Page 175 - Department of Social Development Annual Report 2021

PART C: GOVERNANCE

DATE OF PURPOSE OF RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
THE MEETING THE MEETING
03 March Implications of • DSD addressed the Committee on the Children’s Amendment Bill’s pre-introduction
2021 Children’s consultation process with stakeholders.
Amendment Bill: • The Committee called for a partnership between the DHA and the South African Social
DHA briefing; Security Agency (SASSA) for registering a child’s birth and applying for a grant .
Pre-introduction • SALGA said it had not been involved in the consultation process, whereas the DSD
consultation stated that it was. The Committee requested that a legal opinion be provided on this
process with matter, and the DSD should respond in a subsequent meeting.
stakeholders: DSD • The Minister directed DSD to clarify the matter formally (DSD and SALGA) and report
briefing; with back to the Committee.
Minister and
Deputy Minister

05 March Children’s • DSD and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) presented an update on the
2021 Amendment Bill: management of the Temporary Disability Grant. A 10-point plan was presented to
Pre-introduction improve different processes relating to the grant.
consultation • DSD complied with the legislative process in terms of how the legislation had to be
process; Temporary processed and brought before Parliament.
Disability Grant • A legal technical team was proposed that would consist of Parliamentary legal advisers
re-applications and and SALGA, which would look at the contested clauses of the Bill and present ways
overcrowding at forward.
SASSA; with • The Committee to submit an amended programme on public hearings which would be
Ministers approved by Parliament within the deadline of the processing of the bill.

17 March AGSA on Special DSD took the Committee through the Department’s financial and non-financial
2021 Covid-19 Audit performance for the third quarter. It was highlighted that only 76% of the R230.8 million
Reports; DSD adjusted budget had been spent, while there had also been a 14% performance drop
2020/21 Quarter 3 during the period.
performance; DSD officials took the Committee through the presentation on the ECD clauses. The
Children’s presentation laid out the salient questions asked by the Committee and the Department’s
Amendment Bill: responses thereto:
discussion on • DSD clarified that the clauses which were contested by the South African Local
contested ECD Government Association (SALGA) did not form part of the Bill and were published
clauses for public comment as 103A to 103M.
• DSD remains the custodian of the Children’s Act, and it was not in a position to
neglect its duty in terms of amending the Act.
• Committee recommended to allow the DSD to finalise the matter with the legal
task team consisting of individuals from the DSD, the DBE and Parliament.

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21 175