Patricia de Lille was appointed as Minister of Social Development in the Western Cape. Photo: Carolyn Meads via Flickr
Premier Helen Zille has reshuffled her cabinet in the Western Cape and Patricia de Lille has been appointed as the new Minister of Social Development. It will now be interesting to see what the impact will be on the social development sector in the province.
Polity.org reports that De Lille said: “Social development is my passion. For 24 years I’ve been fighting for the poor and the downtrodden. You won’t find me in an office, I will be out there dealing with the problems on the ground.”
This follows after the ID, the political party formed by De Lille in 2003, joined the DA on 15 August this year. According to Who’s Who of Southern Africa De Lille was the first woman to form a political party in this country.
South African History Online says De Lille has been vocal on “sensitive issues such as corruption, HIV/AIDS, women and child abuse, children in prison, xenophobia and poverty”. She also serves on the boards of the following organisations:
- Fikilela HIV/AIDS Project
- Age-in-Action
- Diocesan College-Bishops
- Nazareth House HIV/Aids Children
- St Josephs Home for chronically sick children
- Helen Suzman Foundation
- Impumelelo Innovation Awards
- Caring Network
- Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund
- HIV/Aids Babies Battling HIV/AIDS Trust
The new appointment might mean new energy in the sector. Whatever happens, the most important thing is the impact on the poorest communities. Will a new appointment make a difference to them?
Expect the new appointment to lead to more money flowing to Cape Town and the province’s poorer communities for urgently needed projects and services. Obviously not overnight, but in time.
The first issue that needs attention is the province’s promise, shortly after last year’s general election, that funding to NGO’s and organisations would be open and transparent. When I tested the website earlier this year to check on a specific case, it was not of much value as it reflected only grant funding of the previous financial year.
So Patricia would have her work cut out for her and I support her all the way.
Comment by Louise — September 10, 2010 @ 12:51 am
The link below is supposed to show Social Development’s allocation of grants to community projects and organisations. Improving the quality and relevance of the department’s information is perhaps one of the first problems for Patrica to have a look at.
For transparency-sake, the public and media must be able to see the size of the grant and the date of the allocation. It would also help to have a brief description of the activities of the beneficiary, so that the public/clients can assess if the grant is being used properly or wasted.
http://www.capegateway.gov.za/eng/your_gov/4190/pubs/public_info/O/183366
Comment by Louise — September 10, 2010 @ 1:10 am
The social development sector definitely requires drastic service delivery. Perhaps, with the new minister we will see more of needy communities / individuals benefiting from what is rightfully and morally theirs – at least from a social conscience point of view of those who have enough. Surely, the province can afford to look after her poor children. It’s the right thing to do. This city will definitely work for us.
Comment by Father Fano Ngcobo — November 30, 2010 @ 12:26 pm