This is according to the MEC for the department, Mamiki Qabathe, while delivering her budget speech in the Provincial Legislature on Tuesday.

With the department being allocated R1.375 billion for the 2019/20 financial year, she says her department will continue to wage war on these social ills that continue to cripple young people, persons with disabilities, and more importantly women and children.

Qabathe further spoke on her department's plan in ensuring that the scourge of women killings in the province, especially by their partners, is speedily dealt with.

She has again called on men to come up and speak about their issues with the hope that this will end the scourge.  She says men need to speak up about their issues and stop with the notion that if a man cries, they are seen as weak.

She says substance abuse among young people remains her department's largest concern. "Kids as young as seven years old are receiving treatment and rehabilitation for substance use disorder."

Over R1 million of her budget will be allocated to assist old age homes while over R2 million will go towards ensuring that the needs of children with disabilities are met.

Qabathe says a programme to fight the scourge of these killings of women and children is underway with various non-governmental organisations being funded by the department across the province to fight this.

The chairperson of the Portfolio committee on social development, Thabo Meeko, gave a vote of confidence in the department's budget. He welcomed the dedication of the budget towards the struggle stalwart, Charlotte Makgomo Maxeke.

Meeko of the African National Congress (ANC) welcomes both the State of the Province Address (Sona) delivered by premier, Sisi Ntombela, and today's speech by Qabathe that he says seeks to alleviate poverty.

Meeko says women and children murders reflects badly on the ANC-led government and further reaffirms her party's position to continue fighting the scourge.

OFM News