Government has over the last 30 years made significant strides in improving the social assistance programme, combating gender-based violence (GBV) and providing underprivileged children with opportunities for a better life through grants.
This is according to Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, who was speaking during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) Debate in Cape Town on Tuesday.
She highlighted the gains made over the last 30 years, indicating that government is currently providing regular income support each month without fail to those who are underprivileged.
Zulu said when government signed the Social Assistance Act into law, the nation took a historic step toward fulfilling a fundamental principle of the Freedom Charter and the Constitution, that "social security is a right, not a privilege".
She said the social assistance programme is the most enduring and one of the biggest poverty alleviation and redistribution interventions by the sixth administration.
“We have progressively expanded social protection coverage from 2.4 million in 1994 to 28 million [today] to support those who cannot support themselves due to no fault of their own.
“We are currently providing regular income support each month without fail to more than four million older persons, about one million adults with disabilities and 160 000 children with disabilities. More than 13 million children from poor households receive the Child Support Grant, while a further 237 000 children are supported through our Foster Care Grant,” Zulu said.
She said there has been improved access to sustainable livelihoods and entrepreneurial opportunities through grant funding and capacity building of civil society organisations by the National Development Agency (NDA).
The department has also provided financial support to the tune of R8.2 billion to non-profit organisations that render the much-need community development and statutory services in communities.
The achievements include an increase in the number of children benefitting from Early Childhood Development, living up to the mantra, 'From inception to the grave'.
“We have restored the dignity of our older persons and increased life expectancy through, amongst others, the provision of the Old Age Grant. We created over 500 000 employment opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme, and addressed the disproportionate impact of poverty on women through women empowerment initiatives,” she said.
The Minister further highlighted that government has passed progressive pieces of legislation, such as the Children’s Act, to ensure the protection of children, providing universal access to social welfare services, including adoption, foster care and psychosocial support services.
There has also been intensified international collaboration with development and UN agencies such as UNICEF, United Nations Development Programme, and International Labour Organisation on best practice,s focusing on poverty eradication initiatives.
Turning to gender-based violence and femicide, Zulu said that there has been expanded access to care and support services for victims/survivors through the implementation of Pillar 4 of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (specific focus on GBV hotspots).
“We have capacitated the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre and the National Emergency Response Team (NERT) to render psychosocial, trauma counselling and referral services. We are currently expanding shelters and the Khuseleka One-Stop Centre Model to all provinces,” she said.
The Minister told Parliament that with a total budget of R266 billion this year, over R22 billion is directly injected into the economy every month and into the hands of those who need it most to facilitate their participation in the economy and the labour market.
“This in turn stimulates key sectors of our economy, what in economic terms is referred to as the multiplier effect. The positive spin-offs of this investment are reflected in numerous local reports and international studies. This is no small achievement by any measure,” she said.
Guided by the developmental philosophy of 'Leave no one Behind', Zulu said government is now finalising policy proposals for the introduction of the Basic Income Grant.
“As we stride into the third decade of freedom and democracy, we do so with great confidence that our goal for social and economic transformation is well on course,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
