Social Development

Cayleen Fourie (30) and Cassidy Damon (21) were among the proud beneficiaries who received Farm Management Training through the Department of Small Business Development, and today they were awarded their certificates — marking a significant step towards building their futures in agriculture. Cayleen expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, saying the training has brought her closer to achieving her dream of growing her own business. “I am grateful for this opportunity. I want to grow and become bigger, and one day run my own successful business,” she said. Cassidy, who has a background in Business Management, shared his excitement about applying his knowledge in the farming sector. He highlighted his ambition to pursue agribusiness and become a supplier to major retailers across the country. “I want to build a future in farming and become a supplier for big retailers in South Africa,” he said. Their stories reflect the impact of skills development programmes in empowering young people with practical knowledge, opening doors to entrepreneurship, and contributing to local economic growth.

A Day of Impact, A Community of Smiles The streets of Roodepan came alive as the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP) delivered more than just services, it delivered dignity, hope, and real change. Among the many touched was 69-year-old Gogo Sigonyela Khachile, whose joy was undeniable as Home Affairs officials handed over her smart ID card, a moment that symbolised access, inclusion, and recognition. Across the community, lives were visibly changing. Some residents received grant approval letters directly from Minister Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, while others were empowered with equipment to support their small businesses, opening doors to sustainable livelihoods. Today was more than an outreach, it was a powerful reminder of what it means to bring government closer to the people. Roodepan didn’t just receive services; it witnessed real impact, restored dignity, and renewed hope. #DSDPortfolioAtWork #SiyayaEmphakathiniNjalo #ServiceDeliveryInAction

#ICROPInRoodepan During an oversight visit to a Department of Social Development (DSD)-funded project at the Northern Cape Substance Abuse Treatment Centre, Mr Austwille Buffel (29) from Greenpoint, Kimberley, shared his story of recovery and hope. He has been drug-free for five years and thanked the centre for the care and support that helped him change his life. He spoke about the difficult time he went through, including dropping out of school because of substance abuse. With the help of the programme, he has been able to rebuild his life, find purpose again, and move forward with dignity. His story shows how DSD-funded programmes can truly change lives. Community members are encouraged to seek help from registered treatment centres where they can get safe and proper support. The Department also warns people to avoid unregistered centres, as they may not provide the right care and can put lives at risk. If you or someone you know needs help, call the Substance Abuse Helpline on 0800 12 13 14 or send a “Please Call Me” to 32312.

Voices of Roodepan: Community Concerns Raised During ICROP Financial abuse experienced by single mothers remains deeply painful, yet it is often met with silence from communities. These concerns were raised during the ICROP engagement in Roodepan, where one community member strongly emphasised that issues affecting women, particularly gender-based violence must be taken seriously and not ignored. Another powerful voice came from a deaf community member, who highlighted the lack of adequate facilities and support for persons with disabilities, especially within the education system. They stressed that schools remain a significant challenge for deaf individuals, calling for greater inclusivity and accessible services. Concerns were also raised about the misuse of social grants, particularly the Child Support Grant. A community member called on the Department of Social Development and SASSA to intervene, noting that in some instances the funds are not used for the benefit of children. They highlighted that this has serious consequences, with some children not attending school and lacking basic care, urging stronger monitoring and accountability. Teenage pregnancy was also flagged as a growing concern in the area, with community members pointing to its impact on education, health, and future opportunities. They called for strengthened awareness programmes, increased parental involvement, and community-driven interventions to better support and guide young people.

Through the ICROP outreach programme in Roodepan, Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, called on communities to play an active role in protecting and nurturing children — the future of South Africa. Quoting the Constitution, the Minister emphasised that every child has the right to be protected from harm, neglect and abuse, urging families and communities to work together to ensure that children grow up in safe, supportive environments where their dignity is upheld and their full potential is realised.

#ICROPInRoodepan This ICROP activation embodies the spirit of “Siyaya Emphakathini Njalo”, taking services to the people and advancing dignity through direct, people-centred service delivery.

#ICROPInRoodepan Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, engaged stakeholders during a briefing ahead of the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP), emphasising the importance of unity, inclusion, and bringing services closer to communities. She highlighted the Department’s commitment to ensuring that children are protected, supported, and recognised in their own right, while leveraging technology and partnerships to improve service delivery. The Minister further called for collective action in addressing social challenges, encouraging stakeholders to work together to build stronger communities and ensure that no one is left behind. The Minister also underscored that access to social services is a constitutional right, reaffirming government’s responsibility to uphold the dignity, equality, and well-being of all citizens. She emphasised that ICROP is a practical expression of building a nation that works for all, where services reach every community and every person is afforded the opportunity to live with dignity.

Who is joining Minister Tolashe? #ICROPInRoodepan The Minister will be joined by key leaders and stakeholders across government and the community, including: ✅MPL Galerwe Mase Manopole, MEC for Social Development ✅Mr Peter Netshipale, Director-General, DSD ✅Mr Themba Matlou, SASSA CEO ✅Ms Karabo Mojanaga, SASSA Regional Executive Manager ✅Cllr Nomazizi Shwababa, Sol Plaatje Municipality MMC ✅Cllr Martin White, Chief Whip (Frances Baard Municipality) ✅Cllr Kagisho Sonyoni and Cllr Rosie Ludick, Sol Plaatje Municipality representatives ✅Religious leaders, including Pastor Grace and Imam Adam Veldtman ✅Community stakeholders and beneficiaries

What the day will entail – ICROP Roodepan The Ministerial Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP) in Roodepan will be a full day of integrated service delivery, community engagement, and stakeholder collaboration, bringing government services directly to the people. The day will begin with a leadership engagement session, where the Minister will meet with local leadership and stakeholders to assess readiness and strengthen coordination of services. This will be followed by oversight visits to key Department of Social Development (DSD) and National Development Agency (NDA) funded projects, including the Northern Cape Substance Abuse Centre and Sakhile Griqua, showcasing the Department’s investment and impact at community level. In the afternoon, the programme will transition into a community engagement session, starting with a walkabout, media interactions, and interfaith reflections. The Minister will then engage directly with community members, supported by inputs from local stakeholders and leadership. The highlight of the day will be the Keynote Address by Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, followed by the handover of school uniforms and approval of social grant applications, ensuring immediate and tangible impact for beneficiaries.

Day 2 in Motion | Intergenerational Dialogue, Boksburg Day two of the Intergenerational Dialogue in Boksburg is off to an energising start as mothers and daughters, alongside fathers and sons, start off the morning with group exercises. The session not only boosts energy levels but also strengthens bonds, setting a positive tone for deeper conversations throughout the day. Rooted in the Department of Social Development’s commitment to building strong families, these shared moments reflect the power of connection, trust, and open communication across generations.

Happening today in Roodepan, Kimberley —your turn has finally come! Join Minister Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe as she brings government services closer to you, advancing your rights and making human dignity a lived reality this Human Rights Month. #HumanRightsMonth2026 #DSDPortfolioAtWork #SiyayaEmphakathiniNjalo

Speaking during the opening of the Mother and Daughter / Father and Son Programme Retreat in Boksburg, Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mr Ganief Hendricks, emphasised the transformative power of family dialogue: “Real change does not begin in policies or programmes, it begins in the home. It begins when a parent creates a safe space for their child to speak, to ask, and to be heard. When we strengthen these conversations, we are not only protecting our children, we are shaping a more equal, more compassionate society.”

HAPPENING NOW | Strengthening Family Conversations for a Better Future The Department of Social Development is today hosting a Mother and Daughter as well as Father and Son engagement at Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg, Gauteng. This important dialogue brings together parents and young people to strengthen intergenerational communication on sexual and reproductive health rights, mental health, and other social challenges affecting adolescents. Guided by the White Paper on Families, the Department continues to promote strong, resilient family structures by creating safe spaces for open dialogue, fostering positive relationships, and supporting parents and children to navigate sensitive issues together. Through these engagements, the Department empowers families, promotes informed decision-making, and builds stronger, healthier communities. #DSDPortfolioAtWork #FamilyStrengthening #SheDecides #ServiceDeliveryInAction

On 24 March 2026, the Department of Social Development, in collaboration with the Northern Cape Department of Social Development, was on the ground at Pick n Pay Circle in Galeshewe, providing Digi-NPO services to the community. Services included assisting organisations to: ✅Create new NPO digital profiles ✅Register and ensure compliance ✅Link existing NPO profiles ✅Download and navigate the Digi-NPO mobile app The team continues with these services today, ensuring that more organisations are supported ahead of the ICROP outreach taking place tomorrow, led by the Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe.

Thirty Years of One Constitution, One Nation 🇿🇦 #30yearsoftheconstitution #HumanRightsMonth2026 #GovZAUpdates

1 Day to Go, Kimberley! Roodepan, the moment is almost here! Tomorrow, the Ministerial ICROP rolls into Kimberley, bringing government services closer to you, where it matters most. From social grants to family support, youth empowerment to community care, this is service delivery in action, putting people first and restoring dignity. #SiyayaEmphakathiniNjalo #HumanRightsMonth #DSDPortfolioAtWork #ServiceDeliveryInAction

2 Days to go | Mohlakeng Community, services are coming closer to you Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mr Ganief Hendricks, will engage directly with residents, bringing essential support to your doorstep and advancing dignity this Human Rights Month. #DSDPortfolioAtWork #HumanRightsMonth #PeopleFirst #SASSACares #ServiceDeliveryInAction SiyayaEmphakathiniNjalo

Media Advisory DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT STRENGTHENS PARENT AND CHILD CONVERSTIONS IN BOKSBURG, GAUTENG Pretoria, 24 March 2026: As part of strengthening intergenerational dialogues on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, the Department of Social Development will host a two-day Mother and Daughter as well as a Father and Son engagement from 25 and 26 March 2026, at Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg. This dialogue seeks to strengthen intergenerational relations and improve communication between young and old generations on matters of sexual and reproductive health rights, mental health, and related social challenges affecting adolescents. South Africa continues to face high rates of teenage pregnancy, exposure to early age sexual intimacy, as Gender-Based Violence and Femicide is linked to minimal parent and child communication on sexual and reproductive health conversations. The Department's reproductive justice strategy prioritises the need for safe and supportive spaces for families to openly discuss sensitive topics and develop practical ways to strengthen relationships. The conversation is a continuation of the national implementation of the Mother and Daughter / Father and Son Programme, which already took place in the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Western Cape provinces. Recent programme cycles have shown strong demand among parents and young people for guided conversations, psychosocial support, and accurate sexual and reproductive health rights information. It is also in line with South Africa's commitments under SheDecides, a global movement championing bodily autonomy and gender equality. As a national SheDecides Champion, the Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, continues to advance initiatives that promote informed decision-making and empower young people. Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the Mother and Daughter / Father and Son Programme planned as follows: Date: 25 - 26 March 2026 Time: 09h00 Venue: Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg, Gauteng Province ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Media enquiries may be forwarded to Ms Sandy Godlwana, Acting Head of Communication 0826785634 / SandyG@dsd.gov.za

3 days to go, Mohlakeng, West Rand! The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mr Ganief Hendricks, will be engaging directly with the community, bringing essential services closer to the people who need them most. #DSDPortfolioAtWork #SASSACares #PeopleFirst

Watch | Deputy President Paul Mashatile addresses the World TB Day in Caledon, Western Cape YouTube: youtube.com/live/jVsJxBIfe… FB: facebook.com/GovernmentZA/v… X:x.com/i/broadcasts/1… #GovZAUpdates #WorldTBDay2026