PANEL HIGHLIGHTS URGENT NEED TO TACKLE POVERTY AT INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES

By Precious Mupenzi

• Empowering households through agriculture: Supporting small-scale and subsistence farmers is critical to food security and reducing poverty.
• Building sustainable livelihoods: Shifting from handouts to enterprise support helps families become self-reliant and economically stable.
• Social grants remain effective: South Africa’s comprehensive social assistance system continues to play a pivotal role in alleviating poverty.

Cape Town – Tackling poverty and hunger was a key focus at the Department of Social Development’s commemoration of the International Day of Families (IDF), held at Lagoon Beach Hotel under the theme “Poverty Alleviation through Food Nutrition, Social Security and Sustainable Livelihoods.”

Chaired by Thabani Buthelezi, Acting CEO of the National Development Agency (NDA), the panel brought together representatives from SASSA, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Small Business Development, and DSD’s Community Development branch. The discussion centred on coordinated strategies to lift families out of poverty.

“Poverty remains one of the greatest threats to national development,” said Buthelezi. “We must strengthen families through a holistic mix of education, healthcare, social services, and enterprise support.”

A Department of Agriculture representative emphasized the need to empower smallholder and subsistence farmers. “Through support programmes like Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS), households can grow their own food and evolve into small-scale commercial farmers,” they said, adding that replacing ageing commercial farmers with new entrants is vital for long-term food security.

The Department of Small Business Development shared how their support empowers individuals to transform everyday skills into viable enterprises. “We need to move beyond handouts and build sustainable livelihoods that ensure food on the table,” a panelist noted.

From the DSD’s Comprehensive Social Security unit, Klaas Baloyi reflected on the critical role of social grants. “South Africa’s social assistance system is one of the most effective in the developing world, with immense impact on poverty reduction,” he said, referring to the Child Support and Older Persons Grants.

The panel called for stronger partnerships and integrated efforts across sectors. Buthelezi urged all stakeholders to evaluate what works, innovate where necessary, and commit to real collaboration. “This is not just about reporting—we must think forward to ensure families are thriving, not merely surviving,” he said.

The discussion supported the broader goals of the IDF event, including the launch of the Revised White Paper on Families (WPF) and the Family’s Matter Programme (FMP) by Minister Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe. As the engagements took place during Child Protection Month, participants agreed that protecting children and empowering families go hand in hand.