GOVERNMENT BRINGS HOPE AND SERVICES TO ROSEDALE, UPINGTON THROUGH ICROP OUTREACH

By Staff writer.

• ⁠During the ICROP outreach in Rosedale, the Department of Social Development and its partners reiterated the government’s dedication to providing accessible services that assist citizens throughout every phase of life.
• Mme Nontobeko Vilakazi, the Northern Cape MEC for Social Development, Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, urged communities to utilise social grants responsibly and collaborate in addressing issues such as teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and gender-based violence.
• The outreach brought together government, law enforcement, and other stakeholders to improve food security, ensure accountability, and protect communities from crime.

The Department of Social Development, in collaboration with its partners and stakeholders, successfully hosted the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme ICROP Outreach Programme in Rosedale, Upington. This initiative reaffirmed government’s unwavering commitment to making essential services accessible to communities, in line with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996), which upholds human dignity, advances social justice, and seeks to improve the quality of life of all citizens.
Guided by the vision of the African National Congress (ANC) as the governing party, and the department’s five-year strategic plan, the outreach programme embodied the principle of a caring government that leaves no one behind. Services provided under the programme spanned the entire human life cycle, including early childhood development, family support, substance abuse interventions, disability services, victim empowerment programmes, and initiatives tailored for older persons.

A Call for Responsible Citizenship

The MEC for Social Development, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mme Nontobeko Vilakazi, emphasised that government services are tied to both rights and responsibilities. She urged communities to utilise social grants responsibly prioritising the welfare of children and households. The MEC also called on communities to rise against social ills such as teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and gender-based violence, underscoring the importance of positive role modelling by parents and guardians.

A Season of Renewal and Restoration

In her contribution, Ms Karabelo Mojanaga, the Regional Executive Manager (REM) of SASSA, drew on the prophetic words of Isaiah 61:1–2, declaring 2025 as the “year of the Lord’s favour.” This theological framing affirmed the outreach as not only an administrative act of government but also a season of hope, healing, and renewal for the people of Rosedale. This message of freedom, dignity, and restoration aligned powerfully with the Department’s constitutional mandate to uplift and protect the most vulnerable.

Whole-of-Society Commitment

The programme further demonstrated the importance of a whole-of-society approach. Contributions from SAPS, Agriculture, Labour, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) reflected a comprehensive commitment to:

• Safeguarding grant beneficiaries from exploitation,
• Promoting sustainable livelihoods through food security initiatives and cooperative development,
• Addressing youth unemployment through labour market interventions,
•  Ensuring accountability in public administration, and
• Protecting communities against crime, harassment, and abuse.

These collaborative efforts embody the constitutional principle of cooperative governance and the ANC’s long-standing vision of building a developmental state that prioritises the needs of the people.

Speakers consistently emphasised the family as the cornerstone of a cohesive society. Strengthening families ensures that children are nurtured in environments of safety, dignity, and opportunity, enabling them to grow into responsible and productive citizens. Social Development’s efforts target both prevention and remediation, aiming to strengthen community resilience in line with the ANC’s historic call to unite against poverty and underdevelopment.

The ICROP Outreach Programme in Rosedale reaffirmed government’s determination to fulfil its constitutional obligations and electoral promises. By bringing services to the people, promoting accountability, and fostering self-sustainability, the Department of Social Development and its partners demonstrated that transformation is not abstract, it is lived, tangible, and accessible.