Upington
The Department of Social Development, together with its partners and stakeholders, successfully convened the ICROP Outreach Programme in Rosedale, Upington, reaffirming government’s unwavering commitment to bring essential services directly to communities. This initiative is firmly rooted in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996), which mandates the State to uphold human dignity, advance social justice, and improve the quality of life of all citizens.
In alignment with the vision of the African National Congress (ANC) as the governing party, and the five-year strategic plan of the Department, the outreach programme embodied the principle of a caring government that leaves no one behind. Services provided under the programme spanned the entire human life cycle—ranging from early childhood development to family support, substance abuse interventions, services for persons with disabilities, victim empowerment programmes, and initiatives for older persons.
The MEC for Social Development, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mme Nontobeko Vilakazi, emphasised that these services carry not only rights but also responsibilities. Communities were encouraged to utilise social grants responsibly, prioritising the welfare of children and households. The MEC called for communities to rise against social ills such as teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and gender-based violence, underscoring the importance of positive role modelling by parents and guardians.
In her contribution, Ms Karabelo Mojanaga, the Regional Executive Manager (REM) of SASSA, invoked the prophetic words of Isaiah 61:1–2, declaring 2025 as the “year of the Lord’s favour.” This theological framing affirmed the outreach as not only an administrative act of government but also a season of hope, healing, and renewal for the people of Rosedale. By proclaiming freedom, dignity, and restoration, this message resonated deeply with the Department’s constitutional responsibility to protect and uplift the most vulnerable in society.
The programme further highlighted the importance of a whole-of-society approach. Contributions from SAPS, Agriculture, Labour, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) reflected a comprehensive commitment to:
• Safeguarding grant beneficiaries from exploitation,
• Promoting sustainable livelihoods through food security initiatives and cooperative development,
• Addressing youth unemployment through labour market interventions,
• Ensuring accountability in public administration, and
• Protecting communities against crime, harassment, and abuse.
These collaborative efforts embody the constitutional principle of cooperative governance and the ANC’s long-standing vision of building a developmental state that prioritises the needs of the people.
As underscored by multiple speakers, the family remains the cornerstone of a cohesive society.
Strengthening families ensures that children are nurtured in environments of safety, dignity, and opportunity, enabling them to grow into responsible and productive citizens. Social Development’s interventions thus focus not only on remedial action but also on prevention and community resilience, echoing the ANC’s historic call to build communities united in action against poverty and underdevelopment.
The ICROP Outreach Programme in Rosedale reaffirmed government’s determination to fulfil its constitutional obligations and electoral promises. By bringing services to the people, promoting accountability, and fostering self-sustainability, the Department of Social Development and its partners have demonstrated that transformation is not abstract, it is lived, tangible, and accessible.
This initiative stands as a testament to the guiding values of the ANC-led government: human dignity, social justice, and equality. It is through these values that we declare, with conviction, that indeed this is the year of the Lord’s favour—a season of renewal, hope, and collective progress for our people. Source- Department of Soc Dev.
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