Due to many requests from our readers we have decided to publish in English the intervention of Hon.
“This Assembly resolves to call on the Government to study ways to better support families which are more vulnerable in particular single parent.”
Mr. Speaker there are laws which already exist to assist those who are more vulnerable in society. The pertinent law is the Social Security Act which was introduced in 1987. Since 1987 the Government has passed a series of regulations under the Act to assist those who are more vulnerable in society by putting at their disposal financial benefits base on the principle of a Welfare State that the Labour Government introduced in England in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. In 1987 President Michel, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, introduced regulation, i.e. Social Security (Benefits) (Amendment) Regulations, 1987, in which he announced the monthly benefits. Mr. Speaker I think that the question raised by this motion is as follows: Does that law makes provision for the government to assist those who are most vulnerable in society, particularly single mothers? Are the benefits provided for by the Social Security Act appropriate? Are these benefits reaching those who need them the most? If yes, are these benefits reaching these people quickly and without undue delay? Are the procedures which are already in place simple, easy and effective? And finally is everybody aware of the procedure to get assistance under the Social Security Act? Mr. Speaker, the law is in place and the funds have been put at the disposal of those who are more vulnerable or who need help in society the most. But do these people know exactly what they have to do and how to do it, in order to get access to these benefits?
Those benefits are as follows:
1987
1.Sickness Benefits R.775
2.Maternity Benefits R.775
3. Benefits for people who are involved in accidents at work and who cannot continue to work. R.775
4.Invalidity Benefits R. 950
5. Disability Benefits R. 775
6. Benefits for widows R.775
7. Funeral Benefits Where one member of a family who was working dies R.1500
8. Retirement Pension R.1000
9.Dependents’Benefits R.325 (for each child)(for adult) R350
10. Benefits for orphans or abandoned children R.475
These are in general the benefits which are provided for by the law, i.e. Social Security Act 1987. Since 1987 the government has introduced additional regulations with the aim of increasing those benefits taking into consideration the cost of living and in 2004, 7 years later, there was additional increment in benefits by average R.400 per month. Those were as follows :
1. Sickness Benefits R.1250
2. Maternity Benefits R.1250
3. Benefits for people who are involved in accidents at work and who cannot continue to work. R.1250
4. Invalidity Benefits R.1500
5. Disability Benefits R.1250
6. Benefits for widows R.1250
7. Funeral Benefits Where one member of a family who was working dies R.1500
8. Retirement Pension R.1550
9. Dependents’ Benefits (for adult) R.575 (for each child) R.625
10. Benefits for orphans or abandoned children R.750
Mr. Speaker, when I look at the Social Security Act I do not see provisions for benefits based on the « Means Testing » scheme. Another glaring provision which is absent in the Act is benefits to assist single mothers. I am aware that there is a means testing scheme which already exists and this globally looks at the financial means of a family and if this is under a certain level the family concerned can get help to assist them to live above the poverty line. Mr. Speaker, in 1992 the poverty line was set at the sum of R.900 per household per month even when the minimum wage at the time was R.1600 per month. Whereas for absolute poverty the line was set at R.500 per month. This means that a household that earns R.500 per month was considered as one which lives in absolute poverty. This is equivalent to USD 150 per month for poverty and USD 90 per month for absolute poverty. These sums which I have just mentioned was published in 1984 after the results of a survey was published. Mr. Speaker, on the 24th June 1994 a report published by Population and Human Resources Division Department III, Africa Region, entitled
Mr. Speaker, the Social Security Fund receives the sum of R. 400, 000, 000 per year. These contributions are made by employers, employees and the government as an employer of public sector workers. The government contributed R. 143, 000, 000 towards the Social Security Fund in 2006. From that sum the government transferred the sum of R.125, 000, 000 into government coffers. Mr. Speaker, this is where the bulk of the money from the Fund is going. This money was supposed to go to the ones who are most vulnerable in society and not in the pockets of the government. At the same time, 16% of household in
Mr. Speaker, what I have just illustrated shows clearly that the Social Security Act needs to be amended to make provisions to assist single mothers and household which earns less than R.2000 per month. Simple and clear criteria needs to be introduced for evrybody to know if they qualify or are eligible to receive assistance. A simple application form should also be placed at all District Administration Offices and also on the internet so that these people can be assisted to fill them up and then send them by e-mail on the same day to the Ministry concerned. The District Administrator and his staff should also assist people to fill in the forms and then immediately send them to the person concerned in the respective Ministries.
People who needs help should be able to get help immediately. It is necessary therefore, for the government to give the applicants the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the correct procedure to adopt should be for the government to give minimum assistance immediately to all those who apply and then conduct a follow up to ascertain if the person needs further assistance and for how long. This system has been tried and tested in several countries and has been proven to work. However, at the same time there should be severe punishment for those who abuse the system. Mr. Speaker, the other day a lady with 6 children and who’s husband had been arrested and detained by the police was unfortunate enough to experience our cumbersome government bureacracy first hand. In desperation she had to knock on all the doors to beg for help after all attempts to get government assistance failed. She quickly realised that when you are in dire strait, you cannot depend on the government for assistance. She went to the Ministry concerned and after spending a whole day there she was finally informed that she has to go to her district to make an application for assistance. In the districts we all know that the District Administrator, more often than not, sits on your file before she forward the same to the relevant Ministry. When the file reaches the Minister we do not know exactly how long it takes for the Minister to approve an application because normally an investigation is conducted to ascertain whether the case is a genuine one or a bogus. This can take as much as several weeks. In the meantime the applicants continue to suffer hardship.
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the government must create a climate where we continue to experience recurring economic growth to render the Social Security Fund sustainable in the long run. The government must also simplify the procedures for a person to be able to make his application quickly and then get an answer and decision on his application swiftly. The government should also stop the arbitrary practice of withdrawing money from the Fund and introduce reform in the Social Security Act to enable more people to qualify to receive benefits such as single mothers, those who live below the poverty line and those who live in absolute poverty. These measures, if introduced, I think, would be a step in the right direction. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.