SERVICES AT YOUR DOORSTEP: MEC NKOMO-RALEHOKO ENCOURAGES COMMUNITIES TO ACCESS GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

By Phetoho Maja

• Hundreds of Tembisa residents accessed a range of integrated government services during the Integrated Service Delivery Blitz at Sethokga Hostel.
• MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko urged communities to take advantage of services brought directly to their neighbourhoods to improve access and inclusion.
• Skills development, healthcare, social welfare support and employment opportunities formed part of the coordinated service offering.

Despite the cloudy weather on Thursday, hundreds of residents from Tembisa hundreds of residents from Tembisa gathered at Sethokga Hostel in Ekurhuleni on Thursday to access a wide range of government services during the Integrated Service Delivery Blitz hosted by the Gauteng Department of Social Development.

The initiative brought together various government departments, public entities, and funded Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) to provide residents with accessible, integrated, and coordinated services aimed at addressing social and economic challenges within the community.

Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Ms Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, encouraged residents to make full use of the services brought directly to their communities, emphasising the importance of ensuring that government support is easily accessible to those who need it most.

Speaking during the blitz, the MEC said the initiative forms part of the Gauteng Provincial Government’s ongoing commitment to bringing services closer to communities and ensuring that no one is left behind.

“We are encouraged by the continued support of our stakeholders. We have the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), which assisted community members with social grant-related queries and applications. This is aimed at supporting our most vulnerable citizens and ensuring they receive the assistance they need,” she said.

The MEC also thanked the Department of Health for providing mobile clinic services, which enabled residents to access basic healthcare services without travelling long distances.

She further acknowledged the contribution of funded NPOs, including Manger Care Centre, a homeless shelter that offered free haircuts, nail care services and seedlings to community members.
“These services help restore dignity, promote self-care and contribute to the overall well-being of our communities,” she said.

Emphasising the value of partnerships, the MEC noted that collaboration between government departments, entities and community organisations strengthens service delivery and ensures that support reaches those who need it most.

“This is how we work together to deliver accessible, integrated and coordinated services directly to communities,” she said.
Highlighting the importance of skills development and economic empowerment, MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko said the Department had partnered with the Xilembeni Projects Centre of Excellence to provide technical and vocational training opportunities for unemployed youth.

“We have also partnered with the Xilembeni Projects Centre of Excellence, which plays a critical role in skills development. The organisation focuses on training unemployed young people, particularly those recovering from substance abuse, helping them secure meaningful employment and break the cycles of poverty, dependency and crime,” she said.

The centre offers accredited training programmes in plumbing, electrical work and welding, creating pathways to apprenticeships, trade tests and sustainable employment opportunities.
Residents attending the blitz accessed a broad range of services, including social welfare support, healthcare services, skills development programmes, employment information and assistance from various government departments and entities.

The Integrated Service Delivery Blitz continues to serve as an important platform for strengthening collaboration between government and communities, ensuring that essential services reach those who need them most while promoting social inclusion, empowerment and sustainable development.