The Gauteng Department of Social Development (DSD) held a community service blitz in Alexandra on Friday, bringing a range of essential services directly to residents. The initiative, conducted in partnership with other government departments and non-profit organisations, is part of the department’s broader strategy to improve access to government services at the community level.
The event followed a community profiling process, during which residents identified key challenges requiring government intervention. In response, the blitz mobilised services from the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Employment and Labour, and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), among others.
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Gauteng Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko, speaking at the event, said the initiative aims to make DSD services more accessible to Alexandra residents. She noted that food insecurity emerged as the most urgent concern during the profiling process.
“The greatest challenge is a lack of food. That is why we are registering people for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) and the Sustainable Livelihood Programme. When people come to register for aid, we don’t only provide food, we also assess their level of education and identify the skills they need.”
Mazibuko emphasised the department’s commitment to holistic development, highlighting the importance of skills training in enabling residents to pursue employment opportunities. “You cannot survive on food parcels for the rest of your life. At some stage, you also have to get an opportunity to get a job,” she said.
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The MEC also outlined measures aimed at supporting children affected by poverty, particularly in schools. “We assist learners who do not have school uniforms, and we also support young girls who lack access to sanitary products. These interventions are coordinated through schools, which provide us with lists of learners in need.”
Teachers often alert social workers to specific cases, prompting follow-up visits to assess the home environment and provide additional support where necessary.
“We can help them even at home, at least until such a time that somebody in that household gets a job,” Mazibuko added.
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