MEC launches Social Development Month in Mayflower
Social Development Month is celebrated during October every year and this year's main objective is that the month promises to deliver sustainable livelihoods for many.
- Mpumalanga Department of Social Development (DSD) kicked off Social Development Month with a Women Empowerment celebration and launch at Mayflower last Friday.
Social Development Month is celebrated during October every year and this year’s main objective is that the month promises to deliver sustainable livelihoods for many.
MEC for the DSD, Ms B.P Shiba, together with the Executive Mayor of Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality, Mr D.S. Nkosi, walked in solidarity in a march to the Mayflower Community Hall against gender-based violence.
Ms Shiba gave the keynote address saying this month presents an opportunity for the department to intensify its marketing and provisioning of its services so that various communities are reached and positively impacted upon.
“During the month of October, we will support various households with equipment aimed at assisting them to make constant income. The Community Nutrition and Distribution Centres (CNDCs) will also receive support, as they enable deserving households to access ready-made food. This includes, among others, frail persons and others who cannot do it on their own for various reasons,” she said.
Ms Shiba touched on many issues affecting vulnerable communities, such as substance abuse, saying her department would continue efforts in the fight against substance abuse by providing information on how to get assistance to those who are already hooked, conducting community dialogues and raising awareness against testing drugs especially those who have not yet tried drugs, intensifying the Ke-Moja programme and implementing the Mpumalanga Provincial Anti-Drug Master Plan, which is a product of all stakeholders in the fight against substance abuse.
She addressed the Golden Games Programme, saying it is a mechanism that could elevate the activities of older persons.
Ms Shiba concluded by saying that the department had rolled out a plan to embark on non-profit organisation (NPO) roadshows whose objectives are to bring services to communities in line with Batho Pele principles, increase the awareness of issues and practices related to NPO registration, increase levels of NPO compliance, service the NPOs on registration queries and other related matters and provide information on funding and other related matters.
The launch concluded with the MEC handing over sanitary towels to schools and tools and equipment to local cooperatives.
