PARLIAMENTARY BULLETIN

SOCIAL WELFARE WHITE PAPER MARKS MAJOR SHIFT IN WELFARE STRATEGY

GOVERNMENT DECLARES WAR ON POVERTY

The White Paper on Social Welfare marks a fundamental shift in South Africa's welfare strategy, from the inherited system, which is unequal, unjust, divisive, inefficient and fragmented, to a new, integrated system which is equitable, sustainable, accessible, people-centred and developmental.

The White Paper was drawn up by the Welfare Ministry after extensive consultations, over a two-year period, with NGOs, community-based organisations and individuals. The approach has been open and participative, ensuring that all stakeholders had a voice in drawing up the new strategy.

Apartheid's Welfare Legacy to South Africa

The Government, in 1994, inherited a system which was based on the dogma of apartheid. This system was devised and led by bureaucrats and imposed upon the citizens of South Africa without consultation and without reference to their real needs. It was inappropriate, riven with corruption and penalised those it should have been helping. A legacy of the National Party Government's welfare system is that:

• two-thirds of all South African children live in poverty
• over three million South African households are in poverty
• 2.3 million South Africans suffer from malnutrition
• almost 95 per cent of South Africa's poor are black
• 75 per cent of poverty is concentrated in rural areas, especially in the former homelands.

The New Approach

The White Paper on Social Welfare is a pledge by the new Government to pursue a new approach, under which social welfare will bring about sustainable improvements in the well-being of individuals, families and communities. A national plan of action for the next five years will be developed by national and provincial welfare departments, in consultation with all stakeholders, to implement the fundamental shift in welfare policy that is needed.

War on Poverty

As a key component of the new strategy, the Government is declaring war on poverty. In particular, it will develop policies and programmes targeted at:

• providing social protection for people impoverished by unemployment, ill-health, maternity, child-rearing, widowhood, old age and disability
• providing assistance to groups most at risk, such as African women and children, those with special needs and those living in rural areas, informal settlements and farms
• enhancing social integration and providing support, empowerment, dignity, self-esteem and improved competence to help individuals and families to break out of structural barriers
• promoting self-sufficiency and independence and enhance peoples' access to economic and social resources
• providing employment programmes for vulnerable people and those with special needs
• strengthening family and community networks
• incorporating nutritional objectives into programmes
• increasing the access of rural people to programmes.

Guiding Principles of the New Strategy

Policies and programmes under the new social welfare strategy will be based on the following guiding principles:

Equity resources will be equitably distributed and will address racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural and sectoral disparities. Equality of opportunity and the social mobility of people with special needs will be fostered.

Non-discrimination services and programmes will promote tolerance, mutual respect, diversity and the inclusion of all groups.

Democracy consultation and participation in decision-making will be promoted among the public, welfare organisations, interest groups and other role-players and service providers.

Quality of life the system will raise the quality of life of all people, particularly the disadvantaged, the vulnerable and those with special needs.

Human rights services and programmes will be based on respect for human rights.

People-centred past policies will be replaced with just and people-centred policies.

Sustainability strategies will be financially viable, cost-efficient and effective.

Partnership policies and programmes will be developed and promoted in partnership with organisations in civil society, the private sector and government.

Collaboration an inter-sectoral approach will guide strategy design, formulation and implementation.

Decentralisation appropriate functions will be devolved to local government level, to promote access to services and to improve coordination, local empowerment and greater responsiveness to meeting needs.

Quality programmes will strive for excellence and the provision of quality services.

Transparency all welfare organisations and institutions will be transparent and accountable at all levels, including delivery.

Accessibility organisations and institutions will be accessible and responsive. Barriers to participation will be removed and special training will be provided to develop accessible services.

Appropriateness programmes, methods and approaches will be appropriate, will complement and strengthen people's efforts, enhance their self-respect and independence and will be responsive to the range of social, cultural and economic conditions.

Ubuntu people are people through other people, so the principle of caring for others' well being and the spirit of mutual support will be fostered.

Key Political Lines

The ANC Welfare Ministry is reversing decades of discrimination and social injustice. It is promoting equity and equality. It is making social justice a national priority and a collective responsibility. It is putting people and families at the heart of the strategy. It is making the delivery of welfare services more efficient, more relevant and more accountable. It is promoting community participation and community development. It is integrating services and collaborating with all stakeholders, service providers and other government departments. It is ensuring that programmes are affordable and effective. It is enhancing social integration. Most of all, it is meeting the real needs of the people of South Africa with real policies, real programmes and real services.

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