DEPARTMENT TO INTENSIFY PROGRAMMES AS IT TABLES 2024/25 BUDGET

By Teddy Gomba

• Gauteng Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko announced the launch of the Masupatsela Programme, a youth pioneer initiative aimed at addressing social challenges such as substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and school dropouts in the province.
• The programme, set to mobilise young people over the next three years, will provide life skills, character building, and substance abuse prevention, with participants sourced from communities, schools, and child protection organisations.
• The initiative is part of a broader strategy that includes poverty alleviation efforts, the establishment of state-run substance abuse facilities, and a campaign to shut down drug dens, supported by a R5.4 billion budget for the 2024/25 financial year.

Gauteng Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko has announced the launch of the Masupatsela Programme, a new youth pioneer initiative aimed at combating social ills. The announcement was made during the tabling of the department’s budget vote at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in Johannesburg today.

MEC Mazibuko stressed that while the previous generation of young people fought for South Africa’s freedom, the current generation must now battle the social issues threatening that hard-won liberty, including high rates of school dropouts, teenage pregnancies, substance abuse, unemployment, and poverty.

“We are disturbed by the high levels of school dropouts, teenage pregnancies, alcohol abuse, unemployment, and poverty,” Mazibuko stated. “We will be launching the Masupatsela Programme to mobilise girls and boys over the next three years in Gauteng. This programme will assist with life skills, tackling substance abuse, and character building to ensure the development of strong patriots and independent young adults.”

The Masupatsela Programme will draw its participants from various sources, including community identification, the department’s caseload, designated child protection organisations, crime prevention programmes, Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) centres, and school intervention programmes.

“Furthermore, we will organise drum majorette carnivals and bring Amatshitshi into the fold as we prepare the next generation of leaders in Gauteng—a massive brigade of young men and women who will be ambassadors of change, hope, and a new, better life,” she added.

Mazibuko acknowledged that despite government efforts, poverty remains stubbornly high, exacerbated by food inflation, leading to increased hunger in many households. To address this, the department will strengthen ward-based profiling through the Thiba Tlala programme, working alongside the Sawubona Mhlali Service Delivery Brigades to create an integrated database of households living in poverty. This will enable more coordinated service delivery and track the progress of households as they move out of poverty.

To further alleviate food insecurity, the department is exploring the establishment of a state-run food distribution centre, reducing reliance on NPOs during emergencies. Additionally, a shift from food parcels to food vouchers is being considered to allow families to shop according to their specific needs.

In the fight against substance abuse, the department plans to intensify awareness campaigns, aiming to reach over 4.7 million people. They will also provide treatment services to 46,110 beneficiaries and accelerate the development of state-owned substance abuse facilities, such as the one at Dr. Florence and Fabian in Cullinan. Plans to repurpose the Emmasdal CYCC in Lesedi as an additional state-owned substance abuse facility are also underway.

“No person with a substance use disorder will be turned away when seeking assistance,” Mazibuko asserted, highlighting the establishment of substance abuse walk-in centres in each township across the province. The department, in collaboration with other state departments and law enforcement agencies, will also campaign to shut down drug dens, known as lollie lounges, and has called on the public to report these illegal activities.

The Gauteng Department of Social Development has been allocated R5.4 billion for the 2024/25 financial year to implement these initiatives.