of Social Development over the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa , slow response of management to address weaknesses, payment of social grants to ineligible beneficiaries and invalid lease contracts, to mention but a few. To add insult to injury, the department returned over R6 billion to Treasury; R6 billion while South Africa is reeling from a shortage of social workers. We are a mere six years from the National Development Plan, NDP, deadline of 2030, which recognises the critical need for social welfare services, particularly in the areas of gender- based violence, crime, child protection, violence prevention, substance abuse, trauma counselling, mental health and care for the elderly. At this rate, it is absolutely impossible that the target of 55 000 social service practitioners by 2030 will be achieved.

The DA will however be keeping a close eye on the implementation of the department's strategy at an estimated cost of R9 billion. At the rate and pace of absorption of unemployed social workers into the system, this is just another ANC pipedream and lip service to which the most vulnerable in this country have become accustomed. That is, until 2024, when the DA will implement a decent social development policy. I thank you, Chairperson.

Mr E MTHETHWA: Chairperson, the EFF rejects this report. In a country where we have so many social ills, it is inconceivable that a department tasked with the mandate that it is tasked with can fail to employ the very same social workers that it has paid in terms of their scholarships.

The country is in dire need of social workers and we have thousands of social workers currently unemployed across the country because of this department. Not only that, there is no staff stability in the department. The department is run by acting senior managers. I think it is a Hollywood set-up there. There is no plan to appoint managers on a permanent basis anytime soon.

The Social Relief of Distress, SRD, Grant is a total mess because people who apply are never given feedback. There is a serious audit that must be done to determine where these monies go to, because in most cases the money never reaches the people it is intended for. Not even the department is able to act swiftly in helping elderly people in the interim, like those who were recently paid with fake notes by Pick 'n Pay in Ivory Park. Had it not been for the Good Samaritans of the EFF, the elderly people would have gone without food for the month because they had not resolved that matter.

The department keeps rejecting applications from nonprofit organisations, NPOs, that are rendering crucial services simply on the basis of some vague criteria that the department uses. The most ridiculous of this department's failures is that relating to Sassa and the administration of grants. Sassa constantly fails our elderly people and all other grant recipients with their failure to upgrade their systems, leaving thousands of beneficiaries stranded each month. The department is also not friendly towards disabled people. People who would otherwise qualify for disability grants, must wait for months before they are admitted. Thank you, Chair. We reject the report.

Ms L L VAN DER MERWE: Hon House Chairperson, at a time when South Africa faces deep and severe social challenges, Prince Buthelezi's legacy, which we remember today, was one of service to the poor and marginalised. History records that the schools, the hospitals, the homes, the universities that were built in KwaZulu-Natal were due to his leadership. He remained deeply rooted in the service to his people. His example of servant leadership saw life changing opportunities for many disadvantaged South Africans.

Turning to this Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report, BRRR, it is unfortunate to note that not much has changed since last year. Vacancies remain, fraud and corruption at South African Social Security Agency, Sassa, remains, Sassa still pays people who are not eligible to receive the grant.

The grant chaos which recently saw millions of beneficiaries, especially the elderly, go without food for