Nc Cape Social Development Mec Leads High Impact Outreach In Platfontein

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By Lungile Mkamba.

  • The Northern Cape MEC for Social Development, Nontobeko Vilakazi, has lead an outreach visit to one of the most vulnerable communities in the province, Platfontein.
  • ⁠During the visit, part of the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme, wheelchairs and blankets were handed to those in need.
  • ⁠The visit to allow the various department’s officials to listen, to engage, and to respond to the community’s issues, according to MEC Vilakazi.

In a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to integrated, accessible, and people-centred service delivery, the Northern Cape MEC for Social Development, Nontobeko Vilakazi, led a high-impact outreach programme in Platfontein on Tuesday 15 July 2025.

The flagship Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme initiative, spearheaded by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), in partnership with key government departments and agencies, brought essential, on-the-ground support to one of the Northern Cape’s most vulnerable communities.

Hosted at the !Xun Alfa Gemeente Church in the community 15km out of Kimberley, the event provided access to a range of vital services, including SASSA grants applications, birth registration and smart ID applications, health screenings, victim empowerment and gender-based violence support, as well as youth development and employment opportunities.

In a symbolic moment of compassion and empowerment, the day also featured the handover of wheelchairs and blankets to residents in need.

In addition, the National Development Agency donated R643 500 towards Phase 2 of Early Childhood Development projects in the area, underscoring the government’s investment in long-term developmental goals.

Delivering the keynote address, MEC Vilakazi stressed the importance of collective efforts to tackle social ills such as teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, gender-based violence, and youth unemployment.

“Today is not about making promises, it is about delivering. We are here to listen, to engage, and to respond with concrete action,” MEC Vilakazi said.

She also appealed to grant recipients to use social assistance as a springboard for growth, not dependency.

SASSA’s acting regional executive manager, Karabelo Mojanaga, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ethical and timely service delivery.

“We are dedicated to ensuring that the right person receives the right grant at the right time. As SASSA, we will continue rolling out Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme throughout the province to ensure no beneficiary is left behind,” she said.

The outreach was warmly received by residents.

“Home Affairs helped me apply for a smart ID on the spot and I didn’t even have to pay for a taxi. Now I can apply for my UIF benefits and other services,” said Platfontein resident Swanepoel Bandu.

Another resident, Tifa Munawgo, added: “This event helped me apply for a Child Support Grant. It saved me time and money.”

Alongside SASSA and the Department of Social Development, key stakeholders provided services on-site. These included the Department of Home Affairs, the Department Employment and Labour, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the National Youth Development Agency, the Seriti Institute, the South African Human Rights Commission, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Department of Justice, and the South African Police Service (SAPS).

This outreach underscores government’s ongoing efforts to restore dignity, bridge service delivery gaps, and build a better life for all, especially those in rural and historically marginalised communities.

The Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme remains a shining example of the power of collaborative governance and responsive leadership.