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Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe will oversee a service delivery initiative in Ngudwini, KwaZulu-Natal, as part of the government’s initiatives to enhance the quality of life for disadvantaged groups.

The event, scheduled for Friday, 24 April 2026, will be carried out under the Integrated Community Registration and Outreach Programme (ICROP) and will follow the District Development Model (DDM), which encourages collaborative planning and unified service provision throughout all levels of government.

Tolashe will oversee the social development portfolio, which includes the Department of Social Development (DSD), the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and the National Development Agency (NDA), with the aim of providing a full range of services directly to the public.

Services will involve in-person help with applying for social grants, along with entry to various government initiatives designed to enhance living conditions.

Pre-visit discussions within the community highlighted ongoing issues in Ngudwini, such as Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), child maltreatment, poor nutrition, economic hardship, joblessness, and significant rates of drug use.

The Minister is anticipated to interact with women-led cooperatives supported by the NDA, which operate in fields including victim empowerment, production, baking, food security, and guidance. These projects seek to generate job opportunities and enhance community strength.

Other issues highlighted involved parents and guardians who do not possess necessary papers like identification documents, leading to children without birth certificates and being unable to receive social grants.

The conversations also highlighted the exploitation of social grant recipients by loan sharks who take identity documents and SASSA payment cards as security. Furthermore, the community noted significant rates of non-compliance with HIV treatment, sparking worries about health results.

“Community members are invited to participate and are advised to carry the required paperwork for support, such as Identification Papers, Birth Certificates, and more,” the department stated.

Initiatives to motivate upcoming individuals in the water industry

In the meantime, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina is overseeing a two-day community engagement program in the Eastern Cape, designed to assist disadvantaged students and encourage enthusiasm for career paths within the nation’s water and sanitation industry.

The initiative, carried out in collaboration with major water sector organizations, will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2026, and Friday, April 24, 2026, at Aliwal North Orientation School and Bensonvale Methodist Church in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality.

As part of the program, Majodina will provide school uniforms and necessary educational supplies to underprivileged students, while also organizing a Water and Sanitation Career Exhibition aimed at introducing youth to prospects in the field.

The program is an element of the department’s overall plan to create a reliable pipeline of qualified experts in light of increasing demands in water and sanitation services.

The initiative will also recognize outstanding academic achievement among high-achieving students from 17 schools located in underprivileged areas within the district.

Top-performing students will be recognized and given incentives, highlighting the significance of education as a route to opportunities and financial growth.

“Given South Africa’s urgent need for skilled professionals in water and sanitation, the career fair, backed by industry partners, will introduce students to a range of areas such as engineering, science, policy creation, and infrastructure administration,” the department stated. –SAnews.gov.za