Khayelitsha residents benefit from minister-led service delivery initiative
Not only was the Mew Way Hall packed into its capacity, but the queues outside were also very long.
Image: Phiri Cawe
Many residenst were satisfied with the service delivery in the Mew Way hall in Khayelitsha while others were far from happy.
Image: Phiri Cawe
Khayelitsha residents recieved a treatment they will never forget during the the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme organised by the Social Develoment minister Sisi Tolashe.
Image: Phiri Cawe
Khayelitsha residents accessed multiple government services under one roof during an outreach programme held at Mew Way Hall on Tuesday, July 8.
The initiative formed part of the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP), an ongoing effort by the Department of Social Development to engage directly with communities on matters relating to social assistance and service delivery. Minister of Social Development Sisi Tolashe joined the event later in the day.
ICROP aims to streamline access to services in rural and under-resourced areas and to promote coordination between government departments. Residents received assistance from various departments and entities, including Social Development, Home Affairs, Health, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), the Road Accident Fund, and others.
Services available on the day included help with social grant registrations, identity documents, and information on education, electricity, and road accident claims.
Those who spoke to Vukani had different views about the day. Some community members welcomed the initiative but expressed concerns. Nobubele Mntungwa from Mfuleni said she travelled to Khayelitsha because she expected better service with the Minister present.
“I had to come here because I knew there would be care from the staff members. Go to their offices and you will see different people. They are animals there,” she said.
Sisipho Mawu from Site C said: “This is a political campaign that we must use to our advantage. I came knowing that assistance will be there because they are thinking about elections now. We are not stupid. We know why they do this. But it is to our advantage now. We have to seize this opportunity.”
Another resident, Ndimphiwe Mangaliso, welcomed the assistance but raised concern about long queues.
“These queues mean people are not serviced in their respective offices. But another problem is that Khayelitsha has only one office to service its residents. These queues are as a result of that. I hope the minister will attend to this and build more SASSA offices. These are poor people. These queues mean people are poor and poverty rules in Khayelitsha,” he said.
In a statement, the Department of Social Development said ICROP is a ministerial service delivery programme aimed at intensifying the fight against poverty.
Participating departments and organisations included Home Affairs, Health, Social Development, the South African Police Service, Road Accident Fund, Small Enterprise Development Agency, National Development Agency, and a number of NGOs.