The primary mandate of the Department of Social Development is to render social services through development, care and protection of the poor and vulnerable members of our society. Our focus this year is to intensify and strengthen public participation in departmental programmes, further highlighting and informing the public about progress achieved as well the challenges encountered in the implementation of our mandate.
This approach is informed by the extensive work we have undertaken in the past years, characterised by vigorous and robust interventions to alleviate poverty, change the lives of the people for the better. It is for this reason that we hold a view that government alone, without public and broader stakeholder participation, cannot improve the lives of ordinary people.
We have strategically planned our activities thematically, with the first week of the month focusing on older persons, the second looking at poverty eradication and the remainder on population and development, youth and substance abuse. The minister will lead the national launch on 2 October in Fordsburg in the Free State province.
Thematic activities
Older persons, children, fight against crime, fight against poverty and profiling of our frontline workers will take a lead during the month October (Social Development Month). In essence, we will divide the above-mentioned programmes as follows:
- Week one: This week will look into issues of older persons. Popularisation of Older Persons Act, promotion of service centre initiatives and adherence of Old Age Centre’s to acceptable norms and standards, the safety of older persons in these centres and the encouragement of healthy living of older persons will take a special focus.
- Week two: This week will look into issues of poverty eradication through massification of Early Childhood Development (ECD) to reach poor communities. Expansion of Home Community Based Care (HCBCs) dealing with orphans and vulnerable children affected and infected with HIV and AIDS and addressing the issue of child-headed households
- Week three: This week will highlight successful interventions of population and community development and sustainable livelihoods.
- Week four: will look into crime prevention, substance abuse and youth development issues. Departmental campaigns on crime prevention, popularisation of Substance Abuse Act, our intervention and campaigns that fight substance abuse and illicit trafficking.
Enquiries:
Mandla Mathebula
Tel: 012 312 7654
Cell: 083 282 6133
Source: Department of Social Development
