to these welfare organisations or to the Department of Social Development. [Applause.]