Parliament, Friday 21 April2023 – One of government’s essential poverty intervention programmes, the provision of sanitary towels to disadvantaged girl children is marred by allegations of possible fraud and corruption in Mpumalanga.
The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has resolved to write to the province’s MEC for Social Development, the Head of Department,the Chief Financial Officer as well as the bid Committee, requesting them to provide clarity on allegations of malpractice that include price inflation,supply of poor quality and faulty products, among others.
During an engagement with the department yesterday as part of the Committee’s oversight programme in the province, the committee raised concerns about the multimillion rand programme, in particular on provincial government spending and the quality of the products.
It also emerged that the school girls receive inadequate supplies. Sanitary products provided are expected to last for a six-month period, while the provisioning should be enough to last for a year. Members of the committee also raised concerns about whether the “one pack a month” provisioning was sufficient and realistic.
“We will refer the provincial government expenditure on this programme to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for further scrutiny to ensure that government is getting value for money.”
“Some people are using the programme for enrichment when the intention was for children in need to get dignity packs - it would very be unfortunate if it is true that suppliers are enriching themselves at the expense of poor children by providing pads with defects,” said committee Chairperson Ms Nonhlanhla Ncube-Ndaba.
The committee was not impressed with reports that some schools were excluded from the dignity packs supply and called on the responsible officials to ensure that every deserving child gets sanitary towels.
The committee also met with senior officials from the Office of the Premier for a briefing on Special Programmes targeting women, the elderly, youth as well as people with disabilities, and the Provincial Gender Machinery.
Other provincial departments that appeared before the committee to discuss matters related to service delivery for victims of gender-based and domestic violence,included the Department of Health, the Department of Social Development, as well as the National Prosecuting Authority and the police. Engagements with the National Youth Development Agency also continued.
The committee also engaged with local non-profit organisation GRIP, which has established shelters and provides support to survivors of gender-based violence and abuse.
The committee concludes its visit to the Province on today.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WOMEN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, MS NONHLANHLA NCUBE-NDABA.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson of the Committee, please contact:
Name: Sakhile Mokoena
Cell: 081 705 2130
Email:smokoena@parliament.gov.za
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