Department of Social Development

We're raising funds and awareness for the Safety Parents project.

It's a, an initiative that's run by the Department of Social Development here in the Western Cape and child protection organizations to provide temporary emergency safe care for vulnerable children who've been legally removed from their homes due to issues of abuse and neglect or, or to take them out of immediate danger.

And so the Safety Project, w- we're, we're getting support, we're getting the ball rolling, but then Carl called and said, "Let's do a charity match," and I agreed, and I needed a partner, and Natalie Malgas said, "I will be your partner." Howdy, partner.

Thuma Mina.

Um, we've heard from the previous speakers that, um, SAPS is under-resourced.

But I also think that the Department of Social Development with that, uh, huge budget that they have needs to play a particular role.

Um, and, and, and the role that they should play is to...

We, we have community structures, community organizations, civic society bodies within our communities, um, that's in their little way trying to, to, to, to, um- To deal with gender-based violence, and they're not getting enough support from the Department of Social Development.

They're not getting enough support from, um, the South African Police Services.

Um, we've seen many cases i- within the city of Cape Town, um, where, where SAPS are not giving their full co- cooperation in, in, in, in matters pertaining to GBV.

And that's why we need to recognize the complex socioeconomic factors involved with individuals like this.

So we'll be working closely with the Department of Social Development to ensure that we do provide appropriate interventions, whether it's shelter assessments, support services for displaced persons, and also just to keep a balance between enforcement and also that human factor.

But I think what I'm saying to you is, you know, you as the JMPD can come on in all good faith, and I accept that it is in good faith, say that, you know, we're going to deal with this.

But if realistically you can't, should we not move to a level, to some kind of plan that is based on a level of acceptance?

It's VCM versus SM, all about children removal and their safety.

Now, the paternal grandparents of a six-year-old minor had previously removed him from his parents' care without court intervention after learning that the Department of Social Development intended removing him.

He lived with his paternal family in Mozambique for about two years, and then a professional assessment indicated that his parents could not provide for his needs and suspended suspension of their parental rights.

The grandparents nevertheless returned him to his parents without professional or judicial intervention.

They say poor governance and a lack of capacity are holding back economic growth.

National Chairperson of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, Oba Pilane, is appealing to the Transport and the Social Development Department.

to play a role in creating a functioning tourism economy.

He was speaking at the Mpumalanga Tourism Expo.

Yeah.

Can you imagine the Madanga Commission as it is, with its efficiency and all that it has, investigating the Department of Social Development, where Sasa lies, where...

Different types of grants.

Defense.

Based on the statistics, we cannot say that it meaningfully has, no.

Uh, we did have meetings with the Department of Social Development, and we've engaged with, uh, the NPA.

We understand that there is a multi-sector task force.

Uh, meetings have been held, but the reality for women on the ground is that the statistics have not gone down.

But in reality, we need resources to survive, to keep the doors open.

When we talk about funding, our biggest funder is the Department of Social Development.

And our budgets have not increased significantly.

DST does not consider inflation-related budgets.

So we do depend on people to donate.

And a lot of the unforeseens come from the donations we receive.

But we know that South Africans are struggling, that people do not have... a lot of extra money but if there is anybody that would like to donate to power we would be very appreciative of that we also need services we would really appreciate you know getting a carpenter to come in to our kitchens we have two shelters both kitchens are falling apart and you know there's only so much of of patching that you can do we need new wood we need new countertops These are things that's going to get us compliance, you know, to be able to continue receiving funding from the Department of Social Development.

So it's a vicious cycle of survival.