Page 59 - DSD ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2

PERFORMANCE BY PROGRAMME PART B: PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The Department, through its partnership with HWSETA, funded
In preparation for establishment of the 5th Council and Professional nine (9) students to register in an institution of higher learning.
Boards, processes for advertisement on both government gazette Older Persons Services
and national newspapers have commenced. The submission of During the reporting period, the Older Persons Amendment Bill was
updated nomination forms for Council, and both Professional Boards presented to Cabinet in August 2021 and approved to be tabled in
has been submitted to communication for branding. The unit also Parliament. Post Cabinet’s approval, the bill was submitted to the
facilitated consultations and interviews of relevant stakeholders Office of the Chief State Law Advisor (OCSLA) for final certification.
for the project on Development of Induction Policy and Induction The amendment Bill was certified to comply with the Constitution
Manual for members of Council and Professional Boards which is at and other legislative framework and final certification was issued
its final stages of development. by the OCSLA in January 2022.

The Appeal Committee established in terms of Section 25 of the The amendment Bill was then gazetted in March 2022 in the
Social Service Professions Act, 1978 (Act No.110 of 1978) held Government Gazette, Vol. 681 No 46032. Letters for tabling the
sessions and considered four appeal cases lodged by social workers Amendment Bill in Parliament and the Memorandum on the
against decisions of the Disciplinary Committee of the Council. Objectives of the Bill were sent to the Ministry for submission to
Appeal outcomes were developed and submitted to the Department. Parliament.

The Department continued to support to the South African Council During the period under review, the Department developed an
for Social Service Professions (SACSSP). The Department received implementation plan and a multi-sectoral report of the Older
the business plan submitted by SACSSP for purposes of funding Persons Act, 2006 (Act No. 13 of 2006). The implementation plan
for the period 2021/22 to 2023/24 financial years. However, the and a multi-sectoral report were developed to address Cabinet’s
funding could not be transferred during the 2021/22 financial recommendations. The plan and the report were developed through
year. An evaluation report was developed and feedback on the two (2) national consultative workshops in October 2021 and
submission of the revised business plan was communicated for the February 2022 respectively to address Cabinet’s recommendations.
attention of the Registrar. The report and the implementation plan were presented to the
Social Protection, Community and Human Development (SPCHD)
Regarding institutionalization of funding of the SACSSP, draft Cluster Technical Working Group (TWG) in February 2022.
business case on classification of Council was developed. The
Department conducted a benchmarking exercise with the Social Crime Prevention and Anti –Substance
South African Nursing Council and the South African Council for Abuse
Educators. The objective was to compare the SACSSP with these
two councils of similar mandate. Subsequently, internal processes Social Crime Prevention
were initiated to hand-over the project on classification of Council
and institutionalization of its funding to the Entity Oversight unit. During the 2021/22 financial year, the Department conducted
Anti-Gangsterism Strategy Educational Sessions with parents
The Department also held a session on national assessment of and children in nine (9) high risk districts, namely, Gert Sibande
the Social Work Veterans Programme on 08 - 09 March 2022. The and Ehlanzeni Districts in Mpumalanga, Buffalo City in Eastern
objective of the session was to assess the programme in terms of Cape, Mopani and Vhembe Districts in Limpopo, Amajuba District
relevance, sustainability towards 2030, efficiency and effectiveness in KwaZulu-Natal, Lejweleputswa District in Free State, Dr
as a professional support and quality assurance body. The unit Ruth Mompati District in North West and Johannesburg Metro
further facilitated development of a concept paper for Social Work in Gauteng. Key activities includes awareness on causes of
Day commemoration in liaison with internal communication. In this gangsterism and bullying; granting platform for parents to share
regard, the Minister issued a media statement on commemoration how they are affected by gangsterism as individuals, family and
of the day on 15 March 2022. community; utilizing testimonies of rehabilitated and reformed
former-gangsters (adult and a child) to motivate and encourage the
The Department continued to implement its Social Work Scholarship parents and children to take steps to prevent gangsterism; knowing
Programme. During the 2021/22 financial year, the Department and identifying signs when the children are in gangs; how children
provided support to scholarship support to students in KwaZulu- reach out for help with parents when they feel bullied and have an
Natal and Free State. The Department conducted joint meeting urge to join gangs and to use the information on their rulers and
with UNISA-KZN campuses with third year students to identify pencil cases to get assistance.
challenges impacting on possible non-completion of studies at the
end of academic year. During the reporting period, the Department conducted education
and awareness campaigns at thirty-two (32) campuses amongst
A report has been developed for further engagements with the KZN children and youth in institutions of higher learning and colleges.
provincial departments on management plan when the scholarship The campaigns are implemented with anticipated outcomes
programme is terminated at the end March 2021. Similarly, a joint for curbing social-ills, empowering children and youth on a
meeting was also held with Free State management team and comprehensive knowledge on crime prevention related matters at
University of Free State (UFS) to deal with challenges experienced an early stage for future benefits. This contributes to the priorities
by UFS fourth year students. The Department continued to monitor of government, especially; Social Cohesion and Safe Communities
disbursement of scholarship funds by National Student Financial and Economic Transformation and Job Creation.
Aid Scheme (NSFAS). In this regard, approval was granted to conduct
an audit of NSFAS, in consideration of processes for the close out of
the scholarship programme.

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2021/22 59