Service delivery has over the years been at the centre
of the country’s programme of action, and without service delivery life is
difficult to those who rely on Government for living such as orphans and
vulnerable children, those in Early Childhood Development and drug addicts. With
budget cuts, things are may start to be more difficult.
 
“The announcement of budget cuts by the Minister of
finance Tito Mboweni will have a significant impact on certain services” said
Chief Financial Officer, Johann Strauss. 
 
The Department will have to shift funds in order to accommodate
other services. He said all regions and institutions will have to share R2,5
million for maintenance in Gauteng. He added that there will also be budget cut
in goods/services, non-profit institutions, machinery/equipment and
compensations of employees.
 
This was echoed by Legal Services Director, Victor
Languza who said the department must understand that it will be difficult to
accommodate service at the highest level, due to budget cuts and the growing
number of beneficiaries on the programmes. Though there are challenges DSD
believes with strategy in place and commitments made lots of the challenges will
be dealt with within the available resources. Directorates need to document, inform
and quantify the implication of the budget cuts to reach their targets.
Legislative framework and political pronouncement remain the focus.
 
To tackle this, the Gauteng Department of Social Development
held a three days’ strategic retreat plans at Turffontein Race Course, South of
Johannesburg to outline plans for the financial year 2020/2021 in advancing
service delivery. The strategy retreat programme sought to develop ways to
address amongst others poverty and substance abuse in the province.
 
Addressing the gathering Department’s Social Welfare Services
Deputy Director-General, Onkemetse Kabasia said the budget must be placed where
it is needed the most to fight challenges people of Gauteng faces daily. 
 
Speaking at the same gathering the University of Cape Town’s
Head of Social Development Professor Ndangwa Noyoo told officials that
commitment is a tool to drive transformation. “Skhathi sfikile - time has come,
we can’t move away from our current realities, and young people must also come
forth to help strengthen ways to deal with issues facing the Gauteng Department
of Social Development”.