Work on revitalisation of mining communities continues with launch of community-based cooperatives
The Minister for Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, will be in the Popo Molefe informal settlement, Rustenburg, this Friday August 14 to launch a number of community-based sewing and food production cooperatives the Department of Social Development has helped establish for the locals.
This is a continuation of the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Revitalisation of Mining Communities established by President Jacob Zuma to improve the living conditions of mining communities.
The Popo Molefe informal settlement, a part of the Rustenburg Local Municipality is amongst the most impoverished areas in North West with high levels of unemployment. One of the ways in which Government fights poverty is through the establishment of income-generating initiatives such as community-based cooperatives.
The Department’s cooperatives programme educates and creates awareness in communities on the strength and socio-economic value of cooperatives in order to promote their organic emergence and increased participation, particularly of young people and women.
Over and above education and awareness, the programme facilitates linkages of cooperatives to economic opportunities created by the department and its agencies as well as provides capacity building and skills development programmes.
During 2014/15 financial period, 6 818 cooperatives rendered various services such as food production and sewing of school uniforms for the Department of Social Development and its agencies, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the National Development Agency (NDA).
The launch of these cooperatives also forms part of Operation Phakisa, launched by the Presidency to fast track the attainment of the goals set out in the National Development Plan.
The Department of Social Development supports Operation Phakisa through Project Mikondzo, an integrated effort to interact and dialogue with targeted communities, profile households and communities and identify service delivery gaps as the basis for development of service delivery improvement plans.
As this launch takes place during Women’s Month, Minister Dlamini will also use the opportunity to inspire other women in Popo Molefe to look for opportunities to be economically active to emancipate themselves from poverty with the help of Government.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the launch of the cooperatives, scheduled as follows:
Date: 14 August 2015
Time: 12h00
Venue: Popo Molefe Informal Settlement Sports Ground, Rustenburg, North West Province
Media can RSVP by contacting Mr Jaconia Kobue on 073 026 1111 or jaconiak@dsd.gov.za
Enquiries:
Ms Lumka Oliphant
Cell: n 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
