Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association (Johannesburg) - May 1, 2003
"The time has come for a concerted effort to assist children affected by HIV/Aids -- the DA calls for the launch of Operation Life Line", DA HIV/Aids spokesman Mike Waters said.
Waters was responding to an article in Wednesday's editon of the Johannesburg daily, The Star, in which it told the stories of 28 children who had been left to fend for themselves through the Aids epidemic.
"But there are thousands more kids like these and something should be done immediately to show them that there are people who care," Waters said. His proposed "Operation Life Line" would amend the law pertaining to social grants.
"It is unrealistic for the government to expect that every child will have a guardian to look after them, especially if one considers that there are almost half a million Aids orphans in South Africa."
Legislation now said only people over 21 could act as guardians, "...but many households have children much younger than that heading the household." He said he would be introducing a Private Member's Bill in this regard when Parliament reopened.
The possibility of registering NGOs or home-based care groups as guardians should also be investigated.
Waters also called for greater co-operation between the departments of social welfare and home affairs.
These two departments should establish "one stop shops" at which people could apply for social grants and identity documents simultaneously.
The Department of Home Affairs should also make arrangements for orphans who did not have the documents needed to apply for an identity document.
The departments would have to fill staff vacancies.
"Home affairs is reportedly 23 percent understaffed, while 1400 vacancies exist for social workers at social development," he said.
These organisations are already deployed in areas of need; it should be established whether they could administer the grants on behalf of Aids orphans.
"The government should shoulder most of the blame for the effect the Aids pandemic has had on South African society. They dithered and delayed when decisive action was needed, especially as far as anti-retrovirals are concerned."
"At the very least, the government should ensure that the departments are properly staffed to handle increasing applications for grants," Waters said.
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