Page 29 - DSD ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2

PART B: PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

both government and civil society organisations participated. were developed to address Cabinet’s recommendations. The
The White Paper seeks to provide guidelines and strategies plan and the report were developed through two (2) national
for the strengthening of the families in South Africa and the consultative workshops in October 2021 and February 2022
realisation of their well-being as well as the strengthening respectively to address Cabinet’s recommendations. The report
of communities as support networks for families. The White and the implementation plan were presented to the Social
Paper has risen due to the need to prevent the family structure Protection, Community and Human Development (SPCHD)
from disintegration and vulnerability. The revision seeks to Cluster Technical Working Group (TWG) in February 2022.
change the unfavourable conditions affecting families and • The Department is developing the Victim Support Services
communities. Bill. The draft Bill was gazetted for public comments during
• The Department developed the White Paper for Social 2020/21. In the period under review, the Department
Development through rigorous consultation with various consolidated inputs received from various stakeholders and
stakeholders. During the period under review, the Department the public comments into the draft Victim Support Services
facilitated the consideration and approval of the Cabinet (VSS) Bill. The updated Bill was subsequently submitted to
Memorandum and the applicable annexures by the Minister Office of the Chief State Law Advisor (OCSLA) for consideration
in preparation for tabling the draft White Paper before Cabinet and certification. The Department also received the Socio-
for approval. The draft White Paper was presented to Cabinet Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS) certification for
Committee in November 2021 for approval. The Cabinet the VSS Bill from the DPME.
Committee recommended the establishment of a task team, • Similarly, the Department developed two (2) policies, namely,
with the support of the Department’s EXCO to further enhance The Intersectoral Policy on Sheltering Services and the
and strengthen the White Paper Policy on Provision of Psychosocial Services. These policies
• The Department developed the draft implementation plan for were presented and approved by the relevant Department’s
the White Paper. The plan provides for the implementation management structures for implementation. The VSS Bill
of the White Paper by the Social Development Sector, other and both policies are critical as designed to address the gaps
government departments, with the responsibility for the delivery identified in all the existing victim empowerment services
of social welfare services, non-governmental organisations and legislation.
community-Based Organisations. The Implementation Plan • The Department continues to monitor the implementation of
was consulted with the national government departments, the the Social Service Professions Act, 1978 (Act No.110 of 1978).
non–governmental organisations, the institutions of higher During the reporting period, the Department commenced with
learning, professional bodies and associations. the work to develop, amend and review the regulations on
• Finalisation of the Social Service Practitioners Draft Bill. The the SSP Act. Similarly, the Department amended regulations
draft Bill was approved by Cabinet in the 2019/20 financial on nominations and election of members of Council and
year, and subsequently gazetted for public comments. The developed draft regulations pertaining the scope of practice
public comments were used to redraft the Bill and it was for the social work profession and continued professional
subsequently submitted to the Office of the Chief State Law development for social service professions.
Advisor (OCSLA). The Bill will be submitted to Cabinet in the
new financial year. To this end, OCSLA submitted comments and The Department further implemented several interventions to
legal opinion on the SSP Draft Bill. The Department considered strengthen delivery of welfare services. Among these were the
the comments and legal opinion from OCSLA, updated the Bill following:
and developed a detailed response on identified areas. The • The Department rolled out the Sinovuyo Teenage Parenting
updated Bill and response were submitted to the OCSLA in Programme. The purpose of the Sinovuyo Teenage Parenting
November 2021. Further feedback was received from OCSLA Programme seeks to improve caregiver-teenager relationship
in December 2021. The Department will review the feedback through active social learning, improving caregiver mental
from the OCSLA, update the Bill and resubmit it for final health through social support and improving caregiver-
certification. In addition to this, the Socio-Economic Impact teenager communication about risky situations for teens in the
Assessment System (SEIAS) report on Bill was developed community. Sinovuyo programme aims to:
and submitted to Department of Performance, Monitoring • Improve positive parenting skills
and Evaluation (DPME) for certification, which was granted in • Help teenagers to manage their behaviour
August 2021. • Improve mental health and social support
• The Older Persons Amendment Bill was presented to Cabinet • Improve problem solving skills and
in August 2021 and approved to be tabled in Parliament. Post • Help families respond better to crisis situations
Cabinet’s approval, the Bill was submitted to the Office of the • The Department is in a process of developing Interdepartmental
Chief State Law Advisor (OCSLA) for final certification. The Protocol to collectively collaborate, integrate and deal with
amendment Bill was certified to comply with the Constitution cases of migrant children in the country. During the period
and other legislative framework and final certification was under review, a total of eighteen (18) children were repatriated
issued by the OCSLA in January 2022. The amendment Bill was to their countries of origin with the aim of reunifying them with
then gazetted in March 2022, Government Gazette, Vol. 681 No their families, and will be able to provide adoption services as
46032. Letters for tabling the Amendment Bill in Parliament required by the Legislation.
and the Memorandum on the Objects of the Bill were sent to • A total of nine hundred and sixty-three (963) adoptions were
the Ministry for submission to Parliament. registered, which includes eight hundred and thirty-four (834)
• The Department developed implementation plan and a multi-
sectoral report of the Older Persons Act, 2006 (Act No. 13 of
2006). The implementation plan and a multi-sectoral report

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