Pretoria - The Ministerial Committee for the Review of the White Paper on Social Welfare (1997) has called for a standardised budget allocation across provinces to address poverty, basic human needs and the social development priorities of all people.
The committee on Friday concluded a three-day national consultative summit at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, in Boksburg.
The committee noted the variations in budget allocations per province for poverty, basic human needs and the social development programmes.
For instance, in 2015/16 financial year, the Eastern Cape Province allocated R264 per poor child, as against R1 323 in the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal allocated R2 per poor person, compared to R79 in the Northern Cape.
Committee Chairperson Professor Viviene Taylor said it was encouraging that there are many new and amended policies, legislation and programmes to address poverty, basic human needs and the social development priorities of all people.
The Ministerial Committee was established by the Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini to review the implementation of the White Paper, which is the overarching policy framework for the provision of social development services in the country.
The summit was attended by more than 500 representatives from statutory bodies, government departments, non-governmental organisations, institutions of higher learning, traditional leaders, community-based organisations, as well as faith-based organisations.
The summit was called to share its preliminary findings on the review of the White Paper with stakeholders in the social development sector.
It further consulted stakeholders on proposals for addressing and advancing priorities identified as outcomes of the review process as well as priorities identified in Chapter 11 of the National Development Plan on Social Protection and Social Development.
The committee has received wide-ranging recommendations which it will test for feasibility and responsiveness.
The final recommendations will be provided in a phased approach taking into account short term, medium term, and long term objectives.
The final report is expected to be given to Minister Dlamini by March 2016. – SAnews.gov.za
