DSD ADVANCES KEY BILLS TO STRENGTHEN SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS

By Precious Mupenzi

• ⁠ ⁠DSD embarks on legislative reforms aimed at improving services for vulnerable groups and strengthening professional frameworks.
• ⁠Pressing timelines have ensured proposed reforms reach Parliamentary consideration in the current financial year.
• “We are focused on modernising our laws so that they empower our institutions, improve service delivery, and protect the rights of the vulnerable.” DSD’s Advocate Luyanda Mtshotshisa.

The Department of Social Development (DSD) is forging ahead with some legislative reforms aimed at improving services for vulnerable groups, strengthening professional frameworks, and addressing gaps in existing laws. Updates on these critical Bills were shared during the Social Development National Communicators Forum (NCF) session, which is currently underway in East London.

In an overview, the department’s legal expert, Advocate Luyanda Mtshotshisa, informed delegates from national and provincial social development departments, public entities SASSA, the National Development Agency (NDA )as well as the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).that work is progressing across several fronts.

Mtshotshisa said topping the list is the Victim Support Services Bill, which has already been submitted to Cabinet for consideration and is hoped to be a major milestone in strengthening support mechanisms for victims of crime and violence.
“Cabinet has provided comments, and the department is working to address these inputs with the aim of returning to Cabinet in the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year,” he said, explaining that if approved, the Bill will then be introduced to Parliament.

Also nearing the legislative stage is the Social Service Practitioners’ Bill, which seeks to modernise the framework governing social service professionals. The existing Social Service Professions Act dates back to 1978 and is now considered outdated.

According to Mtshotshisa, the Bill has been finalised and is awaiting Cabinet approval, with plans to table it in Parliament during the second quarter of the current financial year.

The DSD is also laying the groundwork for other key amendments to the National Development Agency (NDA) Amendment Bill that is expected to sharpen the NDA’s service delivery strategy and clarify its operational status outside the confines of public service, ultimately improving its efficiency and impact.

Mtshotshisa said similarly, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Amendment Bill is under internal consultation with a business case being prepared, following guidance from the Office of the Chief State Law Adviser. This Bill is designed to address administrative and governance issues flagged by Parliament and recent court rulings, potentially leading to more streamlined and accountable operations within the agency.

Turning to substance abuse legislation, Mtshotshisa said the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act is being reworked to tackle long-standing implementation hurdles.
“Early revisions are focusing on outdated definitions including in the structure of the Central Drug Authority, and practical issues such as the transfer of service users from the courts to treatment centres, and the closure processes for treatment facilities and halfway houses” he said.

The DSD intends to close systemic gaps in the child protection framework with some tweaks in the Children’s Amendment Bill which it is currently preparing for submission to Cabinet for approval to begin public consultations and possibly introduced to Parliament in either the second or third quarter of the current financial year.

Mtshotshisa said these legislative initiatives form part of DSD’s broader commitment to refining South Africa’s social support systems and ensuring they respond effectively to the realities on the ground.
“We are focused on modernising our laws so that they empower our institutions, improve service delivery, and protect the rights of the vulnerable.” he said.