Gauteng MEC Faith Mazibuko leads integrated service delivery blitz in Zola

The Department of Social Development led an Integrated service delivery blitz at the Zola Service Point on February 13.

The Gauteng Provincial Government and funded NPOs brought their services closer to the people to make them more accessible.

These included the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Harambe, the Gauteng departments of Health and Labour and the Employment and the South African Social Security Agency, among others.

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Speaking to the media, Faith Mazibuko, the MEC for Social Development, said she had noted during her arrival that Home Affairs was not present, and that most people needed their services.

“We all know that for people to access services from Home Affairs, they often have to spend money on transportation. That is why we wanted to bring these services closer to the community,” she said.

Mazibuko added that they invited the NYDA and Harambee to assist young people with job applications because, as the president highlighted in the State of the Nation Address, youth unemployment is a serious challenge.

“We cannot be the government that allows people to go to sleep hungry while we have all these institutions that are supposed to help them. While the turnout is good, we are disappointed in the institutions that did not come on board,” she said.

Emdeni resident Micca Ntanjane said she attended the blitz because she needed help for her two children struggling with drug abuse.

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“I heard from a community group that services assisting with drug abuse would be here. I want help for these two children because it is too much for me.

“I am a grandmother living with my grandchildren, and it is not good for them to grow up under these circumstances, as they are now exposed to a bad example,” she said.

She added that she was grateful for the programme and hoped to receive the help she needed.