Page 62 - Department of Social Development Annual Report 2021

PART B: PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
PERFORMANCE BY PROGRAMME

Programme 4: Welfare Services Policy Development and Early Childhood Development (ECD) During the period under review, the Department aimed at supplementing the income generated by the
Implementation Support developed Service Delivery Model and the Framework for ECD services through subsidising the cost of employment,
The Department introduced the Children’s Amendment Quality Assurance and Support System in relation to ECD. help restoring the provision of ECD services, support
Programme Purpose Bill in Parliament in August 2020. The Bill aims to The Model and the Framework will provide a different continued operation and to reduce the risk of permanent
strengthen the current childcare and protection system, perspective in the implementation of ECD services, the closure. The programme provided income support to the
Create an enabling environment for the delivery of to address court orders and provide the necessary quality of service that need to be taken into consideration ECD workforce by paying a once off payment of R4 100
equitable developmental welfare services through the legislative reform to respond to challenges affecting and the support that will be provided to service providers per ECD practitioner/workforce in all ECD programmes
formulation of policies, norms and standards and best children. The Children’s Amendment Bill introduces to improve the quality of service in their programmes. affected by the pandemic to ensure that ECD services
practices, and support implementing agencies. numerous areas that require new regulations. Although it remain operational. A total of R496 million was allocated
is still under consideration by Parliament, the Department During the reporting period, the Department facilitated towards this project and at the end of the reporting
Children, Legislation, Monitoring and Reporting deemed it prudent to commence drafting the regulations the re-opening of the ECD programmes. The Guidelines period, over R100 million was dispersed to all ECD
so as not to delay implementation. The Bill was also and Standard Operating Procedures were developed to services that were found eligible for this programme. A
The Department coordinated and facilitated the approval presented to the Portfolio Committee on Social guide ECD services in complying with the COVID-19 total of 28 283 applications from ECD services were
of the fourth National Plan of Action for Children (NPAC) Development. Furthermore, the Department finalised the regulations. In this regard, weekly progress reports were received with 126 283 workforce for this programme.
2019 – 2024 by the Cabinet. This is a comprehensive and draft regulations for the Children’s Amendment Bill, submitted to National Joint Operational and Intelligence More applications were received from female ECD
holistic framework for the integration of policies and which will provide procedures and guidelines that dictate Structure (NATJOINT) and Heads of Social Development operators, with majority of them being African.
plans developed by government departments and civil how the provisions of the Amendment Act will be applied Sector (HSDS). This also led to the infrastructure
society to promote the well-being of children. once promulgated by the President. component of the ECD conditional grant being Families
re-purposed to support ECD services with Personal
During the period under review, the Department through The Department acknowledges that the quality assurance Protective Equipment (PPE) for them to comply and be During the reporting period, the Department reviewed the
this unit, made significant strides in improving the of children’s services and programmes has been able to re-open. White Paper on Families. The White Paper will contribute
institutional arrangements for the Child Rights sector in conducted in a fragmented and uncoordinated manner. A to strengthening of families in South Africa with a focus
the country. In this regard, coordination structures were comprehensive Quality Assurance Framework has been The NDP indicates that by 2030, there should be universal on addressing the behaviours and attitudes of men
functional and were able to achieve the objectives of finalised to ensure a service delivery approach driven by access to ECD services for all children in the country. towards their female counterparts. Programmes within
sharing information on policy developments as well as the need to protect the children from harm and Provision of ECD services and ensuring availability of the White Paper will also address the roles of both parties
provide consultative platform on the rights and encourage their growth and development. The these services contributes to the quality of basic within the families and how children, both boys and girls
responsibilities of children. Framework will encourage adherence to childcare education. In this regard, the Department forged should behave around each other.
legislation and policies while also providing a systematic partnership with the National Lottery Commission (NLC)
Furthermore, the Department conducted a review of the mechanism to facilitate the ongoing identification of to provide decent infrastructure for those children in rural The Department, through this unit, conducted an audit on
status of children in the country, and a draft annual child quality problems and possible actions for resolution. The areas receive quality ECD programmes like children in parenting programmes in all provinces. The purpose for
rights status report was produced. The report is aligned to Framework consolidate the relevant Children’s Act other areas. Led by the Deputy Minister, the Department the audit was to identify parenting programmes provided
the fourth NPAC and it summarises the year 2020 trends monitoring processes, procedures and tools including in partnership with eSimphiwe launched the distribution and implemented by the Department and
regarding children’s rights and well-being. The report is those that have an influence on children services into one of ECD centres built by NLC. Distribution events took Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) throughout the
also aligned to the concluding observations and document for standardisation and uniformity across the place in EC, FS, KZN, LP and NW; the purpose of these country.
recommendations from the United Nations Committee on Republic. events was to provide the ECD centres with Personal
the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the African Protective Equipment (PPE) for them to comply with The audit also intended to establish which parenting
Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the The implementation of the Children’s Act has been Covid-19 regulations while providing services to children. programmes are implemented, their aims and objectives,
Child (ACERWC). underway for over a decade. However, there has not been the target group and the intended outcomes in terms of
The Department also attended to enquiries from the UN a full-scale exercise to evaluate its implementation and The Department launched the Vangasali Campaign in the impact on the recipients. This will result in
relating to child rights matters in the country. The impact. The Department conducted preliminary study June 2020. The campaign is aimed at “Finding every ECD” strengthening families by equipping them with effective
Department coordinated the country’s inputs on the Draft towards an impact evaluation of the Children’s Act. The and contributes towards universal access as it promotes parenting skills.
General Comment 25 on Children's rights in relation to work culminated in recommendations and proposals for the registration of centers and ensuring that children in
the digital environment as well as contributing to the the proposed impact evaluation study, its focus, the these centers are supported and provided with quality HIV and AIDS
ACERWC discussions on initiatives by member states to evaluation design, and lastly the proposed cost options. programmes. The campaign assisted the Department in
cushion the effects of the Covid-19 on the rights of understanding the spread of ECD services and to align the Social Service Practitioners (SSPs) capacitated on psychosocial
children. During the outbreak of Covid-19, the children sector had planning towards the right beneficiaries. Through this support guidelines programmes
no Disaster Management Plan or Policy to guide campaign, a total of 52 000 ECD services were registered The Department continued with capacity building of
The Department also facilitated the institutionalisation of stakeholders and service providers. The Department then on the Vangasali database. Furthermore, the Department SSPs. In this regard, a total of 205 SSPs were capacitated
child participation on matters involving their wellbeing. commenced with consultations through the National in collaboration with Nelson Mandela Foundation held on the Guidelines on HIV Testing Services for Social
In this regard, the Department hosted the Nelson Child Care and Protection Forum (NCCPF) to produce a orientation sessions with DSD provincial departments, Services Practitioners in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and
Mandela Children’s Parliament wherein children, through comprehensive Covid-19 Child Care and Protection Sector including Environmental Health Practitioners on the Mpumalanga provinces. The Guidelines ensure early
the Child Ambassadors Programme had a platform to Response Plan. The Plan was finalised and will guide registration process, in preparation for fast-tracking identification of Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Youth
discuss issues affecting their wellbeing. The Department service provision during the Covid-19 national state of registration and massification drive in the next financial (OVCY) at higher risk of contracting HIV. This is achieved
further facilitated the coordination of the disaster period. year. through risk assessments and linking them to HIV testing
commemoration of days celebrating their rights such as services, access to treatment, provision of support
the International Day of the Child. During the period under review, the Department received services and ensuring that they remain adherent to their
the Presidential ECD Stimulus Relief Fund. The fund was

62 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

treatment programme. The provision of psychosocial During the reporting period, the Department launched the
support services is provided with an emphasis on YOLO and ChommY programmes with the Deputy Minister
disclosure and adherence. of Social Development in KZN and GP.

Furthermore, the Guidelines advocate for routine HIV risk
assessment and referral to appropriate health-testing
services, and promotes the national Cheka Impilo
Wellness Campaign. The Campaign encourages citizen to
know their HIV status in order to access treatment. The
intervention of trained SSPs also contributes to the
UNAIDS 95-95-95 Strategy, which encourages 95% of
people with HIV to test, of those tested, 95% to be on
treatment, and 95% of those on treatment to be virally
suppressed.

The Department received funding from the German
Development Bank to the value of €9m (9 million pounds)
for the construction of 17 Community Care Centres (CCCs)
in NW, KZN and LP. Up to 2019, a total of 11 of the 17
CCCs were completed with six in KZN, three in NW and
two in LP. During the reporting period, the Department
completed an additional three CCCs in NW, bringing the
total to 14 CCCs.

Community Care Centres strive to strengthen service
delivery in all benefiting communities by ensuring that
integrated and comprehensive services are provided by
different stakeholders in a safer and well-equipped
facility. Targeted programmes addressing social ills are
provided to contribute to changes in behaviours of
beneficiaries, tp enhance psychosocial wellbeing, build
resilience, self-esteem and confidence so that they can
deal with adversities and participate meaningfully in
programmes to address their needs. Services provided in
CCCs include psychosocial support to build psychosocial
wellbeing and resilience in beneficiaries, social and
behaviour change programmes to reduce risky sexual
behaviour among children and youth, provision of cooked
meals, supervision of homework, recreational activities
and initiation of income generating projects.

The Department, in collaboration with Health and
Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority
(HWSETA), nominated 350 Community Caregivers from
Gauteng and Mpumalanga who were taken through an
exercise of Recognition of Prior Learning so that they can
acquire certificates in Child and Youth Care.

SSPs capacitated on Social and Behaviour Change (SBC)
programme

The Department, through this unit, capacitated 225 SSPs
on Social and Behaviour Change programmes. The
Department continued to partner with South African
National AIDS Council (SANAC) to implement SBC
programmes. Through this partnership, the Department
and SANAC Men’s Sector co-hosted the National Men’s
Parliament in Cape Town. The Parliament was attended
by men and boys from all provinces.