MINISTER PULE TAKES INTEGRATED GOVERNMENT SERVICES TO EFAMENI

By DSD News

• Minister of Social Development, Dina Pule, brought the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP) to eFameni in the OR Tambo District on 26 October 2026, after community stakeholders called for better access to government services.
• Residents were offered social grant application assistance, identity document services and health screenings by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), the National Development Agency (NDA) and other government departments.
• The Minister also conducted an oversight visit to Ilunge Sewing Cooperative, a community-based organisation funded by the National Development Agency (NDA) that creates jobs and income opportunities in the Mthatha area.

Residents of eFameni in the OR Tambo District, Eastern Cape, had government services brought to their doorstep on 26 October 2026, when the Minister of Social Development, Dina Pule, led the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP) in the area.

The Minister’s intervention followed calls from community stakeholders, who highlighted a range of challenges facing the community. Chief among these was limited access to government services, which forces residents to travel long distances for essential support.
Minister Pule considered this a disservice to the community, particularly as government departments have mobile resources that can be deployed to bring services closer to people while longer-term, sustainable solutions are pursued.

Stakeholders identified several social challenges requiring attention, including gender-based violence (GBV), teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, unemployment, poverty, hunger, and limited access to social workers and related support services.

They also raised concerns about the living conditions of older persons and called for more youth development initiatives, skills training, employment opportunities and entrepreneurship support, as well as assistance for former mineworkers.

Crime was a further concern. Residents pointed to rising levels of stock theft, the illegal possession of firearms, violent crime and sexual offences, as well as delays in police response times due to the distance from the nearest police station.

Services under one roof
Through this integrated approach, the Minister was joined by SASSA, the NDA and other government departments to improve the community’s access to essential services and resources.

Residents were able to apply for social grants, access identity document services and undergo health screenings.
The programme also gave residents a platform to engage with government, raise their concerns, identify their needs and help set service-delivery priorities.

Strengthening families through partnerships
The ICROP formed part of Social Development Month, observed this year under the theme “Strengthening Families Through Partnerships”. In line with this theme, the outreach initiative aimed to bring social security programmes, community outreach and welfare services closer to communities, while strengthening collaboration among government departments and other stakeholders.

As part of the programme, Minister Pule conducted an oversight visit to Ilunge Sewing Cooperative, a community-based organisation funded by the NDA. The cooperative supports job creation and income-generating opportunities for communities in the Mthatha area.