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WC FAMILIES EMBRACE DIALOGUE AT MOTHER AND DAUGHTER/FATHER AND SON RETREAT

March 30, 2026

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By Nonhlakanipho Masola

The Department of Social Development is holding a series of intergenerational dialogues across South Africa to help families rebuild connections and strengthen their bonds.
Social workers and trained facilitators lead guided discussions on challenging topics such as mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and the social pressures facing young people today.
The programme seeks to break cycles of silence and create healthier, more supportive family environments.

The Department of Social Development has officially launched the Western Cape leg of its mother and daughter/father and son intergenerational dialogue retreat, an initiative aimed at helping families to rebuild connections and strengthen their bonds through creating safe spaces for open conversations between parents and their children.

Following a successful two-day retreat held last week in Birchwood, Gauteng, the programme now moves to the Western Cape as part of its ongoing national rollout, bringing with it renewed hope for families seeking healing and understanding.

At the heart of the retreat is the goal of helping families talk openly, honestly, and without fear.

Parents and children are provided a structured and supportive environment where they can engage in deeply personal and often challenging topics, including communication, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and the social pressures facing young people today.

Social workers and trained facilitators lead guided discussions, equipping participants with practical tools to rebuild trust, strengthen relationships, and navigate difficult conversations within their homes.

This initiative forms part of the department’s broader commitment to addressing social challenges such as teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, and substance abuse.

By fostering intergenerational dialogue, the programme seeks to break cycles of silence and create healthier, more supportive family environments.

For many, the experience has been nothing short of transformative.

Mathilda Dutoit (46), a mother from Atlantis in the Western Cape, shared how the retreat has reshaped her relationship with her daughter. She described the experience as deeply emotional and heartwarming, noting that hearing the stories of both parents and children opened her eyes to new perspectives.

“It has helped us understand each other better,” she said. “We now have a stronger relationship.”

She reflected on the importance of such programmes in a society where many parents are still healing from their own pasts.

“Some of us come from broken families, and these programmes help us break generational cycles. They help us raise our children differently, to give them the understanding and support we may not have had.”

Her words echo the sentiment felt throughout the retreat that healing begins with conversation.

Addressing families at the gathering, Deputy Minister for Social Development Ganief Hendricks emphasised the importance of open dialogue in today’s complex social landscape.

“Strong communication builds strong relationships, and strong relationships protect and empower our children,” he said.

He acknowledged that these conversations are not always easy, but they are essential in breaking the silence, challenging harmful norms, and preventing misinformation.

As the programme continues, it provides a beacon of hope, creating spaces where families can reconnect, rebuild trust, and move forward together with compassion and understanding.

Through initiatives like this, the department confirms its commitment to nurturing not just individuals, but also families, and ultimately, creating stronger communities.