Ms I Mars MP

First of all, I want to congratulate the new Chairperson of the Social Development Portfolio Committee, Honourable Mike Masutha. We have known and worked with him for over 13 years.  We have always appreciated his insights and legal expertise. 

After an absence of some six months, I have been redeployed to this Committee and am looking forward to rejoining my colleagues. 

The IFP has taken note of all amendments proposed which have been considered by the Portfolio Committee and agree with amendments that are aimed at strengthening the protection of children. 

A major concern arose over Paragraph 139 referred to in the Media as the "Spanking Bill". Very sensibly, the Portfolio Committee dropped this clause and deferred it for further discussions at a later stage. We support this decision.

Since the death of so many parents due to HIV/AIDS, child-headed households have always been a matter of grave concern to us. We salute the young people who have taken upon themselves the responsibility of taking care of their siblings, frequently having to give up their schooling.  We understand why they so desperately want to remain together as a family unit. 

Therefore it is of utmost importance that these family-units are recognised, as provided by this bill. We agree that there is a need for an approved responsible adult to supervise them and to assist them in assessing the help the state has allocated. 

We need to be very sensitive to the issues raised by ACCESS, namely that 40% of our must vulnerable eligible children are unable to access these grants because they lack birth certificates, and also that potential care-givers lack IDs. 

We need to take note of the court case ACCESS has brought against the Ministry and Department of Social Development and hope that the outcome will enable us to find a way of documenting these victims of circumstances beyond their control. Grants are there for the very purpose of alleviating hardships for children. 

The question of 'doing the right thing' for street children has always been a vexed one and a serious concern.  These children constitute a sub-culture in many cities around the globe and one wonders if there is any conclusive research available informing us as to a way of dealing of this.  We agree, of course, that a multi-sectoral response is needed - the question we raise - are there success stories that we can learn from? 

As I have not participated in the extensive deliberations on this Bill, I have only marked two issues. I am happy, however to support the Children's Amendment Bill on behalf of the Inkatha Freedom Party.

Thank you