NEW CHAPTER BEGINS FOR TSHIRELETSONG SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FACILITY

By Relebohile Ramabitsa

• The Tshireletsong Social Development facility has been relocated, making it easier to access for the communities of Mangaung, in the Free State.
• Phase One of the new facility serves as a home for children, while Phase Two will be used as offices.
• The new location ensures that social development services can reach those who need them most.

The handover of the relocated Tshireletsong facility which provides a care home and offices for the Free State Department of Social Development marks a new chapter for the Mangaung district.

During the opening ceremony, the acting head of the Free State Department of Public Works and Infrastructure Advocate Tumelo Phahlo spoke of the importance of accessibility for all, noting that the previous building – although beautiful – was not always easy to access when there was loadshedding, as well as for people with disabilities or senior citizens.

Phase One of the new Tshireletsong facility serves as a home for children, while Phase Two will be used as offices for the Mangaung district.

The facility, designed with inclusivity in mind, will provide ease of access for all members of the public, ensuring that social development services can reach those who need them most, Phahlo said.

The acting head of department for the Free State Department of Social Development, Nelisiwe Ntombela emphasised the benefits of the Mangaung district’s relocation.

Ntombela recalled the challenges faced at the previous offices, where loadshedding would cause difficulties for beneficiaries who relied on elevators to access the top-floor offices.

In contrast, the new facility has been designed to accommodate all beneficiaries, eliminating such obstacles.

Ntombela also highlighted the advantage of transitioning from a leased facility to a government-owned one, expressing her gratitude for this development.

Furthermore, she emphasised the benefits of having services for children and social workers under one roof.

With the home for children in phase one, children in need of care will be assessed nearby in the social workers’ offices, streamlining the process.

During the handover ceremony, the MEC of the Free State Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, Kathleen Dibolelo Mance, addressed the gathering and began by acknowledging an apology from Mathabo Leeto, the MEC of Social Development, for her absence.

“I grew up in this neighbourhood, so I understand the importance of this facility,” Dibolelo Mance said.

“Our work is one – bringing services to the people. Institutions like this one become a heartbeat.”

As she officially handed over the facility to the Department of Social Development, Dibolelo Mance stressed the importance of quality work to the project managers.

“I don’t want to come back to this facility and find that it has defects; I want to see quality work,” she emphasised.

The MEC concluded her remarks by highlighting the facility’s potential to secure a brighter future for the children. “This facility must be a place that helps children become better people. By providing them with a conducive environment, we can empower them to become future leaders.