Government is providing a security net to over 17 million poor South Africans through social grants, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said on Sunday. The Minister said this when she led a briefing of the Social Protection, Community and Human Development Cluster. She gave an update on the progress made in the implementation of the cluster's Programme of Action (PoA) towards achieving the goals of the NDP: Vision 2030. "Through Social Assistance Programme which is part of the country's Social Protection System, more than 17 million poor South Africans are receiving social grants from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to the value of R10 billion per month. "It is also worth noting that this year; SASSA is celebrating ten years of its existence." The Minister said the National Development Plan has set a target to eradicate absolute poverty - from 39% of people living below the poverty line to zero by 2030. She said the target is a lofty goal and yet one that must be faced head on as government sets to deliver on its promise. "Government is continuing to improve the living conditions of poor, vulnerable and underprivileged South Africans from within the length and breadth of our country. "These include unemployed South Africans as well as orphaned and vulnerable children living in child headed households. "We do this as part of our response to the current economic downturn which is affecting all of us," she said. The Minister said the social cluster Cabinet Committee reviewed a proposal for Amendments to the Social Assistance Act. She said the amendments will include, amongst others, changes to the administration of social grants that will improve the efficiency of the Appeals process and the functioning of the Inspectorate. She said the amendments also seek to empower the Minister to make additional payments for certain social grants - such as Child Support Grant to orphaned and vulnerable children living in child headed households. Meanwhile, Motshekga said government has set itself a target to reduce the unemployment rate to 6% - by creating 11 million more jobs by 2030. "The EPWP Social Sector continues to play a significant role in responding to the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. "This fact was confirmed in the recently completed EPWP Social Sector 2014/15 Evaluation report by Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. "This report found that 'Over the past five years on average 71% of participants were women and 51% were young people'." Motshekga said the good performance of the various Social Sector departments has resulted in the EPWP Incentive Grant allocation increasing from R240 563 million in 2015/16 to a whopping R359-million to 40 departments in 2016/17 across all provinces. "This is a huge boost to our efforts to fight the scourge of unemployment especially amongst the youth," she said. SOUTH AFRICA: GOVERNMENT TO RE-FOCUS ON HIV, AIDS LIFE SKILLS PROGRAMME

Internal Affairs

Government is providing a security net to over 17 million poor South Africans through social grants, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said on Sunday. The Minister said this when she led a briefing of the Social Protection, Community and Human Development Cluster. She gave an update on the progress made in the implementation of the cluster’s Programme of Action (PoA) towards achieving the goals of the NDP: Vision 2030. “Through Social Assistance Programme which is part of the country’s Social Protection System, more than 17 million poor South Africans are receiving social grants from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to the value of R10 billion per month. “It is also worth noting that this year; SASSA is celebrating ten years of its existence.” The Minister said the National Development Plan has set a target to eradicate absolute poverty – from 39% of people living below the poverty line to zero by 2030. She said the target is a lofty goal and yet one that must be faced head on as government sets to deliver on its promise. “Government is continuing to improve the living conditions of poor, vulnerable and underprivileged South Africans from within the length and breadth of our country. “These include unemployed South Africans as well as orphaned and vulnerable children living in child headed households. “We do this as part of our response to the current economic downturn which is affecting all of us,” she said. The Minister said the social cluster Cabinet Committee reviewed a proposal for Amendments to the Social Assistance Act. She said the amendments will include, amongst others, changes to the administration of social grants that will improve the efficiency of the Appeals process and the functioning of the Inspectorate. She said the amendments also seek to empower the Minister to make additional payments for certain social grants – such as Child Support Grant to orphaned and vulnerable children living in child headed households. Meanwhile, Motshekga said government has set itself a target to reduce the unemployment rate to 6% – by creating 11 million more jobs by 2030. “The EPWP Social Sector continues to play a significant role in responding to the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. “This fact was confirmed in the recently completed EPWP Social Sector 2014/15 Evaluation report by Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. “This report found that ‘Over the past five years on average 71% of participants were women and 51% were young people’.” Motshekga said the good performance of the various Social Sector departments has resulted in the EPWP Incentive Grant allocation increasing from R240 563 million in 2015/16 to a whopping R359-million to 40 departments in 2016/17 across all provinces. “This is a huge boost to our efforts to fight the scourge of unemployment especially amongst the youth,” she said. SOUTH AFRICA: GOVERNMENT TO RE-FOCUS ON HIV, AIDS LIFE SKILLS PROGRAMME

September 26, 2016

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says government has increased its focus on HIV and Aids education programme to help curb the spread of the disease amongst learners.

The Minister said this when she Ministers in the Social Protection, Community and Human Development Cluster briefed the media on the progress that has been made in the implementation of the cluster’s Programme of Action (PoA) towards achieving the goals of the NDP: Vision 2030.

“Government is responding to the urgent need to massively improve the sexual and reproductive health education and services for adolescents in South Africa. It has become necessary for government to once again re-focus the HIV and AIDS Life Skills Education Programme,” she said.

The Minister said according to 2012 Human Science Research Council (HSRC) HIV prevalence survey, the infection rate amongst 15-19 year olds is 3.2% (0.7 males and 5.6% females). She said the recent International Aids Conference held in Durban earlier this year further pointed high prevalence of HIV amongst learners and girl learners in particular.

“To date, the Department of Basic Education National Policy on HIV, STIs and TB was approved on 20 May 2016 and the campaign for girls and young women was launched by the Deputy President in June 2016,” the Minister said.

The Minister said it remains government’s priority to ensure that learners stay in school and perform to their maximum capacity without hindrances.

She said the psychosocial and economic realities of South Africa merit schools as valuable centres of support, with ever-increasing demands on educators.

These include high rates of unemployment and poverty; high rates of HIV and tuberculosis infection; crime; orphanage; violence and child abuse, the Minister said.

“Part of our duty as a caring government is to monitor and intervene on matters relating to the overall wellbeing of learners.

“In the past months, we received a number of reports that indicate a concerning situation emerging in the sector.

“To address this, we have undertaken to review and strengthen psychosocial support to learners,” she said.

The Minister also said that the 2013 report of the Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (YRBS) by the Medical Research Council indicates that 25 percent of the 15-19 year old age group reported having experienced sadness or feelings of hopelessness.

The report further stated that out of these learners, 37% had to see a doctor or counsellor for treatment.

“In response to this, the department has developed a conceptual framework on the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) Programme.

“This programme seeks to guide response towards addressing the various barriers to learning faced by South African learners in schools.

“Working in collaboration with universities and other government departments, final year psychology students have been placed in schools as school-based counsellors.

“The pilot of this programme is yielding positive results and we hope to strengthen and grow this partnership with universities,” she said.

Source: Nam News Network

INTERNAL AFFAIRS

PRODUCTION

MEDICAL

Recent Posts

Civil servants’ remuneration stood at N.dollars 33.6 billion for 2022/23 FY

NSI takes Metrology Act to Omaheke

NLNG unveils twin theatre suite at Jos Teaching Hospital

News You Need To Know

Navy apprehends 75 stowaways in 8 months

Kano High Court affirms Ganduje’s suspension

Khomas retains Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Netball Cup

Kwara felicitates 36 brides at Awon wedding festival

Kavango East and Omusati to clash in Newspaper final

About Us

Read more

Recent Posts

IEC publishes addresses of voting stations

Ministry partners NIPSS on digital economy for youth employment

Nigeria requires $15bn annually to close infrastructure gap – Don

FG unveils WASH infrastructure sustainability guidelines

Categories

Recent Posts

IEC publishes addresses of voting stations

Ministry partners NIPSS on digital economy for youth employment

Nigeria requires $15bn annually to close infrastructure gap – Don

FG unveils WASH infrastructure sustainability guidelines

Ministry to partner NIPSS in harnessing digital economy for youth employment

Make staff housing your project – FCT workers beg Wike

Cabinet approves Final White Paper On Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection

Minister raises concern on environmental integrity