R4.4bn set aside for social grants
social grants.”
He apologised to all grant beneficiaries over the anxiety and confusion caused in terms of the grants payment saga.
“The National Department of Social Development and Sassa are working with the parliamentary portfolio committee on Social Development in terms of finding a cost effective and long-term solution to the payment of social grants.”
Van Staden added that due to financial constraints, government did not have the resources to adequately fund early childhood development (ECD) centres, where according to Statistics South Africa there are 104 476 children between the ages of 0-4 years in the Northern Cape.
“We recognise the state’s responsibility for child development and making ECD services accessible to all.”
Van Staden stated that all conditionally registered ECD centres would have to re-register in compliance with the Children’s Act and norms and standards on ECD.
“ECD centres must render quality stimulation programmes to 18 382 children in the 0-4-year age cohort.”
He indicated that while access to ECD services remained a challenge, mobile centres, playgroups and home stimulation programmes were up and running in the Namaqua, ZF Mgcawu, Pixley ka Seme and John Taolo Gaetsewe districts to reach children in far-flung areas.
“We have identified six pilot sites across four districts and we have partnered with the departments of Health and Education to provide these children with a range of services from dietitians, speech therapists and occupational therapists. We will be conducting an assessment of the impact of this intervention on the participating children in 2019.”
Van Staden added that the department and Sol Plaatje University had launched a project to assist street children who were vulnerable to abuse and neglect.
“The project will use soccer as a means of uplifting the self-image of street children and focus on reuniting them with their families while accommodating them at the Thusong Place of Safety. Absa Bank has donated R567 000 to research the effectiveness of a programme of this nature.”
He stated that the department would fund 24 frail care residential facilities that provided 24-hour care for older persons.
“Through a partnership with the National Lotteries Commission seven old age homes will undergo infrastructural upgrading to the value of R33 million.”
Van Staden indicated that R14.2 million would be allocated towards the completion of the top structure of the in-house drug rehabilitation treatment facility.
“We have allocated an additional R23 million for programmes and services aimed at the prevention of and treatment of substance abuse.”
He highlighted the need to continuously create awareness of the dangers of young women being sexually exploited by older men or the “blesser and Moreki” phenomena.
“We must continuously and vigorously implement social behaviour change programmes aimed at restoring the moral fibre of our society if we are to prevent the new infections of HIV and Aids. Therefore, to strengthen our social behaviour change programmes, the South African National Aids Council allocated R3.4 million to Ethembeni in De Aar and IkayaLethu in Kimberley to implement social behaviour change programmes”