SACP KZN To Make Submission On Social Security

1 November 2002

As part of the 2002 Red October Campaign, the KwaZulu Natal Province of the South African Communist Party (SACP) will make a Submission to the Portfolio Committee on Social Security at the KwaZulu Natal Provincial Legislature calling for an overhaul of the social security programme.

The Submission will focus on the following:

• Practical service delivery problems
• Shortcomings in the social security system including the need to publicly debate the Taylor Commission recommendation for the consideration of a Basic Income Grant
• Review of privatised pension payout systems with a view to transforming the publicly owned Postbank to act as the main distribution agency for social welfare grants
• Action on food prices and food security

The KwaZulu Natal Provincial Legislature is situated at Longmarket Street in Pietermaritzburg.

Following the submission the SACP will also visit the family of Mr. Zachariah Ntuli, a 61 year old pensioner who died waiting at a pension payout point in Pietermaritzburg (at 240 Berger Street) on Wednesday, 30 October.

The SACP KZN submission follows various activities in the province including public meetings, monitoring of social welfare offices, and meetings with the Department of Home Affairs. Some of the problems that were identified include the fact that many poor families are simply not aware of their social security rights. There are often huge problems for poor people when trying to apply for social security – they do not have IDs, there are massive delays in Home Affairs offices, the process is cumbersome, officials are rude. Medical certificates for disability grants are refused on an arbitrary basis. Our social security system is still based on the false assumption that it is only the very young among the poor, the “temporarily” unemployed, the disabled, and the elderly who need social security grants.

CONTACT
Smiso Nkwanyana
SACP KwaZulu Natal Provincial Secretary
Cell: 082 468 7184
OR
Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information & Publicity
South African Communist Party
Tel: 27 11 339-3621/2, Fax: 27 11 339-4244 Cell: 083 651 0271
Email - mazibuko@sacp.org.za