Social Development MEC in the North West, Basetsana Sussana Dantjie is actively engaging Ga-Monchonyane community in Kagisano Molopo local municipality through her flagship outreach programme dubbed “Re thuse re go thuse.”
Re thuse re go thuse is MEC Dantjie’s flagship programme aimed at amplifying and improving access to integrated social services in the communities. It also provides an important platform for communities to engage directly with her department and various stakeholders, raise service delivery concerns, receive feedback on government programmes aimed at improving livelihoods and accelerating service delivery.
Addressing the residents who filled the local community hall to capacity, MEC Dantjie said her “Re thuse re go thuse programme is meant to reach out to communities, engage them and bring social services at their doorstep.
“We have mobilised stakeholders such as Home Affairs, the South African Social Security Agency and the National Development Agency to close service delivery gaps in this area,” Dantjie said, adding that change agents will also play a critical role in ensuring that social development services reach their communities.
As part of accelerating service delivery the department of social development has welcomed the establishment of ten change agents to record community concerns and come up with recommendations to the MEC. Service delivery issues which fall outside the scope of her department, Dantjie said will be referred to other sister departments for further processing.
During “Re thuse re go thuse” roadshow, a community change agent, Tebogo Bogosi lambasted foreign national tuckshops who sell liquor and other substances to children. Bogosi has called on the MEC to empower women on parenting skills and ensure registration of children with Home Affairs department.
“Ploughing, sewing and establishment of non-profit organisations and recreational facilities will go a long way in eradicating poverty among the residents,” Bogosi said, emphasising that discrimination is prevalent in some work opportunities in their area.
Responding to community concerns, Dantjie decried gender based violence, substance abuse and teenage pregnancy as major challenges facing communities. Parents, Dantjie said, should reprimand children so that they escape social ills.
Through “Re thuse re go thuse,” MEC Dantjie has been crisscrossing the province to advance the mandate of her department which entails
protection against vulnerability, alleviate poverty, and promote social cohesion through integrated, sustainable social development services and community partnerships.
Local kgosi, Kagisano-Molopo mayor and local councillors graced the community engagement session.
ENDS.
Issued by North West Department of Social Development
For Interviews: Call Departmental Spokesperson – Petrus Siko
Tel : (018) 388 1426
Cell: 060 9544 667
Email : psiko@nwpg.gov.za