BUILDING ON A LEGACY THAT ADDRESSES CHALLENGES AND RESPONDS TO CITIZENS’ NEEDS

By Tshepo Ramoeletsi

• Currently, the Free State Department of Social Development is holding a strategy lekgotla to map out a plan to implement social development programmes effectively.
• The department has set ambitious targets of reaching 2 000 households in each of the 319 wards across the province by February 2026.
• The task of the provincial department’s senior management is to ensure they build on the legacy already in place and address existing communities’ challenges to respond to their needs effectively, said Social Development MEC Mathabo Leeto.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) joined senior management members of the Free State Department of Social Development for the first day of the development’s strategy planning lekgotla.

The two-day session, which began on 13 March 2025, saw a number of strategic partners attend to help map out an effective implementation plan of governmental and departmental programmes and policies.

In addition to SASSA, the Department of Home Affairs, the National Development Agency, and Statistics South Africa joined the lekgotla.

“We are now in the seventh administration, and while the challenges we face may not be the same as those of previous administrations, our work remains a continuation of the efforts laid out by past leadership,” said Free State Social Development MEC Mathabo Leeto.

The MEC articulated that the work of the department is informed by the legislative framework approved by the government and parliament.

It is also driven by the priorities outlined for each term of office.

The task before senior management is to ensure that they build on the legacy already in place to serve the people and address existing communities’ challenges to respond to their needs effectively, Leeto said.

Leeto said she expected to be presented with the progress made by the Department of Social Development, as aligned with the plans established within the approved 2023/24 budget, as well as the challenges encountered during this process.

In addition, there needed to be proposed strategies to overcome the challenges within the financial constraints of the 2025/2026 fiscal year.

While it is important to recognise challenges exist, solutions are always within reach if the departmental officials remain committed to their work and continuously strive for improvement, Leeto noted.

The MEC reminded the senior management members that complacency is not an option. Officials cannot afford to rest on their laurels; rather, they should rise to meet the challenges ahead with renewed vigour.

A key priority is the strengthening of household profiling. MEC Leeto believes that if officials make significant progress in understanding and engaging with the households they serve, they will enhance the effectiveness of all departments, allowing for more integrated service delivery.

Household profiling provides critical socio-economic data that impacts not only the Department of Social Development but all sectors of government, including local government.

To this end, it is important for the department to strengthen community development programmes and for the unit responsible for household profiling to intensify its efforts.

The department will also equip itself with the necessary data to better inform policies and programmes across all levels of government.

The commitment to intensifying household profiling is central to the ongoing efforts to ensure that social development programmes are better targeted and more responsive to the needs of the communities.

The department must, therefore, focus its efforts on strengthening the capacity of the relevant units and ensuring that there are resources and support to carry out this critical work.

In conclusion, the MEC said that together and with concerted effort and determination, departmental objectives can be met, and meaningful progress can be made in improving the lives of the people 

“I am confident that through committed collaboration with local government, ward councillors, and community development workers, we can achieve our ambitious target of reaching 2 000 households in each of the 319 wards across the province, beginning in April and continuing through to February 2026.”