Tag Archives: Sussana Dantjie

Dantjie launches MUNIMEC structure

NEWS Leave a comment

Picture: North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

14 December 2025- The newly-established MUNIMEC structure will go a long way in strengthening governance and service delivery across the province, the North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie, told members of mayoral councils from various municipalities at the launch of MUNIMEC forum in Mahikeng on Friday.

Dantjie said this is a platform that will enable them as leaders to build on collaboration, innovation and responsive governance for the betterment of the people they serve. She said it will also help them to monitor and evaluate service delivery commitments by stakeholders.

“The forum will convene its meetings once per quarter to track progress on service delivery, to discuss and resolve a wide range of issues affecting the local government sphere.

“The MUNIMEC provides a platform for the provincial government and municipalities to interact regularly, ensuring a coordinated approach to service delivery and governance issues,” said Dantjie.

She further said MUNIMEC is a consultative forum typically established at the provincial level, bringing together the MEC and members of mayoral council responsible for social development, community development and special programmes in their respective municipalities. Dantjie added that the launch and operation of MUNIMEC structure is a practical implementation of the country’s cooperative governance model, aiming at bridging gaps between spheres of government to improve the living conditions of communities.

“A MUNIMEC structure stems from the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996: Section 40(1) establishes government as national, provincial, and local spheres that are distinctive, interdependent, and interrelated.

“Section 41 mandates that all spheres of government must cooperate with one another in mutual trust and good faith, which includes supporting and consulting each other on matters of common interest,” she said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Dantjie to visit Taung Treatment Centre

NEWS Leave a comment

 

Picture: North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie

By BAKANG MOKOTO

30 July 2025- As Mandela month draws to a close, the North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie, is scheduled to lead a Letsema Cleaning Campaign at a state-run treatment centre in Taung on 31 July 2025, at 9am. Dantjie said the treatment centre, which is situated in Taung hospital premises, has been established to meet the growing demand for inpatient rehabilitation services, particularly for individuals affected by substance use disorders.

“In June this year, the department admitted seven service users at the centre to start the process of rehabilitation. The state-run treatment centre has ten beds for females and ten for men service users.

“The centre has an occupancy certificate and it is conditionally registered for a period of 12 months to render rehabilitation services to clients in line with the Prevention of and Treatment of Substance Abuse Act 70 of 2008,” she said.

Dantjie further said since 2018, officials at the centre have been rendering community based services to clients with substance use disorders to the entire Dr Ruth Segomotsi District. She added that their services include screening of clients, counselling of individuals and families at various homes, referral of clients with dual diagnosis to psychiatric wards for treatment and conducting awareness campaigns on substance abuse. 

“During my visit, we will monitor the centre by doing walkabouts, meeting the service users and lead a cleaning campaign to mark the closing of Nelson Mandela month,” said Dantjie.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

“Non-compliant NPOs derail our efforts to achieve clean audit”  

NEWS Leave a comment

Picture: The North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie/Supplied 

By REGINALD KANYANE 

10 April 2025- The North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie, decried non-compliance of non-profit organisations (NPOs) with legislation as a major cause of her department’s inability to achieve a clean audit. Dantjie was addressing more than 200 delegates from various NPOs who filled Madibeng’s White Hall to capacity for a day-long roadshow, dubbed ‘Re Thuse Re Go Thuse’.

‘Re Thuse Re Go Thuse’ is Dantjie’s flagship programme that underscores her commitment to fostering a robust and effective NPO sector that is capable of delivering essential services to communities across the province in partnership with sister departments and State-Owned Entities (SOEs).

“We account to oversight bodies on how we spend the budget that is allocated to us. A large percentage of the departmental budget goes to the NPOs to enable them to work in partnership with the department in delivering services to our people. 

“If we keep on providing funding to NPOs that are not fully compliant with legislation, we will always attract a finding from the Auditor General SA,” she said.  

Dantjie further said, NPOs must refrain from using unspent monies without the approval of her department. She added that NPOs should explore other possible means of generating income without depending solely on her departmental annual funding.

Meanwhile, the National Lottery Commission, the South African Revenue Services, the Provincial Treasury, the National Development Agency, the Department of Home Affairs and the National Department of Social Development are part of the stakeholders that participate in the roadshow. 

taungdailynews@gmail.com

‘Shortage of SASSA service points in North West a concern’

NEWS Leave a comment

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

21 February 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West said it has written a letter to the North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie, as well as the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), requesting urgent clarification on the extremely short list of service points identified, where SASSA beneficiaries can obtain their new Postbank black cards.

The DA Spokesperson on Social Development in the North West Hendriëtte van Huyssteen said just like in the rest of the country, thousands of SASSA beneficiaries in the North West are required to transition from gold cards to Postbank black cards by 20 March 2025. Van Huyssteen said, despite the urgency of this transition, only 11 service points have been designated across the entire province.

“This limited number of locations is entirely insufficient given the vastness of the North West, creating financial and logistical challenges for many beneficiaries, particularly the elderly, disabled, and those living in rural areas.

“We demand additional service points to be introduced before the deadline to improve accessibility and that adequate measures are put in place to ensure that all beneficiaries can transition to the new card on time,” she said.

Van Huyssteen further said they also request that mobile units be used to ease the logistical challenges on the beneficiaries in remote areas. She added that the government has a duty to administer resources justly and ensure that all beneficiaries have equal access to their grants without undue hardship.

“The DA remains committed to advocating for fairness and dignity for all,” said Van Huyssteen.

The Minister of Social Development, Nokuzola Tolashe has vowed to monitor the successful implementation of the card migration from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Gold card to Postbank Black card, whilst ensuring no beneficiary is disadvantaged. Tolashe said the process to migrate SASSA beneficiaries to Postbank has been giving her sleepless nights as it directly affects SASSA beneficiaries.

“SASSA has been caught in the crossfire on decisions made by Postbank and the South African Reserve Bank. However, our department and SASSA could not be bystanders, as a result, intervention had to be made by our department, SASSA, and endeavour to assist Postbank and our beneficiaries to ensure that they receive their grants.

“This process is directly Postbank responsibility and unfortunately our department and SASSA is at the receiving end and blamed for the crisis. Hence, we went further to emphasise the need to strengthen the collaboration of Postbank to ensure SASSA support the successful migration to beneficiaries,” said Tolashe.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Social Development, Bridget Masango said: “We raised serious concerns about the way in which the project was conceptualised and managed from the start and communication was inadequate.

“We also expressed displeasure about the inconvenience beneficiaries have suffered due to the long queues and slow services, calling on the Postbank to redouble its efforts to ensure that all beneficiaries are treated with dignity and are helped expeditiously.”

taungdailynews@gmail.com

 ‘Walk away from abusive relationship’

NEWS Leave a comment

Picture: The North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

10 December 2024- In her effort to combat Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), North west MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie, embarked on GBV roadshow in Myra village, near Taung, to raise awareness. 

Dantjie urged members of the community to confront social stigmas and offer support to survivors of GBV. She also encouraged community members to stop abusing and discriminating against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and intersex (LGBTIQ+) community because of their sexual preference as it is also considered GBV. 

“Since COVID-19, Gender-Based Violence has risen and became a second pandemic. Let us not judge our LGBTIQ+ community, but accept and love them because they are our children and deserve to be taken care of. 

“We plead with women to stop using their children as an excuse to stay in abusive relationships. A loving mother will not allow her children to witness her being abused as it is emotionally damaging them,” said Dantjie. 

She further said the public should use the services of their social workers to get out of that abusive relationship. Dantjie added that there are safe houses that the government has built to accommodate and give counselling to victims of GBV. 

“During our roadshows, we also introduced our new flagship programme dubbed, Re Thuse Re go Thuse that encourages community members to report their challenges to the department in order for them to get help. 

“We distributed 100 food parcels to families facing undue hardships. Food parcels do not end poverty, but they are a means to help our people so that they do not go to bed hungry,” she said. 

Meanwhile, the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West called for stronger partnerships against GBVF. Pastor Lesiba Kgwele, who is the Convenor of the MRM North West Interim said, the civil society led movement promoting the Charter of Positive Values. 

“GBVF as a persistent pandemic that is insulated by male chauvinism, patriarchy, culture and religion. The limited involvement of civil society organisations, church and traditional leaders as well as Men and Youth organisations, undermines the objective of what is supposed to be an action driven mass campaign. 

“The exclusion of civil society from implementation of government programmes contributes towards perpetuating atrocities and stereotypes that need to be overcome if respect for women’s rights and gender equality are to be entrenched,” he said. 

Kgwele said the starting point should be narrowing the social distance and establishing genuine partnerships that will also assist to address the trust deficit that exists for meaningful and sustainable interventions. He appealed to the business sector to support initiatives and programmes aimed at enhancing sound family and community values. 

taungdailynews@gmail.com

North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie visits Kale family

NEWS Leave a comment

Picture: North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

21 November 2024- As the country prepares to mark the annual observance of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie, has urged men who abuse women to seek professional help in order to deal with their anger and other social problems.

Dantjie’s appeal comes in the wake of the recent incident in which a man (33), allegedly killed his parents and sister with a knobkerrie in Shaleng village, near Taung on Friday evening. It is alleged that the family members were inside their shack, sitting around a coffee table when the suspect entered and struck his father, mother and a sister over the heads with a knobkierrie and fled the scene.

The suspect was later arrested and remanded in custody by the Kgomotso Periodical Court until 25 November 2024.

“This day coincides with the National Launch of 16 days of Activism campaign at Rustenburg Civic Centre under the theme: “30 Years of Advancing Collective Action to End Violence Against Women and Children”, which emphasises addressing among others the root causes of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), promoting positive masculinity and promoting gender equity.

“It is shocking and baffling to learn that a man had the guts to kill his own family members. This is painful and pathetic. It is time our society moved away from the notion that men do not cry and rather encourage them to express their emotions freely and talk about their feelings,” she said.

Dantjie said bottling up problems is not doing any good to anyone. She said men should use the services of the social workers at her departmental service points, including the psychologists.  

“Our department has created a necessary space in men-led organisations, where men and boys are allowed to talk about what they are suffering from, without being judged.

“Our department has also introduced a safe space for men called the lounge in community care centres to allow men and boys a platform to voice out their problems. We have dispatched social workers to compile the home circumstance report and provide psycho-social support to the bereaved family,” said Dantjie.

She said other stakeholders, including SASSA, are working with the department of social development to ensure their dignified send-off. Dantjie will pay her homage to the Kale family today at 12pm.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

The death of elderly man led to shutting down of Old Age Home 

NEWS Leave a comment

Picture: Two elderly men, Daniel Madumo and Jeremia Mmatli who allegedly killed another elder, Themba Motsepe, died in detention/Sowetan

By BAKANG MOKOTO 

The death of an elderly man led the North West Department of Social Development to shut down the unregistered Ipeleng Bagodi Old Age Home in Jericho, near Brits. The North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie, who visited the centre on Tuesday, has instructed the owners to shut it down. 

According to Dantjie, the centre was operating without a licence. She further said the centre failed to comply with minimum standards for residential facilities catering for older persons. She added that her department convened a meeting with the management of the centre, board members and the traditional leadership to inform them of her decision to close down the facility. 

“This is amid thorough consultation with individual families of the elderly people who are being accommodated at the facility. After reaching consensus with the affected individual families, the current residents of the home will be moved to other suitable facilities. 

“The decision to close the home comes after two elderly men, Daniel Madumo (92) and Jeremia Mmatli (75), allegedly killed another one, Themba Motsepe (80). The pair were arrested and later died in detention. We will visit all the affected families to inform them about our decision to close the facility,” said Dantjie.

Picture: North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie/Supplied

She said they will also present to them alternative old age homes, which are funded by the state so that they make a choice on their own. Dantjie said they cannot fold their arms when the NPO Act and Older Persons Act are violated. 

“We are the custodians of these acts. Our department will give the Centre Manager ample time to address compliance matters at the facility and to apply for an operating licence.

“We are adamant about compliance with the law and the incidents that took place at the facility, are an eye opener and have called for the department to embark on an expedition to check the registration status of each Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) across the province,” she said.  

Meanwhile, the community members, including traditional leadership, unanimously agreed with the decision to close the facility, while sorting out the outstanding issues to satisfy the prescribed requirements for operating an old age home.

taungdailynews@gmail.com