DSD Updates

Publications for Comment: Draft Regulations Under the Children's Act, 2005 (Including the Children's Amendment Act, 2007)

Department of Social Development

Publications for Comment: Draft Regulations Under the Children's Act, 2005 (Including the Children's Amendment Act, 2007)

The Minister of Social Development intends to make regulations in terms of section 306 of the Children’s Act, 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005) and the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development intends to make regulations in terms of sections 75 and 280 of the Children’s Act, 2005 (Act  No. 38 of 2005).

Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the proposed draft regulations to the Director-General: Social Development, Private Bag X901, Pretoria, 0001, fax number (012) 312 7390 or e-mail: Agnes.Muller@socdev.gov.za (for attention: Ms Agness Muller), or to the Director-General: Justice and Constitutional Development, Private Bag X81, Pretoria, 0001, fax number 086 648 0963 or e-mail: alvanderwalt@justice.gov.za (for attention: Adv Alta van der Walt) within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice.

Copies of the draft regulations can be obtained from the Government Printer Pretoria, from Ms Agness Muller, Department of Social Development, 7th Floor, HSRC Building, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria, Tel: (012) 312-7586 or Adv Alta van der Walt, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, Momentum Centre, 329 Pretorius Street, Pretoria, Tel: (012) 315-1705. The draft regulations are also available on the Department of Social Development’s website: www.dsd.gov.za or from http://infospoor.typepad.com/dsd_updates/ or click on the links below:

• Children's Act, 2005:  Regulations. Schedule Regulations Relating to the Children's Act 38 of 2005
• Consolidated Draft Regulations Pertaining to the Children's Act 2005 (Including Regulations Pertaining to Bill 19 of 2006 Now Act 41 of 2007)
• Consolidated forms in Terms of Draft Regulations Under the Children's Act and Bill 19 of 2006

National Child Protection Week - 26 May 2008 - 1 June 2008

National Child Protection Week - 26 May 2008 – 1 June 2008

1.  BACKGROUND

The National Child Protection week is an annual campaign of Government led by the Department of Social Development. The goal for child protection week is that all children should grow up in an environment that is safe from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Child protection week highlights the rights of children and ensures that they are placed as a priority in each department and organization's agenda. The child protection system should therefore strive to protect children from all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation through accessible and coordinated services and a response based on a multi disciplinary and inter -sectoral approach.

A lot of children are still abused which means that the child protection system is still failing the children. It is for this reason that all stakeholders have to revisit their strategies annually to ensure that they can respond to the demand of communities in the most effective and efficient way.  Stakeholders need to continuously communicate to communities and to children that we do commit ourselves to their care and protect. 

2.  THEME

For the past five years the theme "CHILD PROTECTION IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS” has been used to facilitate inter-sectoral and inter-departmental resource allocation for the protection of children.

This has been found to be the most popular and easily understood theme and campaign strategy. At the national child Protection Committee meeting on 6th to 7th December 2004 the theme was discussed and later changed to "CARING COMMUNITIES PROTECT CHILDREN". The former is still incorporated in the latter as community can mean family, school, church, business sector etc.

3.  OBJECTIVES

The following national objectives have been designed in the manner that sector specific and provinces can decide on their specific approach in relation to their objectives. The aim is to collectively bring messages to communities that speak to the same theme and that commitment to service is made within the principles of child protection.

The following objectives have been formulated:

• To raise awareness within communities regarding child protection issues, children's rights and responsibilities.
• To create greater awareness and communicate information on child grants and child maintenance.
• To provide information on the network of services that impact on child protection.
• To strengthen and uphold family's and society's responsibility in the protection of children.
• To uphold government's commitment to the protection and promotion of children's rights in partnership with Non Governmental Organizations and civil society.

TARGET GROUP: All children alleged to be in need of care including orphans and vulnerable children, children with disabilities and children living on the streets, families and communities.

4.  ACTIVITIES

4.1 National event:

A National Conference is planned to take place from 27 – 29 May 2008 at Birchwood Centre.  The theme is “Getting South Africa ready for the implementation of the Children’s Act.”  Conference members will represent national and provincial departments and NGO’s.

5.2 Provincial activities:

Provinces are to each submit their programs of activities indicating their five projects for the Minister’s attendance.

CHILD PROTECTION LOGO

During the Child Protection week of 2004 the child protection ribbon was launched.

The green ribbon is “a symbol of child protection. The color green simbolizes conservation, growth, life and hope”.  If one wears the green ribbon it puts an obligation on the person to say “I will protect a child.”

The message for the promotion of the green ribbon is as follows:

Green means life, green means growth, let us conserve our children. Give them love and hope. Wear a green ribbon to show you care and support. Stand up, be committed and protect a child.

Child Protection Week to Focus on Promoting Children's Act

Media Statement

9 May 2008

Child Protection Week to Focus on Promoting Children's Act

Social Development Minister, Dr. Zola Skweyiya will officially launch this year’s Child Protection Week (CPW) celebrations at the Birchwood Hotel, East Rand, Johannesburg on May 27.

Child Protection week runs from May 27 and will culminate in the commemoration of International Children’s Day on 1 June. This year’s celebrations will be conducted under the theme “Getting South Africa ready to implement the Children’s Act”.

The anchor event is a conference on the implementation of the new Children’s Act, to be held at the Birchwood Conference centre from 27-29 May.

Central to the fight against poverty is the focus on improving the quality of life of children, through alleviating poverty and ensuring that they receive all the services that they are entitled to in terms of the Constitution. The newly-enacted Children’s Act comprehensively provides the framework for children to enjoy these rights and services. including protection from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation. The best interests of a child are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.

The focus of Child Protection Week 2008 is therefore to promote the Children’s Act as an instrument of fighting child poverty and of promoting the rights of the child.  Over the past years, it became clear that the Child Care Act, 74 of 1983 is not in keeping with the realities of current social problems and no longer protects children adequately. The Child Care Act has therefore been replaced by a new Children’s Act. The Children’s Act was signed by the President on 8 June 2006 and the Children’s Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament in November 2007.

The objectives of the implementation Conference are to:

• Determine South Africa’s inter-sectoral readiness to implement the Children’s Act and the implications thereof.
• Raise awareness and understanding on the Children’s Act and promote commitment to implementation.
• Agree and concur on implementation plans, best practice models and services to children.
• Agree on monitoring, evaluation and capacity building mechanisms.
  
  All provinces will have events to mark CPW and the programme will be available on www.dsd.gov.za.

MEDIA RSVP’S CONTACT: Zingaphi Jakuja on 074 197 8383 or Zingaphim@dsd.gov.za.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
PRETORIA

SPOKESPERSON: LAKELA KAUNDA: lakelak@dsd.gov.za or  0827822575

Public Engagements by the Minister of Social Development

Media Advisory

06 May 2008

Public Engagements by the minister of Social Development

MINMEC

The Minister of Social Development, Dr. Zola Skweyiya will meet with the MECs responsible for Social Development to discuss strategic issues ahead of the department’s budget vote in Parliament.

Venue: Modikoe Game Reserve, North West
Date:  22 May 2008
Time: 11h00

LAUNCH OF CHILD PROTECTION WEEK AND CHILDREN’S ACT CONFERENCE

The Minister Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya will on 27th May 2008 launch Child Protection Week by officially opening a conference to discuss how to implement the new Children’s Act. The CPW will be marked in the country from 26 May – 01 June 2008. The conference will be held from 27-29 May.

Venue: Birchwood Hotel, East Rand, Johannesburg
Date: 27 May 2008
Time: 09h30

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BUDGET VOTE

Dr. Zola Skweyiya will table the Social Development budget vote before the National Assembly on 30 May 2008 in Parliament.

Venue: National Assembly, Parliament
Date: 30 May 2008 

MEDIA IS INVITED TO COVER THE EVENTS
MEDIA RSVP’S CONTACT: ZINGAPHI JAKUJA/ 074 197 8383
ISSUED BY: THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
PRETORIA

Minister Skweyiya Takes War Against Poverty to Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal

Media Advisory

7 April 2008

Minister Skweyiya Takes War Against Poverty to Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal

The Minister of Social Development Dr, Zola Skweyiya will this week visit Mbizana in the Eastern Cape and the Ezinqoleni area in Port Shepstone as part of the campaign to take social grants registration and other social services to the people to fight poverty.

The Minister will visit Mbizana on the 10th, and Ezinqoleni on the 11th under the umbrella of the Integrated Community Registration Programme (ICROP).

The effective ICROP programme enabled the registration of about 90 000 new beneficiaries within only five months in 2007. Using the mobile trucks and modern 3G technologies, the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) is able to process applications anywhere in the country, no matter how remote the area is, and provide feedback to applicants on the same day.

The Minister intends to use both events to intensify the government Imbizo Focus Week, and to promote the theme "taking the war against poverty to the people". In the Ezinqoleni leg, he is scheduled to be accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba.

Other departments that are part of the initiative are:

Department of Health (medical checks for the disability grant and other health related issues), Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (foster care placement processing by magistrates), the South African Police Services (affidavits) as well as the Department of Education. Several welfare services will also be provided on site.

Date: 10 April 2008

Venue: Sixholobeni Village (Mbizana)

Time: 10h00

Date: 11April 2008

Venue: Maguntia Sports-ground (Ezingolweni Ward 5 KZN)

Time: 10h00

Media is invited to cover both events

Enquiries: Jaconia Kobue on 0732824633 (Ugu event) and Michael Fumarola on 0789814785 (Mbizana event)

Issued by the Department of Social Development PRETORIA

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: MBIZANA

Bizana is one of the poorest municipal areas in the Eastern Cape, which inherited a disarticulated homeland infrastructure and uneven development. The concentration of poverty in the area complicates service delivery by the Agency and service delivery departments.

It is a part of the province that is characterized by high levels of underdevelopment with high rates of unemployment, low average household incomes, the poor availability of social infrastructure and huge service backlogs.

Poverty, unemployment and poor access to social, institutional and physical infrastructure is concentrated in this area of the former Transkei.

The economically active population of the area is 50.8% males and 49.2 % females. This could be attributed to many females doing housework, but don’t consider it as employment.

Being a mostly rural area with a high number of female headed households and children living in poverty (70 %), the area faces a mammoth task of providing safety nets and improving access to social services and other poverty alleviation mechanisms to the rural poor.

Ends.

Ms Lakela Kaunda

Cell: +2782 782 2575

Tel: +27123127653/4

Launch of the Programme of Assistance to the Victim Empowerment Programme

Launch of the Programme of Assistance to the Victim Empowerment Programme

STATEMENT BY MR ZANE DANGOR, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DURING THE MEDIA LAUNCH OF THE PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIM EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME 5TH MARCH 2008

SHERATON HOTEL (PRETORIA)

Programme Director,
Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Mr Antonio Maria Costa,
Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of South Africa, Ambassador Lodewijk Briët,
Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
United Nations Agencies,
Dignitaries,
Distinguished guests,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen:

Allow me, to acknowledge and welcome to our country our international guests, especially, the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Director of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Mr. Antonio Maria Costa. I also wish to extend an apology on behalf of the Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya who could not be with us today due to competing demands.

This year (2008) marks the 10th Anniversary of the Victim Empowerment Programme. The Victim Empowerment Programme was launched in August 1998 under pillar one of the National Crime Prevention Strategy of 1996. The aim of this Programme is to develop, strengthen and monitor the implementation of the integrated victim empowerment policies in partnership with civil society organizations. The emphasis of the programme is placed on prevention of victimization, providing support, protecting and empowerment of victims of crime and violence with a special focus on vulnerable groups such as women, children, elderly and people with disabilities.  The Department of Social Development together with its social partners will be hosting a number of activities aimed at commemorating the ten years of victim empowerment in South Africa.

Our presence here today is the culmination of events that began in 2005 with signing of the Financing Agreement between the European Community and the Government of South Africa for the Programme of Assistance to the Victim Empowerment Programme of the Department of Social Development. The implementation of this programme has been delayed due to challenges known to the Department and the European Commission.

We are here to show respect and express our gratitude as the Department of Social Development on behalf of the people of South Africa especially the most vulnerable groups of our society, women and children who will be the direct beneficiaries of the Programme of Assistance to the Victim Empowerment Programme. The purpose of this Programme is to support the Victim Empowerment Programme of South Africa by developing the capacity of the Department of Social Development to lead the intersectoral and intergovernmental Victim Empowerment Programme, and to ensure proper implementation of the Government’s commitments with regard to the empowerment of victims of crime and violence.

Programme Director, The President of the Republic of South Africa, President Thabo Mbeki has indicated in his State of the Nation Address that “Our success in the fight against crime depends on co-operation among all of us as law-abiding citizens, inspired by the principle of law, respect for our judiciary and pursuit of equal human rights, which our Constitution enjoins us to observe in our daily lives...”.  He further indicated that we need to give life to the Victim’s Charter, which is the confirmation that our government has prioritized the issues of victims.

Furthermore, I need to make it known that prevention of violence against vulnerable groups such as women, children, people with disabilities and older persons, is one of the priorities of the Department of Social Development.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Department of Social Development has a long standing relationship with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime which is the implementing partner for this programme. The partnership that we have is related to the establishment of One Stop Centers for Victims of Crime and Violence wherein the victims receive services from a multi-disciplinary team to reduce secondary victimization. Four One Stop Centers for Victims of Crime and Violence have been established since 2003 in the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Western Cape. Another project of partnership between the two organizations is the Kemoja Campaign against drugs abuse.

The implementation of this programme will strengthen the victim empowerment programme as follows:

• The Victim Empowerment Programme staff complement in the provinces will be boosted.
• All the personnel that are responsible for co-ordination of the victim empowerment programme within government nationally, provincially and local level will be capacitated with skills and knowledge.
• Civil Society Organisations that render services to victims of crime and violence will be funded and capacitated on financial management and other related skills.
• Victim Empowerment Forums will be strengthened at National and Provincial levels.
• A strong network of victim empowerment civil society organizations will be established.

We are looking forward to the fruitful partnership during the three years of implementation of this Programme of Assistance to the Victim Empowerment and beyond.

I thank you

Enqiuries: Zingaphi Jakuja, (012) 312 7381.

Issued by the Department of Social Development
Pretoria

Boost for Victim Empowerment Programme

Media Statement

3 March 2008

Boost for Victim Empowerment Programme

Support for victims of crime and violence, in particular women and children is to receive a boost on the 5th of March 2008 when the Department of Social Development (DSD), the European Commission and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime launch a partnership for victim empowerment at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria.

The European Commission has provided donor funds for the DSD’s Victim Empowerment Programme, with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as the implementing partner. 

Officiating at the occasion will be the Deputy Director General for Integrated Development in the Department of Social Development, Ms Vuyelwa Nhlapo, Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Ambassador Lodewijk A.E. Briët who is the Head of Delegation of the European Union in South Africa.

The VEP aims to make the criminal justice process more victim-friendly and minimise the negative effects of crime on victims.  Specific emphasis is placed on the prevention of victimization, providing support, protection and empowerment for victims of crime and violence, with a special focus on vulnerable groups. 

The main role players are the DSD as the lead and co-ordinating agency, SAPS, Justice and Constitutional Development, Correctional Services, Health and Education departments. Non-governmental Organisations, Community Based Organisations and other structures at local government level.

DETAILS:
Venue: Sheraton Hotel, Pretoria
Time 11h00
Date: 5 March 2008

MEDIA IS INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT
FOR MEDIA RSVP’S CONTACT
Zingaphi Jakuja: (012) 3127381/0741978383

ISSUED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
PRETORIA

Social Development Minister to Address his South Asia Counterparts

Media Advisory

3 March 2008

Social Development Minister to Address his South Asia Counterparts

Social Development Minister, Dr. Zola Skweyiya, will attend the Second Forum of Ministers of Social Development from South Asia to be hosted in New Delhi, India from 5-6 March 2008.

The meeting is organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Republic of India, the Forum’s theme will be “Transparency, Right to Information and Social Development”.

Dr. Skweyiya is invited in his capacity as President of UNESCO’s Management of Social Transformation (MOST) programme. The Minister will address the meeting on the topic: “From Research to Policy to Action.”

The meeting will focus on “The Right to Information” and will also formulate an agenda of opportunities and constraints affecting social development in South Asia, as well as to identify potential joint actions and mechanisms for meaningful collaborations in the future. Another aspect of the meeting will be on how research outcomes on social development issues can be better utilized for social policy making.

The first meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Social Development from South Asia was launched on 26 May 2006 at Bourbon in Pakistan on “Public Accountability Mechanisms in the Improvement of Social Sector Service Delivery in Asia.”

Enquiries: Lakela Kaunda on 0827822575

ISSUED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
PRETORIA

Invitation to Key African Social Security Conference

Media and Stakeholder Invitation

22 February 2008

Invitation to Key African Social Security Conference

The Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya, is to host a key conference on social security challenges in SADC and Africa next month.

The conference will take place under the theme: Comprehensive Social Security for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa: Challenges and Milestones. It will be held in Cape Town from 10-14th of March, 2008.

“South Africa is currently faced with a challenge of migration into the country. Portability of Social Security benefits within SADC and Africa requires a closer scrutiny. The aim of the conference is to provide a platform and an inspiring environment for fruitful exchange and constructive debate on Social Security issues between Governments, business and public sectors within Africa’’ said DSD Director-General Vusi Madonsela.

The conference will cater for approximately 500 delegates.

Conference Objectives:

- To provide a platform for interaction, exchange of information and experiences as well as challenges between governments, civil society organisations, donors and other stakeholders involved in Social Security in Africa.
- To identify gaps in Social Security systems across Africa in order to arrive at innovations/solutions to identified challenges.
- To share best practice models for Social Security in Africa.
- To arrive at recommendations and establish an African network of experts to respond to various challenges around social security on the continent.
- To disseminate a conference report on proceedings, deliberations and recommendations for action by governments, civil society organisations, academics and researchers.

Expected Outcomes of the conference

At the end of the conference, participants/delegates should have achieved the following:
- Gained an understanding of existing social security systems in SADC and Africa as a whole.
- Identified and learned from best practice models.
- Agreed on recommendations and plan of action to implement the recommendations.
- Formalised relations to promote an effective network of social security experts.

Identified stakeholders for the conference include: government, regional (SADC) and other African countries, donors, academics, researchers, civil society representatives and some business representatives.

Information and Attendance

Stakeholders wishing to attend or seeking more information about the conference should contact Peggy Khongoana on peggyk@dsd.gov.za or Thabo Rakoloti trakoloti@dsd.gov.za.

For media enquiries: zingaphim@dsd.gov.za.

Issued by the Department of Social Development
Pretoria

Call for papers: Victim Empowerment Programme Conference in South Africa

Call for papers: Victim Empowerment Programme Conference in South Africa 10 th Anniversary, August 2008

It is a pleasure for the DSD to invite you to indicate your interest to present a Paper during the proposed Conference to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the SA Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP).  The proposed date for the Conference is from 19 to 21 August 2008.  The Conference venue will be communicated after the indication of the Minister of Social Development.

The Victim Empowerment Programme was officially launched in August 1998. 

Victim Empowerment Programme is one of the key programmes under pillar one of the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS). It is an inter-sectoral and inter-departmental programme that aims to promote and implement a victim centred approach to crime prevention through the development of services and programmes for victims of crime and violence to minimize the negative effects of crime on victims.

The approach of the VEP is strongly based on building and maintaining partnerships between government and civil society organizations, volunteers, research institutions, academics and business. 

The Victim Empowerment Programme is comprised of the core NCPS departments (DSD, DOH, DCS, DOE, DOJCD, SAPS) and the Department of Social Development is the lead department and is responsible for co-ordinating and facilitating Victim Empowerment initiatives as well as to facilitate the commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the Programme.

The expectations are that the Conference will reflect on the achievements of the Victim Empowerment Programme since inception in 1998 and will identify the opportunities and challenges faced by the Victim Empowerment Sector. It will eventually determine the way forward.

Please confirm your interest to present a Paper during the Conference by responding before or on 15 April 2008, as follows:

• Fax:  012 312 7370 for Attention Ms Athalia Shabangu.
• E-mail:  AthaliaS@socdev.gov.za and cc to joan.Groenewald@socdev.gov.za.

The registration form can be obtained from the Department of Social Development Website:  www.dsd.gov.za 

It will be expected from you to submit an abstract as well as the paper prior to the Conference on or before 10 June 2008.

The Department is looking forward to hear from you.

Dr Z Tshotsho
DIRECTOR:  VICTIM EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME
DATE:  19 February 2008