​On Thursday, the Gauteng Department of Social Development heeded a call by Premier David Makhura to visit the community of Duduza in Ekurhuleni to respond to key service delivery issues as part Government’s Ntirhisano Community Outreach Programme.to empower communities with information so that they can drive their own development, particularly the youth.
Addressing the community at Monty Motloung Community Hall, Social Development MEC Morakane Mosupyoe said the Department, together with sister departments in the social cluster, would need to re-visit the area to expand information so that the community can understand what each Department does.

She further encouraged Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) to adhere to the regulations as outlined in their Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and the NPO Act.

“As government, we cannot work alone. We need communities to assist us,” said the MEC. She added that there were many social problems in the township such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, abscondment, high school dropping out and so on which are caused, by amongst others, high rate of unemployment. A service delivery blitz by various departments will be done in the area to showcase interventions from government available to residents.

A community member, Fannie Webster asked how government assists persons with disability to access job opportunities particularly those that are currently at Masihlanganeni Protective Workshop.

In response, Gauteng Social Development Ekurhuleni Regional Director, Phumla Nkosi said the region would need to send Social Workers to assess their programmes.

She further encouraged Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) to align their programmes with the mandate of the Department so that they can access funding.

Among the participants in the outreach programme was the Department of Labour, South African Police Service (SAPS), Ekurhuleni Municipality and funded NPOs.