Social Development
- Whether his Department fund any programmes in the Stellenbosch Municipal area for (a) youth development, (b) substance abuse, (c) general abuse and (d) rehabilitative services; if so, (i) what is the nature, (ii) commencement date, and (iii) budget allocated for these programmes and (iv) how is the community made aware of these programmes; if not, why not;
(2) whether there are plans in place to provide future initiatives of this nature in the areas; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Yes, the Department of Social Development does indeed fund youth development programmes in the Stellenbosch area.
- The nature is that of skills development programmes that focus on NEETS. Holistic development of young people with a view to link them to work placement opportunities.
- Bergzicht Training Academy is funded from July 2014 to 31 March 2015
- The budget allocated is R60 000
- NGOs use their own communication channels to reach suitable young people. The staff in the regions also makes referrals to this NGO as they come across young people in terms of their case loads, i.e. social welfare services. Furthermore, the youth coordinator in the region works with young people in terms of our own programmes and also makes referrals to the NGOs where specific services are needed.
(b) The Department of Social Development has a departmental treatment centre called De Novo which provides in-patient treatment services to 470 service users per annum over a nine week treatment cycle. The department also funds an early intervention and aftercare program in the Stellenbosch Municipal area, and in addition funds an inpatient treatment centre situated in the area to provide services to youth and adults.
(i) Early intervention services refer to the screening, assessment, brief intervention and referral of individuals and or families affected by substance abuse. After care services refers to the re integration of individuals after receiving treatment services. Inpatient treatment service is a residential treatment program for individual’s that has a substance abuse disorder and can benefit by such programme.
new financial year.
(iii) The Early Intervention and After Care services are funded at a cost of R383 980 and the Inpatient Treatment services at a cost of R 2898 888. The total cost of funding is R3 282 868 for this financial year 2014/15.
(iv) Awareness is raised through service providers in the area.
(c) The Victim Empowerment Programme of the Department of Social Development funds a shelter in the Stellenbosch Municipal Area.
(i) This shelter provides emergency safe space for adult victims of crime (i.e.
domestic violence or sexual assault). The shelter is also one of four shelter
organisations in the Western Cape that provides shelter space for victims of
human trafficking. Skills development is also provided at the shelter for
residents to enable them to become economically active, as part of the
reintegration services offered.
(ii) The shelter has been funded since 2010/11 financial year
(iii) The current funding allocation for the 2014/15 financial year is R500 994, 00
(d) Please see point ‘b’.
The Department is always looking for ways to expand our reach and increase service opportunities and support to young people, particularly in rural communities. We remain committed to expanding partnerships with municipalities and the private sector in this regard.
