The DA submitted the Child Welfare Petition to Parliament and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
According to MP Mike Waters, over 2 000 signatures have been collected in demand for the Department of Social Development to fund the East Rand Child Welfare organisations.
“I have handed in the East Rand Child Welfare Petition to Parliament and sent a copy to the SAHRC,” said MP Waters.
“The next step is for the Portfolio Committee on Social Development to deal with the petition and for the SAHRC to consider the weight of the petition with regards to their current investigation into the gross underfunding of children’s services,” he said.
MP Waters said full funding is demanded for the services provided on behalf of the government – services government is obliged to provide by law.
“The DA would like to thank all the people who took the time to sign the petition. Many East Rand Child Welfare organisations are facing crippling financial shortages, with government underfunding them by between 50 to 77 percent,” said MP Waters.
The DA will continue monitoring the matter and will provide feedback to the public.
