Page 10 - Department of Social Development Annual Report 2021

During these exceptional times where we had to innovate
the accessibility of our services, I take pride in introduc-
ing this Annual Report wherein our achievements and
challenges during the period under review are encapsu-
lated. The report is a reflection of our ongoing commit-
ment to realise government’s seven priorities towards
improving human-level outcomes for each South African.
Government’s most effective measure for combating
poverty and inequalities continues to be SASSA’s admin-
istration of +18.4 million social grants among the most
vulnerable among South Africans. Additionally, between
April and October 2020 SASSA administered top-up
grants. These timely interventions are a demonstration of
our determination to protect South Africans against all
forms of vulnerability.
Pre-eminent among the policy proposals that we devel-
oped in the area of social security is the implementation
of the Basic Income Grant. This grant category is
designed to provide income support for individuals of
working age between 18 and 59 years old, and are
currently not accessing social assistance.
For instance, during the reporting period we tabled the
Resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and
Fund Raising Amendment Bill in Parliament. The amend-
the conditions that accompanied the national lockdown
ments that are contained in the Bill are intended at
restrictions, the past financial year was the most
consolidating all the country’s relief funds into a single
challenging period in living memory.
Fund. While this will result in enhanced institutional
integration and efficiencies in disaster situations, it will
On the one hand, the pandemic impacted on our collec-
further improve our responsiveness to disasters in differ-
tive lives and livelihoods in previously-unthinkable ways.
ent parts of the country. We also introduced the
In many respects, the advent of the pandemic worsened
Children’s Amendment Bill in Parliament in August 2020.
the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequali-
The Bill aims to strengthen the current childcare and
ties while it increased uncertainty, panic and distrust
protection system.
among or people. We witnessed the opportunistic
increase in social ills such as gender-based violence and
In preparation for the effective implementation of the
femicide, the abuse of children, instances of violence,
White Paper for Social Development — and in a manner
substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorders.
that is consistent with achieving the goals of the
Consequently, these extraordinary realities nudged the
Cabinet-adopted District Development Plan — the
Department and its entities — South African Social
Department developed the draft implementation plan
Security Agency (SASSA) and the National Development
that provides for the implementation of the White Paper
Agency (NDA) — to assume an innovate posture in the
by the Departments of Social Development at all spheres
delivery of our services.
of government, other government departments, non-gov-
ernmental organisations, community-based organisa-
On the other, the lived reality of COVID-19 at the human,
tions, and through active citizenship.
family and community levels prompted us to establish
innovative, locally-responsive and globally-relevant
On the international front, we continued to participate in
interventions within the Social Development mandate.
a number of high-level bilateral and multilateral
For instance, within 26 days of instituting the COVID-19
exchanges through which we promoted South Africa’s
national lockdown, President Cyril Ramaphosa tasked us
foreign policy goals and elevated our country’s social
with the responsibility to develop and administer the
development policies and programmes to regional and
necessary cash transfer infrastructure for the implemen-
global scrutiny. Some of the most notable institutions in
tation of the special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress
which we participated include the United Nations Popu-
grant. This grant targeted unemployed beneficiaries.
lation Fund (UNFPA), the Foreign Commonwealth and
Likewise, we digitised the process of registering
Development Office (FCDO), the African Union (AU),
non-profit organisations; and entered into beneficial
amongst others.
partnerships that enhanced the State’s capacity to
accommodate the homeless and provide food to the
hungry.

PART A: GENERAL INFORMATION
4 STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY MINISTER
Sadly, while relentlessly serving South Africans, the Social
Development Portfolio lost a number of staff members • We reviewed the White Paper on Families, which will
due to COVID-19. I dedicate this report to these departed contribute to the strengthening of families in South
countrywomen and -men who were in the frontlines of our Africa. The White Paper focuses on addressing the
national response. behaviours and attitudes of men towards their
female counterparts, thus contributing to
I thank Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu for her addressing the issues of Gender Based Violence,
solid contributions towards the realisation of this which is now a government priority. Programmes
mandate. I am grateful for the working relationship within the White Paper will also address the roles of
between ourselves and the Members of the Executive both men and women within the families and how
Committee for Social Development. boys and girls should behave around each other.
• The Department is currently finalising the drafting of
I also thank the Acting Director-General of the Depart- the Policy on Social Development Services to
ment, members of the Executive Committee and all staff Persons with Disabilities. This Policy focuses on the
of the Department, our entities and the Members of the social development services directives contained in
Executive Council in all nine provinces for their continued the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with
support and encouragement. Disabilities (WPRPD).
• We further developed the Respite Care Programme,
Your collective commitment brings us closer to the estab- which is a set of services integrating roles and
lishment of an inclusive society and prosperity for all responsibilities of different sectors to protect and
South Africans envisioned by uMama Charlotte Maxeke as promote human rights of children with disabilities
we commemorate the 150 years of her courageous life In the past financial year, we committed to intensifying and support for their families. These policy
and pioneering spirit, which continues to inspire the work our efforts to creating a caring and self-reliant society documents will be concluded in the new financial
of the DSD portfolio. and the achievements outlined in this report attest to our year.
continued commitment in realising this goal. We further • Together with our partners, we continued to
I am proud to be part of a team of women and men who committed to improving the capacity, efficiency, implement National Strategic Plan on HIV,
have dedicated themselves to Building a Caring Society. effectiveness, inclusivity and responsiveness of our social Tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Together! protection system to ensure that it meets the needs, We implemented our Social and Behaviour Change
realities, and livelihoods of many of our people who (SBC) Compendium interventions to reach young
continue to live in poverty. This report reflects our people and influence positive social and behaviour
achievements in meeting the needs of women change. In this regard, we launched the YOLO (You
particularly those who are single parents, children, the Only Live Once) and ChommY programmes in
youth, older persons, families and persons living with KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
disability through the following interventions: • The Sector, together with the Parliament of the
Republic of South Africa and the South African
• We launched the reviewed National Drug Master National Aids Council (SANAC), hosted the National
Plan (2019-2024) as part of the commemoration of Men’s Parliament in Cape Town, which was attended
the UN International Day Against Drug Abuse and by men and boys from all provinces. The National
Illicit Trafficking and trained provincial Substance Men’s Parliament continues to organise men and
Abuse Forums on the implementation of the boys to champion change in the prevention of new
National Drug Master Plan 2019 – 2024 to reduce HIV infections, gender-based violence, toxic
the prevalence and impact of SUD in our country. masculinity, substance abuse and many other social
• We also accelerated the implementation of the ills.
Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC) in three • The country witnessed an increase in social ills,
public treatment centers in Mpumalanga, Northern including cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV),
Cape and KwaZulu-Natal to strength the provision which was worsened by the nationwide lockdown as
of evidence-based treatment modalities and a result of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. We
application of treatment tools for Substance Use continued to provide the much-needed immediate
Disorders (SUD) in relation to treatment, care, psychosocial care and support services to the
rehabilitation, reintegration and support. victims of GBV in line with the National Strategic
• We launched the first provincial chapter in Plan on GBV and Femicide.
KwaZulu-Natal of the South African Network of • The older person’s residential facilities were among
People Who Use Drugs (SANPUD) in Amajuba those severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
District Municipality in our implementation of the We work closely with our counterparts at the
NDMP 2010-2024 which requires us to Department of Health to support the residential
institutionalise self-representation in all our work in facilities in responding to the challenges posed by
this area. the pandemic, and to ensure that they adhere to
health protocols.
10 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21