SOCIAL CLUSTER DIRECTORS-GENERAL MEDIA BRIEFING: MEDIA STATEMENT: 21 NOVEMBER 2007
1 INTRODUCTION
Firstly let me begin by thanking members of the media present here today for responding to our call to brief you about the progress we are making in the social cluster in bettering the lives of South Africans.
This is one but not the only way we seek to engage you in our efforts to inform the public on the progress we are making in the implementation of the government’s Programme of Action. This meeting complements the Social Cluster briefing by the Ministers, that are being held every second month, with the 06th November being the latest.
This report will also highlight some of the progress we are making as a country in reaching the Millennium Development Goals. You will be aware that in September President Thabo Mbeki presented to the United Nations South Africa’s Millennium Development Goals Mid-Term Country Report. Copies of the report will be handed to you and are also available in the government’s website, www.gov.za
2 BACKGROUND
I will therefore, ladies and gentleman give an overview of the work we have done as the Social Cluster with the Directors General present here giving detailed reports on the progress of their respective departments.
The Social Cluster has continued to make significant progress in the implementation of various programmes within its priority areas. The report focuses on the implementation of cluster work from April to recent date.
3 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTEGRATED ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMME
3.1 Housing and Human Settlement
Since the dawn of democracy we have provided accommodation to nine million people by building 2.4 million houses. Not only have we managed to change the lives of these beneficiaries by providing them with security and comfort through these houses we have also managed to ensure that the building of these houses creates jobs to help alleviate poverty and increase the skills uptake and usage of contractors.
The Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Sustainable Human Settlements (BNG) provides strategic and programmatic shift from housing to Sustainable Human Settlements. An Inclusionary Housing Policy has been developed and the voluntary aspects of the policy are currently being implemented in mixed income housing developments.
A Programme on Municipal Integrated Development Plans & Human Settlements to ensure better integrated development planning has been introduced and implemented widely.
Implementation of agreement with SALGA on land: about 193 predominantly urban municipalities adopted the Moratorium on Land or similar policies that restrict the sale of undeveloped land assets. Further work includes the persuasion of municipalities to refrain from selling off undeveloped land assets.
There is progress in restructuring of the NHFC’s into a retail housing finance corporation targeting households with an income that ranges from R1 500 – R15 000 per month.
3.2 Bucket Eradication Programme
We have made significant progress with regards to the eradication of buckets in formal settlements established before 1994. There are five provinces still having to eradicate the bucket system. In these provinces that have yet to meet the target work is at an advance stage as some of the provinces have already put up the structure with few things remaining. We have also embarked on a communication campaign aimed at clarifying the target and addressing the community expectations as well as the remaining buckets post the 2007 target. It also highlighted the informal settlement challenge which will be addressed through the housing programme.
We have also deployed technicians to municipalities in the Free State, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape to assist with addressing the backlog.
3.3 Comprehensive Social Security
Social Security and Retirement Reform documents are still being explored to examine design options as well as long-term fiscal and economic implications on the proposed retirement industry. In the context of the income security, a task team comprising of the Department of Social Development, National Treasury, Labour, Health and Presidency is making significant progress in putting together proposal on the retirement, disability and survivor benefits.
With regard to the design of benefits for persons with chronic diseases, a phased implementation of the common tool to be used to assess the degree of disability should begin soon.
As part of the measures to reach vulnerable children over the age of 14 years, the cluster together with the Office of the Rights of the Child (ORC) is working on the definition of the child and rationalisation of all legislation dealing with children.
Employment insurance, wage subsidy for low wage employees directed at first entrants into the job market which will be submitted to Nedlack for broader consultation and the report formulated will be submitted to the broader Lekgotla.
A framework on the Anti-poverty is work in progress and a proposal that the public and key stakeholders are to be consulted and look at successes, achievements experienced. Collaboratively, department of Social Development is working with other departments on Early Childhood Development and Extended Public Works.
3.4 Second Economy interventions
The EPWP programme has created about 830 000 of the 1 million job opportunities promised. Majority of these job opportunities are in the infrastructure sector, given the government’s and the country’s massive infrastructure roll-out programme, punctuated by catalysts such as the 2010 Soccer World Cup and the State Owned Enterprises’ recapitalization programmes as announced by ESKOM, Sasol and recently PetroSA. The department is also looking at the progrmme to massisfy EPWP, through construction-related projects of varying sizes, from building to maintenance, renovations and now rehabilitation of identified unused government buildings and other properties. The department has budgeted R600 million up to 2011 for the rehabilitation of more than 670 unused government buildings. The National Department of Public Works has taken a decision to carry out any of its projects using EPWP guidelines of labour intensity. The department also participates in the Job for Growth initiative of ASGISA.
4 COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE
4.1 Combating HIV and AIDS, Malaria and other diseases
The implementation of comprehensive HIV & Aids programmes has seen the launched of the National Strategic Plan framework, an initiative of government civil society and business. Different Social Sector departments have developed strategies and plans to implement HIV and AIDS programmes in their departments, and together with Khomanani, government has developed and is implementing a communication strategy that creates awareness around the pandemic.
HIV and AIDS, it is encouraging to note that the 2006 antenatal survey results show a decrease in the prevalence of HIV amongst pregnant women who use public health facilities. It is for the first time after several years of relative stability, that the survey results show evidence of a decline in HIV prevalence as demonstrated in the National HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey, South Africa 2006. The report also indicates that the prevalence of HIV in the 20years and below age group has in fact decreased from 15.9% in 2005 to 13.7% in 2006 suggesting therefore the reduction in new infections in the population.
While there is progress amongst the younger people, the HIV prevalence in the older age groups (30-34 and 35-39 and the 40years and above) remained at levels similar to 2005 and in some instances there were increases.
On treatment, the cumulative total of patients who started ARV treatment is estimated at 300, 000 as at the end of June 2007. A total of 342 facilities have been accredited to implement this treatment including 10 Correctional and 7 SANDF Centres and more sites are being accredited to further expand access. Lack of adequate health professionals still remains a key challenge to both the Departments of Health and Correctional Services in expanding the number of sites.
While the number of TB cases remains high, there is steady improvement in successful treatment completion rates and in the cure rates. Both the cure rates and successful treatment completion rates improved from 50% and 60% respectively in 2001 to 57.6% and 70.8% respectively in 2006. During the same five year period, the death rate has been fairly constant at between 6-7% and so was the treatment failure rate around 1.5%.
The new Tuberculosis National Strategic Plan for 2007-2011 has been developed through extensive consultation with local and international stakeholders in the area of TB. The Plan is aimed at strengthening South Africa’s response to the challenges of TB as well as Multi-Drug Resistant and Extensive Drug Resistant TB. It also addresses the relationship between the TB and HIV epidemics. An extra R400 million has been allocated for the response to MDR and XDR TB in this year’s adjustment budget. Extra resources have been requested for the implementation of the in the next financial year.
The management and control of malaria is one of the key areas of success of the public health system in South Africa. The number of malaria cases declined over a five year period, from 51 444 cases in 1999 to 12 098 cases in 2006. The malaria case fatality rate fluctuated during this same period, from a peak of 0.8 in 1999 to a lowest level of 0.4 in 2001 and to 0.7 at the end of 2006.
The Department is satisfied with the implementation of its malaria control interventions which include:
4.2 Efforts are being made to enhance focus on non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma and the media has played key role in addressing these diseases to the public.
4.3 Hospital revitalisation Programme
We have made significant gains with respect to the hospital revitalization programme. We already have state of the art hospitals in the form of Inkosi Albert Luthuli and Pretoria Academic Hospitals. Since 2004 ten hospitals have been completed.
During 2007/08, we have 46 revitalisation projects with 30 already on site and 16 in the planning stages. We hope to complete 4 hospitals during this financial year (Mamelodi Hospital in Gauteng; Worcester Hospital in the Western Cape; Rietvlei Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal; and Barkley West in Northern Cape).
Whilst good progress is being made, we need to accelerate this programme if we wish to complete the revitalization of all our public hospitals within timeframe that we set ourselves – which is 15 years. This implies that we need to ensure that this programme is fully funded in the remaining time frame. We also have to ensure that the facilities are properly maintained.
Besides the hospital revitalization programme, provinces have delegated functions to hospital CEOs as directed by the President in his 2006 State of the Nation address. We will continue to strengthen the ability of hospital managers to use their delegated authority by improving training and strengthening administrative systems. During 2007/08, we shall Endeavour to ensure that 50% of hospital managers receive some level of in-service formal training.
4.4 Human Resources
A number of push and pull factors contribute to migration of health professional from rural to urban areas, from public to private sector and from SA to developed countries. The Department is addressing these in a number of ways including the adoption of the Human Resources for Health Plan for South Africa, the introduction of community service for a range of health professionals, the rural and scarce skills allowances, improving remuneration for health providers, the training of mid-level workers as well through a memorandum of agreement on ethical recruitment with benefiting countries.
For instance, since the agreement was signed with United Kingdom 2003, the number of South Africans registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council in UK has decreased by more than 55% from 2114 in 2002 to 933 in 2005. We now have to ensure that there is enough flexibility for the public health sector to be able to absorb nurses who are returning into the country. This should include recognition of whatever level of experience these nurses have acquired.
We are also giving an opportunity to retired nurses to be able to continue to serve the public health sector where they can and pass their experience to the younger generation of nurses.
More than R1,4 billion was allocated for the improvement of salaries of nurses in the country. The salaries have been increased by between 20-24% for nursing assistants, staff nurses and professional nurses. Certain Professional Nurses serving in specialty areas could, subject to the appointment requirements, receive up to 88% increases at production levels depending on their current salary positions. These increases are in addition to 7.5% salary adjustment made across the board after this year’s public service bargaining process.
Next year, the salary review process will be extended to doctors and medical specialists, dentists and dental specialists, pharmacists and emergency care practitioners. In the year 2009, all other health professionals in the public health sector will be incorporated.
We have also embarked on a drive to re-open Nursing Colleges to help expand training and employment of nurses and social workers.
5 EDUCATION – BROADENING ACCESS AND IMPROVING QUALITY AND TRAINING
The department of Education has embarked on National Mass Literacy Campaign to enable adults to achieve basic Literacy and Numeracy skills to ensure access to education.
Access to education has also been provided to the public, the vulnerable through pro- poverty measures in having no fees paid in certain provinces, up killing of the new Matric curriculum, and embarking on Career Guidance awareness campaigns in the media.
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) has established a Water and Forestry Learning Academy, designed to address scarce technical skills gaps in the overall water supply value chain, Skills gaps in specific technical areas of the DWAF, uptake on women and the disabled to the Water industry. The department envisages on Planning and building capacity for the immediate, medium, and long term needs of the DWAF and the water and forestry sectors.
6 NATIONAL IDENTITY AND SOCIAL COHESION
Intense efforts have been carried out to joint efforts among all South Africans to improve social cohesion, including better canvass of the issue of our variety of identities and the overarching sense of belonging to South Africa, value system, and identity in a manner that strengthens our unity as a nation.
Government (through the department of Arts and Culture) uses programmes such as the national anthem, national flag, national orders, national days to promote social cohesion and nation building. 2000 flags have been installed in Schools, Government buildings, museums, etc; a draft pledge and Bill of Responsibilities is being finalised; Nationwide Public Hearings on Standardisation of Geographical Names will also be held.
Some of the programmes that have been implemented include: Freedom day – on 27th April, Youth month in June, the, Heritage month in September, including the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Steve Biko on September 12th, the 90th Anniversary of SS Mendi, the 40th anniversary of the death of Inkosi Albert Luthuli, to name but a few.
School sport continues to be an essential part of the drive to involve more South Africans in physical activity more often. Through School Sports Mass Participation programme, the Departments of Sports and Education, expose learners to sport as a way of contributing to among others, a life-long basis for participation in sport and recreation.
The Department of Sports has partnered the Youth Commission in its effort to mainstream the youth in sport participation during events such as the June 16 commemoration, and also using youth- owned companies as service providers so that youth can greatly benefit from sport and recreation empowerment efforts.
As part of its contribution to social cohesion, the Department has brought together Youth from various communities and races into a team of gymnasts. These gymnasts represented the country in Austria in July this year. In order to send the same message of unity at national level, the team is now being used to entertain at local sporting events as well. More of this team is expected to be seen at the Zone VI Games, Confederation Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The Department has also partnered with the Department of Social Development in celebrating the lives of the elderly. These activities also formed part of the International Day of the Aged.
7 Millennium Development Goals
Since 1990, a series of world summits and global conferences have spelled out a comprehensive agenda for human development – including selected goals, time-bound targets and quantifiable indicators. In September 2000, 147 heads of State and Government, and 189 nations in total adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration. The Declaration covers, amongst others calls for halving by the year 2015, the number of people who live on less than one dollar a day.
The aim of the MDGs is to facilitate the conceptualisation and implementation of development priorities and to catalyze policy reform, institutional change and resource allocations around time-bound targets.
On the 25 September 2007 the President of South Africa, Mr T.M. Mbeki addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations on the progress being made in the country in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals.
The MDG Country report includes the national context, i.e. an outline of the country-specific development context, key development needs and a summary of current national development strategies. South Africa is well set to accomplish the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in time.
Since delivering its first country report to the UN General Assembly in 2005, significant progress has been made both in the way in which the country is able to gather data to measure progress but also in realizing a number of indicators.
South Africa has even set earlier deadlines for the attainment of some of the MDGs. On the first goal of halving poverty between 1990 and 2015, there has been a rise in income of the poorest 10% and 20% of the South African population which can be attributed to overall income growth but also to the expansion of the social wage and other forms of income such as the provision of free basic services.
The very poor are now mostly close to the poverty line of R3000 per capita per year although there has been an increase in income inequality (that is the level of income between rich and poor) over the period since 2005. Severe malnutrition amongst children under-5 years of age decreased from 88 971 cases in 2001 to 30 082 in 2005.
In addition, South Africa is in the fortunate position of collecting a wealth of statistical data through its various agencies and structures which enables the country to properly measure progress in realizing the MDGs.
The recently completed Community Survey as well as the report released by the Presidency in June 2007, titled “Development Indicators Mid-Term Review”, being solid examples of this.
After this briefing, the report will be available to the public on the government Website: www.gov.za
Developed by GCIS on behalf of the Directors General of Social Cluster.