|
A new social package has been launched
which widens the safety net for vulnerable people in Joburg. Even homeless
people can benefit.
Member of the mayoral committee for community development, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza
(Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
THE Siyazana Social Package, which will
replace the old indigent subsidy scheme from 1 July, was one of the main topics
at a community development imbizo held at the Metro Centre in Braamfontein.
Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, the member of the
mayoral committee for community development, told the audience of about 500
that a number of projects had been set up to improve the lives of residents.
"These range from the essentials, like
helping the poor access social grants and providing food parcels for the needy.
Of particular importance is lending support to vulnerable individuals such as
women and children by means of empowerment and through eradication of poverty
and inequality."
One of these was the new social package.
"The Siyazana Social Package is different in many ways [from the indigent
subsidy scheme]. The most important change is that you don't need to be an
account holder to apply for subsidies ... You can also apply as a homeless person
or if you have no formal address."
To qualify, one needs to earn less than R3 366
a month, residing as owner, tenant or lodger on a property in Joburg.
Beneficiaries will receive 10 kilolitres of water and 100 kilowatt hours of
electricity - for City Power customers - for free each month.
If the beneficiary owns the property, and
the property is valued at not more than R1,5-million on the Valuation Roll, he
or she will also get a 100 percent rebate on rates and sewer and refuse
charges.
Registration open
Registrations for this new system are open, and 30 offices across the city will
be able to register people by June. To apply, people must have a South African identity
book; City account holders - even if they are tenants - must bring a copy of
the property's utilities account.
Those who have no account with the
municipality - such as the homeless - can register as having no address, but
they will not get the benefits that go with the property subsidies. They will
be eligible for other subsidies, like social assistance grants and for help finding
employment through the Job Pathways programme.
Capital projects, sports and recreation,
libraries and information services, art, culture and heritage, and human
development were among the other issues discussed at the imbizo, held on 4
March.
"[The] department wants Johannesburg to be a city where community
development, personal growth and social mobility are enhanced so that the challenges
of poverty and vulnerability, inequality and social exclusion are fundamentally
addressed," Mayathula-Khoza said.
It had four missions in this regard:
- To advance human development by centrally co-ordinating
strategy and developing enabling mechanisms for addressing poverty,
inequality and social exclusion in all City departments;
- To provide residents with creative and cultural outlets, and
access to galleries, theatres and museums, and to celebrate the city's
diverse heritage;
- To create opportunities for the upliftment and advancement of
communities through sport and recreation, and libraries; and
- To provide and maintain public facilities in order to ensure a
world-class physical environment.
Other projects
Speaking about her department's other projects, Mayathula-Khoza said: "Under
human development for the youth, we have launched Ke-moja Youth Awareness of
HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy and substance abuse. We have also launched a farm
for the youth in Meyerton to eradicate poverty and equip them with skills. We
also have a computer literacy training programme for domestic workers at the
Techno Centre in Randburg."
The Job Pathways programme linked
individuals to employment opportunities. People registering for the programme
would be evaluated based on job readiness, classed as "not work ready", "borderline"
or "work ready".
While the department worked hard to make Johannesburg a better
place, it still faced challenges, such as woman and child abuse. "To solve this
problem we are going to build centres that will focus on woman and child
abuse," she said.
"If the government works closely with [non-governmental
organisations] and faith-based organisations, we can achieve a lot."
Related stories:
|
