In a continued effort to enhance service delivery in vulnerable communities, the Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Faith Mazibuko led an integrated service delivery blitz at the Welfare Centre in Zone 1 Diepkloof, Soweto on February 27.

The blitz brought together various government departments and local NPOs. Thousands of community members came to access a wide range of services, including SASSA grants applications, social relief grants, birth registrations, passport applications and smart ID applications, health screenings and other social services.

These integrated service blitzes are also part of the government’s Responsive Service Delivery initiative, which seeks to resolve challenges particularly affecting townships and informal settlements across the province.

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The main focus is on empowering young people and other vulnerable groups by bringing essential services directly to their doorstep.The department also deployed its community development practitioners to help assess those who need services such as social relief of distress, skills development and those who further need assistance on substance abuse.

Mazibuko urged community members to turn out in large number to access these services.

“These initiatives bring multiple departments such Home Affairs, and SASSA directly to the townships and informal settlements, allowing residents to access various essential services. Therefore we urge our residents, especially young people, to grasp and utilise on-site services like this to better their lives,” Mazibuko said.

One resident, Ishmael Mlaba (49) expressed his gratitude to government for bringing services to their area after he managed to apply for his passport.

“I thought it was not going to happen anytime soon, but now I just managed to apply it here, and I am excited,” Mlaba added.