KWAZULU-NATAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH UFS PARTNERSHIP

By Mthobisi Mbanjwa

• ⁠The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development and the University of the Free State have established a strategic partnership focused on elevating community development, aiming for sustainable empowerment rather than short-term support.
• Forty-three community development practitioners employed by the Department graduated with postgraduate diplomas in 2025, strengthening capacity for developmental social services.
• The partnership signals a shift from welfare-focused interventions towards sustainable community empowerment and long-term social transformation.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the University of the Free State (UFS) to formalise a strategic partnership aimed at professionalising community development practice across the province.

The agreement was signed by Mr O. Kabasia, Head of the Department of Social Development, and Professor H.C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UFS. The partnership reflects the Department’s commitment to strengthening developmental social services and moving beyond welfare-oriented interventions towards sustainable community empowerment.

In 2025, UFS graduated 43 community development practitioners employed by the Department, each obtaining a postgraduate diploma in community development practice. These practitioners, many of whom have years of experience working directly within communities, returned to their roles with enhanced skills, greater confidence, and a strengthened understanding of developmental approaches.

The graduation of the practitioners demonstrated the value of investing in public sector capacity-building, particularly for officials working at the grassroots level, where communities face persistent socio-economic challenges.

The Department emphasised that while social grants remain essential in supporting vulnerable households, long-term transformation requires interventions that empower individuals and communities to become economically and socially self-reliant.

Through community development, practitioners are equipped to identify local strengths, connect residents to opportunities, support skills development initiatives, and facilitate sustainable community-based solutions. This approach enables communities to actively participate in shaping their own development outcomes.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Kabasia said the partnership reflects the Department’s determination to strengthen communities through education and professional development.

“This partnership represents our unwavering commitment to developing the citizens of South Africa, and in particular, the people of KwaZulu-Natal. We are determined to realise a vision that has long been deferred,empowering our communities through education, skills development, and professional excellence,” he said.

The University of the Free State’s contribution to the initiative has also been recognised as significant, particularly for making postgraduate education accessible to working professionals already serving within communities. The programme acknowledges the experience and practical knowledge of community practitioners while enhancing their professional capacity.

The renewed MOA is expected to expand collaboration between the department and the university, increase the number of qualified practitioners, and strengthen research and innovation in community development practice.

The success of the partnership will ultimately be measured by its impact within communities, through improved livelihoods, stronger local initiatives, increased economic participation, and greater social resilience.

The Department said community development practitioners continue to play a vital role in supporting vulnerable communities, often working under challenging circumstances to restore hope, strengthen social cohesion, and promote sustainable development.

The partnership between the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development and the University of the Free State demonstrates how collaboration between government and institutions of higher learning can contribute meaningfully to national development and community transformation.

#SisebenzelaUmphakathiNgokuzithoba (“We work for the community with humility”) remains a guiding principle of the Department’s work, reflecting its commitment to serving communities with dignity, respect, and dedication.