conversations with the leaders
Minister Dlamini spearheads efforts to build a caring country
W
ith an Honours degree in social work on the
ment has contributed to implementing government’s
one hand and practical experience in the field
comprehensive social security strategy through social
on the other, it is clear that Social Development
assistance programmes,” she points out.
Minister Bathabile Dlamini truly cares about the social wellbeing of South Africans. This concern for the welfare of others is spurring on the Minister and her department to develop programmes to create a more caring society. As the country commemorates Social Development Month during October, Noluthando Mkhize found
Social grants are an integral part of the programme. “There are currently over 16 million persons receiving social grants in South Africa.” According to Minister Dlamini, of these 11 million are children, three million are senior citizens receiving older persons' grants and about 600 receive the war veterans’ grant.
out more about these efforts. In 1989, Minister Dlamini graduated from the Univer-
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), which
(Honours degree) in Social Work, which she passed with
administers social grants, has had its fair share of fraud
distinction. She then put this knowledge into practice,
and corruption-related cases but Minister Dlamini says
working as a social worker at a non-profit organisation
her department is fighting this scourge through its fraud
called the Pietermaritzburg Cripples Association in
prevention strategy.
KwaZulu-Natal in the 1990s. It was during this time, says the Minister, that she realised that social assistance programmes for families living in poverty needed to be the cornerstone of the government’s support to these families. “Over the years the Department of Social Develop-
10
Fighting fraud and corruption
sity of Zululand in KwaZulu-Natal with a Bachelor of Arts
“It is pleasing to note that our fraud prevention strategy, which we have rigorously employed over the past few years, is having the desired impact. “This can be seen in the number of cases recorded year-on-year from the 2013/14 financial year to date. Between April 2013 and March 2014 about 3 571 cases
Public Sector Manager • October 2015