EMPOWERMENT OVER DEPENDENCY: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CHARTS NEW PATH FOR LIVELIHOODS.

By Nonhlakanipho Masola.

• DG Peter Netshipale called for making the Generating Better Livelihoods (GBL) initiative a long-term national plan to shift South Africa from dependency to empowerment.
• Vision focused on a 3–5-year plan to connect social grant recipients to sustainable
• A visit to Ntuzuma Hall showcased inspiring stories from young entrepreneurs, reinforcing the importance of co-created solutions that restore dignity and economic agency.

A strategic planning session under the theme “Linking Social Protection Beneficiaries to Sustainable Livelihood Opportunities” brought together voices from government, civil society, and local leaders today in Durban.

In his opening remarks, Director-General of Social Development, Mr Peter Netshipale, called on all partners to transform the Generating Better Livelihoods initiative into a blueprint for national change.

Addressing delegates at the Coastlands Hotel in Umhlanga, where the formal strategic planning session unfolded, the DG stressed the need for poverty alleviation efforts in South Africa to shift from short-term crisis interventions to an empowerment model rooted in sustainability, dignity, and resilience.

“We are here to discuss a compelling project that we want to turn into a way of life for South Africans,” said Netshipale. “These initiatives have already shown the potential to solve the poverty eradication puzzle — now, we must institutionalise them.”

The strategic session is centred on crafting a long-term implementation plan for the Linking Social Protection Beneficiaries to Sustainable Livelihoods framework — an approach that connects social grant recipients to real opportunities for self-reliance. The plan, spanning the next 3–5 years, is expected to consolidate key programme elements such as stakeholder collaboration, scale-up strategies, policy alignment, and a sustainability roadmap.

The DG’s message resonated strongly with the audience of officials, community leaders, NGOs, and partners such as SASSA, the National Development Agency (NDA), and FinMark Trust.

“In a world of rapid technological, environmental, and economic change, livelihoods are not just about income,” Netshipale emphasised. “They are the foundation of dignity — and we need solutions that are dignified, empowering, and fit for today’s realities.”

He anchored his remarks in the department’s constitutional mandate to provide social protection, referencing the exponential growth in social grant coverage over the last two decades. While social assistance has been critical in reducing hunger and deprivation — with over 19 million grant recipients today — the DG stressed that long-term development must also focus on capabilities, assets, and agency.

A highlight of the day included a visit to Ntuzuma A Hall in KwaMashu, where programme beneficiaries, many of them young entrepreneurs, shared how the initiative has opened doors to new economic opportunities.

In line with the theme, “Linking Social Protection Beneficiaries to Sustainable Livelihood Opportunities,” the planning session also modelled community integration — including the hiring of local taxis to transport delegates to and from the site visit.

Mr Thabani Buthelezi, Acting CEO of the National Development Agency (NDA), echoed the spirit of collective commitment and community-first development.

“After listening to the personal stories and aspirations of GBL participants in Ntuzuma Hall, we are reminded of why this work matters,” said Buthelezi. “We saw how access to the right support — skills, mentorship, and income-generating tools — can change lives.”

He also acknowledged the realities of programme delivery but affirmed the power of co-creation in development:

“No programme is without its challenges. But today we saw that solutions are possible when communities are involved, when the design is grounded in lived experience, and when partners come together to make it happen.”

This strategic session represented more than a planning exercise; it marked a pivotal national shift from dependency to self-sufficiency and from short-term relief to sustainable long-term transformation.”

The Director-General closed by stressing that the initiative is a national movement to cultivate opportunities in every community and ensure they thrive.