SELLWANE KHAKHAU
Social Development Minister, Bathabile Dlamini, together with the department’s Free State MEC, Sisi Ntombela, are visiting Ladybrand, in the Free State today as part of the department’s outreach programme.
According to Chief staff in the Ministry, Abram Phahlamohlaka, Ladybrand- which falls under the Mantsopa local municipality in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, is one of more than one thousand areas that have been identified throughout the country, with high social challenges including substance abuse and a high rate of crime.
Phahlamohlaka said Mantsopa municipality has over 11 thousand households, with 43% of them headed by women. According to him, the aim of the project is to improve poor living conditions in the area, and also address service delivery backlogs.
"With specific reference to this area, the main prevailing challenge is substance abuse, unemployment, women and child abuse issues. We have conducted a community dialogue to find out what they key challenges are, and find solutions to address them. These include people who want to register for social grant, Identity documents (IDs), people who want social work and those whose families are affected by substance abuse to get them to rehabilitation centres," he said.
The project started in 2013, and is being rolled out throughout the country.
sellwane@centralmediagroup.co.za
