hearings on annual report presentation to portfolio committee by c. pakade: acting director-general...

HEARINGS ON ANNUAL REPORT

PRESENTATION TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE

BY C. PAKADE: ACTING DIRECTOR-GENERAL

2004/10/26

VISION & MISSION

VISIONA caring and integrated system of social development services that facilitates human development and improves the quality of life.

MISSIONTo ensure the provision of comprehensive social protection services against vulnerability and poverty within the constitutional and legislative framework, and create an enabling environment for sustainable development. The department further aims to deliver integrated, sustainable and quality services in partnership with all those committed to building a caring society.

HIGHLIGHTS ON ACHIEVEMENTS

BRANCH: SOCIAL SECURITYPolicy & Legislation

The Social Assistance Act and the South African Social Security Agency Act were passed by Parliament

• SAA – provides for the policy shift that reverses the assignment of the administration of the SAA, 1992 to provinces and creates a legislative framework for the SASSA

• SASSAA- establishes the Agency. Proclamation by the President of the SASSAA expected by 1st

Nov 2004 Regulations i.t.o. of SAA expected to be promulgated soon


Policy and Legislation- cont An assessment tool for establishing eligibility for disability

grants and care dependency grants was developed. A descriptive and evaluative study of the Social Relief of

Distress programme completed. A preliminary study on the nature, causes and needs of child

headed households completed. A study to determine the relationship/correlation between child

maintenance and the child support grant completed.


Policy and Legislation- contDraft policy document on the Old Age Grant developed Initial draft policy on deductions on social grants

completedReport on an analysis of factors impacting on social

security policy and reports on impact and implications of social security policy


BRANCH: SOCIAL SECURITY- Cont Service Delivery implementation & monitoring

A total of 7 822,891 beneficiaries were in receipt of grant as at March 2004. About 4 million is for the CSG

Norms & standards developed. Application turnaround times in various provinces have not significantly improved due to lack of resources to implement these norms.

The process of establishing the new Agency to administer and pay grants was initiated and legislation passed

Socpen enhancements being carried out on an ongoing basis.


Service Delivery- cont R1,2 billion transferred to provinces as conditional grant

for CSG (7 & 8 yr olds) eligibility criteria and conditions for this grant are uniform in all

provinces targets and budget allocations differ since they are influenced by

intensity of poverty in Provinces The main challenges were:

• lack of dedicated capacity to implement this project both at National and in Provinces

• Lack of required birth certificates for registration of children


Service Delivery- cont Solutions to these problems:

• Additional contract staff appointed• Appointed national & provincial project managers• Strategic meetings held with Home Affairs (at Director-

Generals level)• Joint Registration campaigns with Department of Home

Affairs• A national workshop involving officials from DSD and

Home Affairs held.


Service Delivery- cont Key outcomes of workshop, inter alia:

Short-term• Joint registration drives (mobile offices)• Improved information management and sharing of data• Establishment of provincial coordinating liaison committeesLong-term• Sharing of resources by two departments, e.g. office accommodation,

transport,etc• Interface of IT systems e.g. SOCPEN and Home Affairs system -• Joint monitoring and evaluation processes• Joint strategy for fraud prevention and detection


Service Delivery- cont I.t.o monitoring service delivery-

A comprehensive report on social security service delivery at a national and provincial level was compiled

Data interrogation done in all nine provinces to detect fraud and corruption.

The national fraud hotline was launched. The national fraud prevention strategy provides a uniform

approach in dealing with fraud across all provinces


BRANCH: INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT

Policy & Legislation The Children’s Bill and Older Persons Bill were approved by Cabinet and

introduced in Parliament. The draft policy framework was developed from the Strategy on the Prevention

and Management of Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation and aligned with the Children’s Bill as well as the draft Family Policy document.

The Child Protection Register (CPR) was implemented in nine provinces, and good progress has been made with computerization of the CPR and Negotiations is underway with the National Department of Justice/Education/Health and SAPS on reporting function of CPR.


Policy & Legislation- cont The draft policy document on older persons (11th draft) has been

extensively consulted with stakeholders. The Older Persons Bill is based on it.

A discussion document on the policy for financial awards to NGOs has been developed and is in the process of consultation and costing.

An audit of old age homes has been finalised Salaries of social workers in government have been reviewed and

are in the process of consultation. A comprehensive retention strategy is being developed


Policy & Legislation- cont The draft Youth Development Strategy developed and is being

consulted The research on the services in children’s homes was completed,

and this will help the Department and other stakeholders in reviewing policy, planning and budgeting for children’s homes.

The research on families in South Africa was commissioned, and the findings of the study are being utilized to draft a family policy with the intent of launching it during 2004.


Service delivery implementation About 600 assistant probation officers and probation officers were

trained in probation and restorative justice practice, as well as home based supervision.

The SA Council for Social Services Professions has approved the establishment of a Professional Board for Probation Offices. The draft regulations for the establishment thereof have been published for comments.

The Application for the establishment of a Standards Generating Body for Probation Officers has been accepted and the Department is in the process of nominating a Board to drive the process.


Service delivery implementation The Council received R750 k in 2003/2004 to cover

mainly the following: To establish Professional Boards for social workers and Child

and Youth Care workers To retrain social workers in (Continuous Professional

Development ) The Guidelines for ECD developed in 2001/02 were

revised to provide for needs of orphans & vulnerable children.


Service delivery implementation DSD, DoE & DoH established an interdepartmental committee on

ECD. These depts are currently working on an Integrated Plan for ECD in

SA. The 2nd draft of national policy on families available. 3rd draft of the integrated strategy on Victim Empowerment has

been developed An impact assessment of Victim Empowerment was carried out and

a tool to monitor the projects was also developed.


Service delivery implementation A Policy Framework on substance abuse was developed

and consulted. Minimum standards for in-patient treatment centres was

developed and consulted with all provinces. A best practice model for a youth treatment centre has

been documented.


Service delivery implementation The department supported 343 poverty relief projects in 2003/4 –

falling under the following categories: Food security HIV/Aids Women empowerment Aged and Children – aimed at supporting those senior citizens who are

looking after young children for one reason or another. Youth development and youth enterprises

The support to these projects was provided by IDT with the provincial and national department providing oversight and support to projects not covered, especially those funded in previous allocations


Service delivery implementation The Department has requested the IDT to develop an exit

strategy for the funded projects Lack of capacity has been a big challenge and impact

assessment of projects could not be done Recent appointment of senior and middle managers will

alleviate the problem


Service delivery implementation Food security programme

Food Emergency Scheme implemented in all provinces with a fair amount of success.

More than 495 000 poor households were reached Funds allocated to provinces during 2003/04 were R388 million

in total. However, the total amount spent includes funds that were transferred to IDT (1st R230 million) in March 2003 which were effectively spent in 2003/04.


Service delivery implementation Number of challenges were experienced, including the

following: Lack of sustainability of the programme Sectoral approach initially envisaged was not effective-

agricultural starter packs could not take-off from the DoA’s side. Identification and profiling of eligible households proved to be a

very difficult and daunting task for provinces Lack of capacity and infrastructure to implement in some

provinces


Service delivery implementation Population Policy Monitoring Report, completed & presented to

HSD and MINMEC The implementation of the UNFPA Country Programme (2002

2006) has been initiated with the completion of the work plans for the three targeted Provinces, namely KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo

The report on the five-year review of the implementation of the population policy was completed, and presented to HSD in March 2004, and will be submitted to the MINMEC during 2004 after the process of consultation with stakeholders has been completed


Service delivery implementation A larger volume of research was undertaken on key issues relating

to families, ageing, child abuse, fertility trends, reproductive health, especially HIV and Aids and community development to support policy development and programme monitoring and evaluation.

The Ten-year review research was completed and the final report release to the Presidency.

Primary HIV and Aids Capacity Building Course for government planners was launched and a total 1 628 officials from all spheres of government were trained.


Report of the Auditor-General Dept continues improving its financial management For 3 years in succession the dept. received an unqualified audit

report from the AG However, an emphasis of matter was raised due to under-spending

on conditional grants by provinces It is important to note that national dept has limited powers to deal

with financial and general management problems in provinces. Despite a number of steps taken, some provinces persists with non-compliance with conditions of grants.

Report of the Auditor-General1. EXTENSION OF CHILD SUPPORT GRANT 1.1 Eastern Cape: R93, 299 million :(34% underspending) Reason: Lack of birth certificates 1.2 Northern Cape: R3, 291 million: (17% underspending) Reason: Lack of capacity to do manual reconciliations 1.3 North West: R71, 227 million: (52% underspending) Reason: Delays in processing of applications, mainly the re-registration of

children, due to lack of capacity

1.4Western Cape: R13 164 million (unaudited): (18% underspending)R11, 799 million (Audited):(16% underspending)

Reason: Lack of birth certificates

Report of the Auditor-GeneralACTIONS TAKEN BY DEPARTMENT: Strategic meetings held with Home Affairs (at Director-Generals level) Joint visits to communities (mobile units) to register beneficiaries for IDs and birth certificates A joint national workshop involving officials from DSD and Home Affairs from all provinces recently

held to develop a long-term strategy. The following were the outcomes of this workshop: Short-term actions: Joint Registration Campaigns and communication strategy Improved information management and sharing of data Establishment of provincial coordinating liaison committees Long-term actions: Sharing of resources by two departments, e.g. office accommodation, transport,etc Interface of IT systems e.g. SOCPEN and Home Affairs system (civic services) Joint monitoring and evaluation processes Joint implementation of fraud prevention and detection strategy

Report of the Auditor-General2. HIV/AIDS

2.1 Limpopo: R734 000 : (17% underspending)

Reason: Late start due to business plans not submitted, processed and approved in time

2.2 Northern Cape R735 000 : (20% underspending)

Reason: Late start due to business plans not submitted, processed and approved in time

ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT

Provincial visits to address implementation challenges

Guidelines for preparation of business plans given

Monitoring and reporting guideline frameworks were also provided.

Report of the Auditor-General3. FOOD EMERGENCY RELIEF3.1 Gauteng: R23, 843 million: (85% underspending)

Reason: Delays were experienced with the identification and profiling of households.

Lack of capacity- contract staff only appointed during the second half of year

3.2 KwaZulu-Natal: R20, 716 million : (30% underspending)Reason: Delays were experienced with the identification and profiling of households

3.3 Mpumalanga: R4, 262 million : (15% underspending) Reason: This was a saving resulting from less prices charged as compared to the

budgeted prices when the tender was issued. The saving was rolled over and used for drop-in centres to assist children suffering from insecurity.

THANK YOU

Report of the Auditor-General

ACTIONS TAKEN BY DEPARTMENT

National guidelines on the profiling of beneficiaries Approval for utilization of savings to cover additional

vulnerable households and also for drop-in centres. The whole strategy for next year is being reviewed in

consultation with National Treasury. A proposal will be tabled before Cabinet soon.

hearings on annual report presentation to portfolio committee by c. pakade: acting director-general...

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