DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HOLDS THREE-DAY ENGAGEMENT IN UPINGTON ON RESPITE CARE

By Tholakele Makena.

• Respite Care Services for the families of people with disabilities came under the spotlight in Upington, as the coordinating committee for an international project met for the third time since its inception.
• The project – a partnership between the Department of Social Development and the Japan International Cooperation Agency – seeks to enhance institutional capacity and expand community-based services that provide support to the families.
• The meeting takes place during November, Disability Rights Awareness Month 2025.

The Department of Social Development, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), continues to expand its Respite Care Services, giving adults and children with disabilities, as well as their families, the support, dignity, and empowerment they deserve.

As the third joint coordinating committee met in Upington on 5 November 2025, progress on the project design matrix indicators for the Respite Care Services project, developed by the department and JICA, reflected the impact of the collaboration, skills transfer, and sustainable care models inspired by both South African and Japanese practices.

The engagement takes place during Disability Rights Awareness Month 2025, observed from 3 November to 3 December, under the theme “Creating strategic multisectoral partnerships for a disability-inclusive society”.

The timing of the engagement highlights the department’s commitment to fostering inclusion and strengthening partnerships that advance the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities across the country.

Respite care plays a critical role in supporting families and caregivers of persons with disabilities by offering temporary relief and structured programmes that promote well-being and social inclusion.

Strengthening support systems

The joint project between the Department of Social Development and JICA aims to strengthen existing support systems, enhance community-based care models, and ensure that services reach those most in need across provinces.

As part of the day’s activities, participants undertook a site visit to the Oasis Skills Development Centre in Upington.

The visit aimed to showcase the centre’s valuable work in empowering persons with disabilities through skills training and development.

The Oasis Centre provides opportunities for individuals to gain practical skills, improve employability, and build greater independence, aligning with the department’s broader goals of inclusion and empowerment.

During the visit, the centre’s manager, Irvin Eksteen, shared the inspiring journey of the organisation and the impact it continues to make in the lives of young people with disabilities.

“The centre started in 1998 when a few buildings were donated to us, and on 8 May 2000, we were officially registered as a non-profit organisation,” said Eksteen. “We began with just 16 learners, and today, we have 48 registered learners between the ages of seven and 18, supported by 21 protectors. This centre was started to make a difference.”

Eksteen explained that the Oasis Centre runs several small projects to sustain its operations, including a bakery, vegetable garden, an early childhood care programme, and Friday fundraising functions.

“We only receive funding for eight learners who are South African Social Security Agency beneficiaries,” he added. “Despite that, we transport all our children to and from the centre at our own cost.

“We also offer computer classes and help community members revamp their CVs. Every little bit we do is aimed at empowering our learners and building a more self-reliant community.”

Role of community-based organisations

His words underscored the essential role of community-based organisations like Oasis in complementing national initiatives such as the Department of Social Development/JICA project.

Centres like these serve as beacons of inclusion, where commitment, creativity, and compassion meet to create lasting change.

The day’s programme also included technical discussions on proposed programme design and monitoring indicators, accredited training initiatives, and planning for the country-focused training in Japan, scheduled for 2026.

These discussions were intended to ensure that the project continues to deliver measurable outcomes and remains aligned with national priorities on disability support and social protection.

The project for the expansion of respite care services to families of and children with disabilities was signed on 20 June 2023 between South Africa’s Department of Social Development and JICA.

Since its signing, JICA has engaged in a series of discussions with the department and relevant organisations to develop a detailed implementation plan. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment between South Africa and Japan to improve social welfare services and promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society.

Strong partnerships

Through this initiative, the department seeks to build stronger partnerships, enhance institutional capacity, and expand community-based services that provide care and support to families of children and adults with disabilities.

The project also contributes to broader national objectives, including poverty reduction, social cohesion, and the promotion of human rights for persons with disabilities.

As the engagement in Upington continued with technical sessions and collaborative planning activities involving officials, service providers, and other key stakeholders, it became clear that local centres like Oasis are vital in translating national policy into tangible community impact.

Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Social Work Manager: Services to People with Disabilities in the Department of Social Development, Mmanoa Tshenye, noted: “The partnership with JICA demonstrates our ongoing commitment to strengthening social support systems and ensuring that persons with disabilities and their families have access to the care and opportunities they deserve.”

She reflected on the programme’s early stages, recalling how deeply it touched the lives of parents of children with disabilities.

“When the programme started, we held sessions with parents, and many of them were emotional,” said Tshenye.

“Some parents shared that they didn’t even know the type of disability their children had.

“They also spoke about how their communities and even their own families had shut them out because of their children’s disabilities,” she added.

“Parents expressed that they lacked services and support from government structures. That’s why this programme is so important, it helps families find hope, understanding, and support.”

Her remarks highlighted the human side of policy implementation, the real stories of resilience, struggle, and renewed dignity that lie behind every initiative.