SOUTH AFRICA-POLITICS: SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE POOR DELAYED

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

CHRIS LOUW

PRETORIA, Nov 24 1994 (IPS) - IMPLEMENTATION OF SOUTH AFRICA’S AMBITIOUS MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (RDP) HAS PROVED MORE DIFFICULT THAN EXPECTED, MAINLY BECAUSE THE NECESSARY STRUCTURES ARE NOT YET IN PLACE.

HARDEST HIT BY DELAYS IN GETTING THE 800-MILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAMME OFF THE GROUND ARE THE POOR AND NEEDY WHO HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS THAT AN AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC) GOVERNMENT WOULD PROVIDE FOR THEIR NEEDS.

IMPOVERISHED SQUATTERS AND RURAL PEOPLE THIS WEEK LEARNED THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL ABOUT MID-1995 BEFORE PROMISED CLINICS FOR BASIC MEDICAL CARE ARE ERECTED.

A 50 MILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE MADE AVAILABLE BY THE RDP OFFICE IN PRETORIA TO BUILD 780 MEDICAL CLINICS CANNOT BE USED BECAUSE THE NINE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN ACCORDED THE NECESSARY POWERS.

THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DR. COEN SLABBER, NOTES THAT ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, SOUTH AFRICA URGENTLY NEEDS ANOTHER 1,600 CLINICS. BUT ONLY THE DELAYED 780 WILL BE BUILT IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

ENOUGH FUNDS WERE MADE AVAILABLE BY THE RDP OFFICE TO ENGAGE STAFF, ACQUIRE MEDICINE AND COVER RUNNING COSTS.

“BUT WE HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN GETTING THE CLINIC SCHEME OFF THE GROUND BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF THE NINE PROVINCES ARE NOT YET DEVELOPED. HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN APPOINTED TO START THE PROJECT AND SEE IT THROUGH,” SAID SLABBER.

THE DIRECTOR GENERAL SAID THERE WOULD BE A DELAY OF “A FEW MONTHS” BEFORE THE PROGRAMME COULD BE IMPLEMENTED.

THE CLINICS ARE PLANNED MAINLY IN RURAL AREAS AND SQUATTER CAMPS IN THE CITIES. PREVENTIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING VACCINATION, WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE FACILITIES.

PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF THE RDP INCLUDE AN UNDERTAKING BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CITIZEN IS DECENTLY FED AND THAT PREGNANT MOTHERS RECEIVE ALL THE CARE THEY NEED WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

THERE ARE ALSO PLANS TO SETTLE BLACK FARMERS ON 300,000 HECTARES OF STATE LAND. COMMUNITIES WILL ALSO BE TAUGHT TO CULTIVATE.

SOUTH AFRICA-POLITICS: SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE POOR DELAYED

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

CHRIS LOUW

PRETORIA, Nov 24 1994 (IPS) - IMPLEMENTATION OF SOUTH AFRICA’S AMBITIOUS MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (RDP) HAS PROVED MORE DIFFICULT THAN EXPECTED, MAINLY BECAUSE THE NECESSARY STRUCTURES ARE NOT YET IN PLACE.
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