0 Department of Social Development Leaders
Invest Your Energies In Making A Difference For South Africa, Minister Dina Pule Tells The Youth
Rustenburg, 08 July 2026: The Minister of Social Development, Ms Dina Pule, has implored the youth never to give up, but instead to invest their energies in making a difference for the country and future generations.
Minister Pule made these remarks while addressing the first day of a three-day Youth Summit currently underway at Orion Safari Lodge in Rustenburg, North West Province.
"Even when you fall due to social ills and other challenges, you must never give up but keep trying until you make things right. Your destiny is not determined by your current circumstances, but by how you rise to greater heights," said Minister Pule.
Addressing the youth, the CEO of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), Mr Themba Matlou, outlined that SASSA seeks to move young people from dependency to becoming contributors to the main economy. This, he said, can be achieved when young people use their R370 SRD Grant to start businesses. Youth-led cooperatives should be established and led by young people, as there are many opportunities, including school uniform projects that can be supported by SASSA.
Under the theme, "Economic Uprising for the Next 50 Years: Partnerships for Skills, Jobs, and Youth Development," the Youth Summit encouraged young people to channel their energies into meaningful efforts aimed at empowering themselves by taking advantage of opportunities available to them.
Over the next two days, participants will be exposed to various skills and knowledge to empower them. They were also encouraged to shape their own future by networking and visiting exhibition stands for their personal and professional development.
The Chief Director responsible for Youth Development in the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Bernice Hlagala, said that, in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the 1976 Youth, the current generation must use this Summit to draw positive lessons and rise above challenges such as mental health issues, teenage pregnancy and high unemployment.
Dr Hlagala also encouraged young people to pursue scarce skills in fields including the Ocean Economy, Engineering, Construction and Manufacturing.
This year, South Africa commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1976 youth uprising, during which young people courageously protested against the compulsory use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools.
Some of these young people sacrificed their lives to plant and nurture the seeds of freedom that culminated in South Africa's historic democracy in 1994.
Aimed at building partnerships by unlocking economic potential and addressing persistent inequalities and social ills, the Summit provides participants with opportunities to learn various skills, including entrepreneurship, skills development and education.
One of the beneficiaries of the INDLELA Youth Partnership, which is funded by the German Development Bank, Mr Tebogo Mogatle from the North West Province, encouraged his peers to stand up and work with their own hands. Tebogo is a young entrepreneur who started a small business and has employed three people.
Mr Buhle Xulu from KwaZulu-Natal said he was able to register the Difference Makers Youth Organisation. Through soft skills training, he enrolled in a Property Maintenance Programme and later focused on digital skills development, through which he trained more than 300 people. Through the National Youth Development Agency, he was also able to represent South African youth in Shanghai, China.
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Media enquiries may be forwarded to Ms Sandy Godlwana on 082 678 5634 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Minister Dina Pule Leads Youth Empowerment Summit In Rustenburg, North West Province
In recognition of the contributions made by young persons in the liberation of South Africa from the constraints of oppression and the birth of democracy, the Minister of Social Development, Ms Dina Pule, will from 08 to 10 July 2026, lead the Youth Summit at Orion Safari Lodge in Rustenburg, North West Province.
Under the theme: “Economic Uprising for the next 50 Years: Partnerships for Skills, Jobs, and Youth Development”, the Youth Summit seeks to mobilise young persons from various provinces to build partnerships, encourage one another by sharing inspiring lessons and stories of hope.
The Summit is also aimed at building partnerships on youth development with multiple sectors, addressing persistent inequalities by unlocking access to economy, skills development and education, improving provision of youth-friendly health care services and promoting healthy behavioral changes among the youth.
This year marks exactly fifty years since the youth uprisings and is known as the 50th Golden Jubilee Commemoration and its purpose is to honour the legacy of the 1976 Youth. The 1976 youth uprising was a turning point in the struggle against apartheid and one of the vital historic components of defeating oppression.
As such, the Youth Summit serves as courage and a platform to raise awareness by inspiring the youth on the achievements of their peers who gained opportunities and access to the economy, restoring the truth, and empowering today's youth to lead and thrive in a changing world.
It is in context that Department of Social Development has over the years mobilised young people across all provinces to embark on and participate in youth driven programmes such as youth dialogues and camps, business training and mentorship. This was aimed at encouraging and empowering young persons to organise themselves through establishment of youth cooperatives, youth clubs, youth NPOs and other business ventures within their respective communities.
During the Summit, the Department of Social Development will in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), impart knowledge to the youth on the upcoming World Population Day, that is globally observed on 11 July 2026, under the theme: “Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people - today and for the future”.
The UNFPA is a United Nations agency aimed at improving reproductive and maternal health worldwide. The theme reflects the findings of the UNFPA Demographic Futures Survey, entitled - “Choices, Lives and Futures: What shapes young adults’ decisions about relationships, parenthood and the future.”
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover Youth Month Summit planned as follows:
Date: 08 – 10 July 2026
Time: 09h00
Venue: Orion Safari Lodge in Rustenburg, North West Province
Media RSVPs may be forwarded to Ms. Precious Mupenzi on 0837150034 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Media enquiries may be forwarded to Ms Sandy Godlwana on 0826785634 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sassa Intensifies Efforts To Reduce Queues And Improve Client Service Experience
By DSD News
- The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is actively improving service delivery through training and optimising its queue management system.
- This initiative will tackle challenges such as long waiting times, overcrowding, inconsistent queue handling, avoidable repeat visits, and the underutilisation of available digital and management tools.
- “We want beneficiaries to experience a service environment that is organised, efficient, fair and dignified,” SASSA national spokesperson Dr Paseka Letsatsi said.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has intensified efforts to improve service delivery at its local offices nationwide through a comprehensive training programme aimed at strengthening the implementation of its queue management system.
The initiative forms part of SASSA’s Strategic Plan 2025-2030 and broader modernisation agenda, which seeks to improve operational efficiency, enhance accountability, embrace digital transformation and create a more responsive service environment for beneficiaries and clients.
As part of the programme, approximately 1 000 local office management team members are being trained to standardise and optimise queue management processes.
The training is designed to address operational challenges such as long waiting times, overcrowding, inconsistent queue handling, avoidable repeat visits and the underutilisation of available digital and management tools.
SASSA national spokesperson Dr Paseka Letsatsi said effective queue management is a critical component of service delivery as it directly affects customer waiting times, service efficiency, staff productivity and the overall client experience.
“The queue management system is not simply about organising queues. It is about improving the entire customer journey from the moment clients arrive at our offices until they receive the service they need.
“We want beneficiaries to experience a service environment that is organised, efficient, fair and dignified,” said Letsatsi.
The enhanced queue management system is expected to address common service delivery challenges, including long waiting times, overcrowding, repeat visits and inefficient queue management practices.
Through improved operational processes, digital tools and real-time monitoring capabilities, SASSA aims to significantly reduce waiting times and improve service turnaround times.
Key improvements being introduced include the issuing of queue tickets upon arrival, improved prioritisation of vulnerable groups, enhanced appointment management systems, better utilisation of waiting areas, and the introduction of digital self-service options to assist clients while they wait.
Letsatsi said the training programme also focuses on equipping officials with the knowledge and tools needed to improve productivity and streamline service delivery processes.
“Queue walkers and frontline officials will play a more active role in assisting beneficiaries with documentation, providing information and guiding clients through available digital services before they reach service counters,” he said.
The system also introduces real-time performance monitoring through queue management system dashboards, enabling managers and supervisors to identify service bottlenecks, monitor queue performance, allocate resources more effectively and implement corrective interventions where necessary.
Importantly, the revised approach places beneficiaries at the centre of service delivery by ensuring that clients are assisted rather than turned away because of incomplete documentation.
The queue management system further supports fair and transparent service delivery through structured prioritisation measures that ensure older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups receive assistance without unnecessary delays.
SASSA said the nationwide rollout of the queue management system marks an important milestone in its journey towards a modern, efficient, transparent and client-focused service delivery model that meets the needs and expectations of all South Africans.
Lesedi Community Centre To Expand Empowerment Work As Gauteng Department Of Social Development Continues Funding Support
By Lawrence Mashabela
- The Gauteng Department of Social Development has confirmed continued financial support for LCC, enabling the organisation to expand its community empowerment programmes.
- Lesedi Community Centre (LCC) operates a 68-bed shelter for abused women and children, a drop-in centre, a feeding scheme, and skills development programmes in sewing, knitting, and baking—with some beneficiaries successfully placed in employment.
- The centre’s holistic approach, combining rehabilitation, soft skills training, and job readiness, has transformed lives, with beneficiaries describing LCC as a “beacon of hope.”
The Lesedi Community Centre (LCC), a non-profit organisation based in Heidelberg in the Sedibeng District, is poised to expand its community empowerment programmes following renewed funding from the Gauteng Department of Social Development.
Since its establishment in 2013, LCC has remained steadfast in its mission to uplift communities in and around Heidelberg. The organisation delivers a range of interventions spanning skills development, social enterprise initiatives, and community wellness programmes, all aimed at fostering self-reliance and improving quality of life for vulnerable residents.
According to General Manager, Jaco Kritzinger, LCC continues to focus on inspiring, empowering, motivating, and equipping young people and community members to reach their full potential.
“Our aim is to make Lesedi Community Centre an inspiration of hope by providing youth and community members with opportunities and skills to realise their full potential and purpose, and to ensure that they are empowered to make a difference in their own lives and communities,” said Kritzinger.
He added that the organisation prioritises the upliftment of unemployed youth, individuals recovering from substance abuse, and vulnerable women from disadvantaged communities such as Ratanda.
The ever-growing organisation provides a range of services, including a short-term shelter for abused women and children with a capacity of 68 beds. Beneficiaries are supported through rehabilitation, life-skills development, and where possible, family reunification or reintegration into independent living.
LCC also operates a drop-in centre and a feeding scheme that provides cooked meals to vulnerable families.
Beyond immediate relief services, the centre places strong emphasis on long-term empowerment through skills development programmes such as sewing, knitting, and baking. Through its in-house bakery and training initiatives, many beneficiaries have been equipped with practical skills, with some being successfully placed in employment through partner organisations.
Kritzinger said soft skills development remains central to the organisation’s approach.
“Our programmes focus on preparing individuals for the real world through entrepreneurship, communication skills, confidence building, teamwork, problem-solving, and job readiness,” he said.
He further expressed appreciation for continued support from government.
“We are humbled and delighted that the Department has recognised our work and continues to entrust us with this responsibility of empowering and impacting the lives of vulnerable people,” he said.
Community member Michel Kotze, 46, from Boksburg, praised the organisation for its life-changing impact, describing it as a “beacon of hope” for Heidelberg and surrounding communities.
“I came here broken with little hope. I thought drugs had destroyed my life, but LCC revived my ambition and gave me a lifeline and hope that I can change my life again,” she said.
The continued funding from the Gauteng Department of Social Development is expected to enable LCC to expand its reach, strengthen existing programmes, and continue providing vital support, skills development, and empowerment opportunities to vulnerable individuals and families.
