October is declared as Social Development Month (SDM), a DSD-led initiative that is aimed to raise awareness about the Department of Social Development (DSD) Portfolio of services and programs that fight poverty and support vulnerable communities, including older persons, children, and people with disabilities.
Accordingly, the programme aims to bring social development services and programmes to communities, ensuring that the less privileged and vulnerable have access support. In addition, to programme is intended to highlight government's commitment to promoting social protection by enabling access to social security programmes, combat poverty and hunger, and inform communities about available social support programs for access.
October Month also coincides with International Days which are important days for creating awareness on global issues. It is also Transport Month.
October will also commemorate Older Persons Week. Older Persons Week is used to recognise the contributions of older persons and to address issues that specifically affect them. Active Aging Week on the other hand highlights the capabilities of older persons as fully participating members of society and encourages them to participate in simple exercises
The campaign, held in conjunction with the National Development Agency (NDA) and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), also aims to inform communities of the various social security programmes available to them and how these can be accessed.
