FREE STATE ACTING MEC OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT RECEIVES NEW FLEET TO EXPEDIATE SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE DEPARTMENT

By Staff Writer

• The Free State Department of Social Development received 25 LDVs and 15 sedans from the Department of Community Safety, Roads, and Transport to enhance service delivery, adorned in navy blue and green colours representing departmental programmes.

• Acting MEC Thabo Meeko and Acting HOD Mrs Makgotso Mbuyisa spearheaded the vehicle handover ceremony, aiming to bolster operational efficiency and visibility within the community for seamless service provision.

• These vehicles address the lack of transport hindering service delivery, enabling officials to reach underprivileged communities, thereby enhancing customer service and tackling social issues like femicide and gender-based violence, as expressed by Acting MEC Thabo Meeko.

The Free State Department of Social Development recently received 25 LDVs (double cab bakkies) and 15 sedans from the Fleet Management entity of the Department of Community Safety, Roads, and Transport. These vehicles are branded in the Provincial Department of Social Development Corporate Identity manual’s primary (Navy blue) and secondary colours (Green), representing the Free State province’s social cluster and reflecting some of the departmental programmes; a green colour represents the Child Protection Week colours, and the orange colour represents the Victim Empowerment Programme and Orange Day. The handover was an effort by the acting MEC, Mr Thabo Meeko, and acting HOD, Mrs Makgotso Mbuyisa, to expedite and improve service delivery and support the efficient provision of social development services throughout the province.

To enhance service delivery to our communities, the Acting MEC and Acting HOD of the Department of Social Development participated in the vehicle handover ceremony. This initiative aims to improve operational efficiency within the department and districts, ensuring visibility in the community and seamless service delivery. Lack of transport has been a major obstacle to rendering services, and the provision of these vehicles addresses this challenge. Acting MEC Mr Thabo Meeko and Acting HOD Mrs Makgotso Mbuyisa accepted the vehicles on behalf of the department and distributed them to officials across all districts, fostering a safer, more conducive working environment.

The Department aims to fulfil the needs of underprivileged, vulnerable, and impoverished communities by deploying these vehicles, even in the most remote areas. This initiative will enable social workers and community development workers to travel and deliver services directly to the doorstep of every community, thereby enhancing customer service for clients.

Upon receiving the fleet, Acting MEC Thabo Meeko expressed gratitude to MEC Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae for the handover. MEC Meeko highlighted that these vehicles would assist the Department in addressing the increasing social issues, notably the surge in femicide and gender-based violence incidents during the holiday season. The Department firmly believes that the provision of these vehicles will facilitate the prompt delivery of social services to the citizens of the Free State.