Dr. Ntombifti Nala
On May 24, 1994, South Africa's newly elected democratic president, Nelson Mandela, stood before Parliament in his first State of the Union address and promised the government:
“Our government's commitment to creating a people-centered free society is the pursuit of the goals of freedom from want, freedom from hunger, freedom from deprivation, freedom from ignorance, freedom from oppression, and freedom from fear. These freedoms are fundamental to guaranteeing human dignity. They therefore form part of the core of what this government is trying to achieve and require our attention. What we have said constitutes the true meaning, legitimacy and purpose of the Reconstruction and Development Plan, without which the plan would lose all legitimacy. You will lose it.”
Statistics South Africa recently released its fourth census report since the dawn of democracy in 1994. This report clearly demonstrated that the policies and programs implemented by our government have borne fruit and that significant progress has been made in redressing past imbalances. We still have much work to do, but we are certainly on track to ensure that the vision of our beloved Founding Fathers is still within our reach.
This report helps governments understand the long-term impact of various government policies and programs on the country and its people. The 2022 Census challenges us in many areas, as well as challenges that will require us to work harder than ever to realize our Founders' dream of ensuring a better life for all. It reveals the remarkable progress we have made.
For those who lived under apartheid and remember its devastation, the census findings show that we have indeed changed for the better, and that our development is no coincidence since 1994. It conclusively shows that this is due to plans from various government programs implemented since 2007.
It also shows that our social welfare system is making a huge difference to the lives of the poorest households, especially school children, by keeping no one below the minimum standard of living. The introduction of free schools, early childhood education and school nutrition programs has undoubtedly had a positive impact on improving enrollment and the outcomes of the education system.
More than nine million learners benefit from the National School Nutrition Programme, which contributes to the realization of the country's Millennium Development Goals, especially in terms of increasing access to education for the poor. This program improves learners' academic performance by providing healthy meals at school. This means children learn better because they are not hungry, resulting in almost 100 per cent attendance for children up to the age of at least 15.
Our progress has been made in that our social protection systems help protect vulnerable people and ensure they can meet their basic needs, according to a 2021 World Bank report. It is emphasized. It has been a center for changing lives and a starting point for change in communities across the country. It is also central to the government's poverty alleviation program and to restoring the dignity of its people.
Our social protection systems help protect the poorest and most vulnerable members of society, those who have traditionally been excluded from the economy, and those who have been denied the opportunities to learn and develop. It consists of a basket of social grants. Social grants are by far the largest part of the social security system, with over 18 million recipients. Social subsidies provide economic stability for many families and contribute to improving people's standard of living.
As a caring government, we will continue to provide social assistance to poor and vulnerable South Africans. Through this, we continue to improve the living conditions of poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged South Africans. These include unemployed South Africans and orphans and vulnerable children living in child-headed households.
It is sometimes forgotten that the vast majority of people in this country were excluded from receiving social grants under apartheid. They were discriminated against on the basis of race, which left our country with high levels of poverty and inequality. Children suffered the most under apartheid, with UNICEF saying nearly a fifth were underweight and malnourished, making them more susceptible to health problems such as cognitive delays and long-term impairment. It is said to be in a state of
This situation resulted in many children under the age of five not attending school or nursery school in the early 1990s. Against this background, when former President Nelson Mandela took office in 1994, he prioritized rebuilding the country torn apart by apartheid and reforming the unfairly distributed social security system. One of his administration's early decisions was to provide free medical care to children under 6 and pregnant women. Therefore, it is no coincidence that we are seeing improvements in life expectancy, health, and education levels.
Some people mistakenly believe that our social assistance programs are just handouts, or that we are celebrating an increase in the number of recipients. This is far from the truth. Social grants provide economic security for many families and are the main source of income for many South Africans. They bring stability to the family. Contribute to improving people's living standards and building a more just society.
In most cases, subsidies such as pensions, disability benefits, and child support grants support entire households. Without social assistance safety nets, which have proven to help reduce poverty in South Africa, many households would fall into poverty.
Of course, social subsidies are a short-term solution. Our long-term goal is to create job opportunities and increase access to education and training through the Economic Recovery and Recovery Plan and other initiatives such as the President's Stimulus.
However, we know that there is still much work to do and continue to improve poverty levels while raising household income levels as we strive to secure a better tomorrow for all. I will try my best.