The Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, will on 20 July 2014, hold a ministerial Imbizo address the socio-economic challenges facing Sefikile community in Mogwase. Sefikile is one of North West Province communities which sustain itself through mining and most families were also affected by the long platinum belt mine strike in Marikana.
Minister Dlamini will be visiting the area as a member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Revitalisation of Distressed Mining Communities which was established this year by President Jacob Zuma. The IMC is composed of Ministers of Mineral Resources, Water and Sanitation, Trade and Industry, Social Development, Labour, Human Settlements, Health, Economic Development and Finance. The purpose of the IMC is to improve the living conditions of mine workers within the mining areas of South Africa.
During dialogues with Department of Social Development, community members raised their concerns about lack of centres for people with disabilities as well as high levels of abuse and neglect for people with disabilities. The department also learnt through community dialogues that people with disabilities are not receiving enough attention and they are often neglected. The rights of people with disabilities are expected to be on the lead at the meeting and Minister Dlamini will further raise awareness and educate the community of Sefikile about the rights of people with disabilities.
Apart from a long mining sector strike which affected many families in North West Province, the community is also facing some social challenges such as teenage pregnancy, abuse and neglect of parents. The dialogues report also shows that there is shortage of Early Childhood Development centres, abuse of social grants and alcohol and drug abuse which require urgent attention from the Department of Social Development.
There is also a high rate of unemployment in the area which is caused by amongst other factors, lack of required skills to work in the mining sector. High rate of unemployment is also high in the area because some young people are retrenched from their jobs due to abuse alcohol over weekends.
Some of these community members are unemployed because they cannot afford to pay back their loans. Minister Dlamini will visit the area to intervene through Social Development programmes such as Social Relief of Distress (SRDs) and provision of humanitarian support to affected families. Her visit is also part of the Imbizo Focus Week, a government initiative which seeks to interact directly with communities and raise awareness about government services.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event which will take place as follows:
Venue: Sefikile Sports Ground, (Sefikile village in Mogwase), Ward 5 -Moses Kotane Municipality
Date: Sunday, 20 July 2014
Time: 10h00
For media RSVPs, please contact:
Mr Jaconia Kobue
Cell: 073 026 1111
E-mail: jaconiak@dsd.gov.za
Please send media enquiries:
Ms Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
