ID challenges, clinic concerns raised at Daggafontein service delivery blitz
Residents used an Integrated Service Delivery Blitz in Daggafontein to raise concerns ranging from access to identity documents and healthcare to unemployment and poverty.
An Integrated Service Delivery Blitz was held at the Daggafontein Sports Ground on July 15.
The Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, led the initiative, which brought together government departments, their entities and funded non-profit organisations (NPOs) to provide services to residents.
It also provided residents with an opportunity to raise service delivery concerns and seek assistance from the participating departments and organisations.
One of the longest queues at the event was at the Home Affairs service point, where residents enquired about various services, including ID card issuance.
Thirty-one-year-old Mpho Masina said she applied for her birth certificate in 2009 with the assistance of her grandmother, but the process was never completed.
“After my grandfather’s funeral, she disappeared. She was the one who assisted me with the application, but the process was never completed.
“I’m here so they can check my birth certificate on their system so I can get an ID card. It has affected me because my children can’t access services such as social grants, and I struggle to get a job because I’ve been living without an ID,” she said.
Nomvula Mtwa (57) raised the issue of the lack of a clinic in the area.
“We have to travel to Springs town to access a clinic and sometimes you can’t afford the transport money.”
She also said she attended to learn more about planting and how it could improve her livelihood.
Resident Brilliant Monareng (33) highlighted some of the key issues the community is facing.
“There are families who sleep on empty stomachs due to financial struggle. I have family members who are unemployed and I have witnessed the negative impact of those situations.
Monareng shared her hopes for her community.
“I hope that from today’s event, some of those challenges will be alleviated,” she said.
Benoni-based Manger Care Centre was among the stakeholders at the event. They provided mobile showers, haircuts, nail grooming and also sold seedlings to raise awareness on sustainable living.
“The impact we want to make today is to make the beneficiaries feel good about themselves. Your circumstances do not define you, so we pride ourselves in making people feel better about themselves,” Tyrell le Roux said.
Speaking to the Springs Advertiser, Nkomo-Ralehoko said the community mostly raised substance abuse, poverty and unemployment.
“This is why we linked them with the relevant NPOs and departments that assist with the respective issues. Its good for the government to come to the community so we are able to see first-hand what they need and immediately address it,” she said.
She shared a message with the Daggafontein community.
“I want to tell them that not all is lost. We will be assisting the department to ensure that those who are not registered for housing get assisted,” Nkomo-Ralehoko said.
