Elderly people: grants - supplementary questions to Minister of Social Development (16 March 2005)The hon. Bici of the UDM reports that in his constituency, Engcobo, it is an official practice that elderly people who wish to access social grants must be accompanied by a ward councillor, the largest majority of whom are ANC councillors. It creates the impression that social grants can only be accessed by those aligning themselves with the ruling party.
Previously there have been complaints of similar party-political exploitation in the distribution of food parcels. Furthermore, last year the UDM raised in this House disturbing reports we have received that prior to the previous election people were actively recruited and assisted to access social grants by members of the ANC, only to discover after the election that they no longer qualify for these grants.
All of these cases involve activities of the Department of Social Development, and it is worth noting that another election is on the horizon.
Can the hon. Minister indicate what steps have or will he and the Department take in order to prevent that the Department and its services are not exploited or abused for party political gain?
