The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu will on Friday, 17 May 2019 distribute new school uniform to over 300 learners in Umzumbe Local Municipality under the jurisdiction of Ugu District in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal.
The school uniform handover is part of the Department of Social Development and the South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) Social Relief of Distress (SRD) programme, a temporary grant intended for families and households experiencing undue hardships.
The SRD may be in the form of a food parcel or voucher and/or school uniform which is procured from local cooperatives as a way of stimulating local economic initiatives, particularly in vulnerable communities, as is the case in Umzumbe Local Municipality. The distribution of the school uniform by the Deputy Minister is a much-needed intervention following the recent natural disaster that affected families and households in the Ugu District.
This is an important intervention especially in the context of the recently released Quarterly Labour Force Survey, which indicates that the official unemployment rate increased by 0, 5 percentage point to 27, 6 % compared to the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019.
Data from the survey also shows that women, black women in particular, are most affected with their unemployment rate standing at 31, 1 %.
The distribution of the school uniform is part of the implementation of government’s 30% procurement policy, which seeks to sustain small and medium business enterprises. DSD’s focus is on empowering women and youth-owned businesses in rural areas and informal settlements.
The total value of the new school uniform that will be distributed to learners of 28 schools in the district is R 557 512, 00. Investing in women and youth-owned businesses pays dividends in terms of creating job opportunities and stimulating local economic development initiatives.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event arranged as follows:
Date: Friday, 17 May 2019
Time: 10h00 - 15h00
Venue: Sibanini Community Hall, Umzumbe - Province of KwaZulu-Natal
Media can RSVP by contacting:
Nomfundo Xulu-Lentsoane
Cell: 066 480 6845
E-mail: NomfundoLe@dsd.gov.za
Media enquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: LumkaO@dsd.gov.za
