KWAZULU-NATAL MEC TAKES COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO INTEKE IN DURBAN

By Sifiso Xulu

• The government’s Integrated Community Registration and Outreach Programme sees a range of social services being taken into South Africa’s communities, providing an ease of access.
• The latest such outreach was conducted by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for the Department of Social Development, Mbali Shinga, who joined the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to visit the community of Inteke in Durban.
• School uniforms were handed to needy learners, and community members were able to access services such as social grants and healthcare information.

In a bold initiative aimed at tackling the challenges of poverty, the high cost of living and enhancing the delivery of essential government services, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for the Department of Social Development, Mbali Shinga, joined forces with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to take an outreach programme to the community of Inteke, Durban.

The provincial regional executive manager of SASSA, Thamo Mzobe, joined the MEC on the Integrated Community Registration and Outreach Programme (ICROP) at the KwaMhlongo Sportsground.

The integrated outreach programme is a testament to the government’s unwavering commitment to uplifting and supporting the most vulnerable in society. It sees government services taken to the communities.

By adopting a holistic and community-centred approach, the programme seeks not only to alleviate poverty and high costs of living but also to empower individuals and families with the resources they need to become knowledgeable citizens.

The emphasis on interaction and engagement with local communities ensures residents are not merely passive recipients of aid but active participants in shaping their own futures.

During this event, one of the highlights was the handover of school uniforms to learners from schools within the community and the issuing of Social Relief of Distress food packages to the most vulnerable in the community.

Shinga and Mzobe saw the presentation of the school uniforms as more than just handing over clothes – they represent opportunity, hope, and the promise of education for the children who received them. This gesture underscores the belief that every child deserves the chance to learn and grow, regardless of their background.

The outreach programme provided a wide array of government services, including SASSA, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Department of Health, tailored specifically for the vulnerable.

Attendees were able to access a variety of services, including social grants, healthcare information, and assistance with applications for various forms of support.

The outreach not only provided immediate help but also fostered a sense of community, solidarity and resilience, reminding everyone present that government support is available no matter how far off they are from urban areas.