By Staff Reporter.
- Residents of Mlungisi township in Chris Hani District prepare to raise critical social concerns directly with Minister Sisisi Tolashe.
- The ministerial outreach, set for 18 July, brings a full suite of social development services to address poverty and inequality.
- This Mandela Month event underscores the theme “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity,” reinforcing community empowerment.
The community of Mlungisi township in the Chris Hani District is abuzz with anticipation as they prepare to welcome the Minister of Social Development, Ms Sisisi Tolashe, on Friday, 18 July. The visit, which coincides with Nelson Mandela International Day, is expected to provide a platform for residents to robustly engage the Minister on the pressing issues they face daily.
Minister Tolashe will be joined by SASSA CEO Mr Themba Matlou and Acting NDA CEO Mr Thabani Buthelezi. Together they will address a wide range of local challenges, including substance abuse, child neglect, misuse of social grants, gender-based violence, vulnerability of people with disabilities, and the exploitation of older persons whose SASSA cards are often held by loan sharks.
SASSA will ensure all social grant review services are on-site, critical given that nearly 20,000 beneficiaries in the province are due for reviews, with Queenstown alone accounting for around 1,876 cases.
Framed by the government’s Mandela Month theme, “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity,” this ministerial outreach aims to deliver a comprehensive basket of social development services directly to the community, reflecting a commitment to tackling poverty and building resilience.
Members of the media are invited to cover this important engagement, which will take place at Mzingisi Skweyiya Community Hall in Ward 17, Mlungisi Township, starting at 08:00 on Friday, 18 July. The event promises to spotlight the lived realities of residents and the government’s efforts to respond meaningfully to their needs.
