Tag Archives: The North West MEC for Social Development

A pensioner whose shack was gutted by fire receives assistance

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Picture: A fire-fighter extinguishes fire/Generic

By BAKANG MOKOTO

14 October 2024- The North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie is fast-tracking relief efforts for a Robega pensioner, whose shack was gutted by fire on Wednesday afternoon last week. Dantjie said the raging fire destroyed the pensioner’s three roomed shack, leaving him displaced without the furniture, clothes, identity document (ID) and other important amenities.

She further said it is alleged that the fire was caused by an electrical fault.

“On Thursday, we deployed a team of social workers from our department’s Rustenburg based office to provide psychosocial support in the form of trauma counselling to the pensioner and compile a home circumstance report.

“I thank God-Almighty that the pensioner is alive. I express my profound thanks to all the stakeholders, who have worked tirelessly to intervene in the plight of this pensioner in collaboration with our department,” said Dantjie.

She added the interventions are ongoing. Dantjie said their stakeholders have already delivered blankets, mattresses and clothes to the affected family.

“Social relief of distress in the form of food parcels has already been delivered to the affected family. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has also issued a voucher worth R2100 to the pensioner. The local residents have also brought groceries and cements to the pensioner, who is currently staying in a nearby shack.

“We call on community members to continue to take care of the elderly in their areas and to learn more about fire prevention and safety measures to avert property destruction and untimely loss of life,” she said.

Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies are still doing the investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire.

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North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie calls for compliance on various NPOs

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

By BAKANG MOKOTO

18 September 2024- The North West MEC for Social Development, Basetsana 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 the representatives of various NPOs in Ngaka Modiri Molema District as part of a meet and greet programme in her first 100 days in the office.

She further said her department account to oversight bodies on how they spend the budget that is allocated to them. Dantjie added that 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 the people.

“If we fund NPOs that are not fully compliant with legislation, we will surely attract a finding from the Auditor General. NPOs must refrain from using unspent monies without the approval of the department.

“To be in the good books of the AG, we will not release your next trench, if you cannot appropriately account for your previous one. Our department is affected by a shrinking fiscus and this calls for funded NPOs to explore other avenues, which include fund-raising, sponsorship and any other assistance from government departments and its entities,” she said.

Dantjie said NPOs must understand when there is a budget cut, they should maximise what they have received.  She said the department has ensured that each NPO has a bookkeeper, therefore failure to comply will not be tolerated, adding that the NPOs must maintain the number that they started with and inform the department of any changes in their staff complement.

“On NPOs that work with older persons, such NPOs must familiarise themselves with the Older Persons Act. The key highlights of the Act must also be displayed at the NPOs for the community to know them.  

“Those who receive older persons’ grants, please ensure that the elderly meet their obligations with their churches and burial societies. We would also like to caution the NPOs against crying foul when their trench has not been paid, while they had received the 90% of the older persons grant of the elderly under their care,” said Dantjie.

She said as part of the activities of the day, they conducted a visit to Lonely Park – Signal Hill disabled project.

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Abandoned baby recovering well in hospital

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Picture: North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie, MEC for Treasury and City of Matlosana mayor, Fikile Mahlope, with abandoned baby/Supplied

By BAKANG MOKOTO

17 September 2024- The North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie and MEC for Treasury, Kenetswe Mosenogi, visited Neserhof abandoned baby at Klerksdorp/Tshepong hospital to check its health condition. On Tuesday, Dantjie and Mosenogi, who were accompanied by the mayor of City of Matlosana, Fikile Hlope brought a set of layette, including infant baby milk and pampers for the baby who is still receiving medical attention at the hospital.

During the visit, Dantjie asked social workers to compile a home circumstance report on the family of the abandoned baby and continue to provide them with counselling.

“So far, we appreciate the role that Rata Organisation, SAPS, the hospital management and other stakeholders have played in ensuring the care and safety of the baby. Let us work together to assist the affected family so that similar incident does not happen again.

“According to information that was doing the rounds on social media, the baby was swaddled in a blanket with a carton of milk and a few nappies next to him. The police were called to the scene. They took the baby to Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital,” she said.

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‘Older persons continue to experience poor service in public institutions’

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Picture: The North West Older Persons’ Forum/Supplied

By REGINALD KANYANE

The North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie said her department will continue to ensure that the rights of elderly persons are not trampled upon. Dantjie said this during a meeting with the North West Older Persons’ Forum recently.

She further encouraged the senior citizens to be active champions on the interest of older persons. Dantjie further said the province has consistently provided the national forum with chairpersons, underscoring the wealth of leadership it has.

“I have no doubt that this leadership quality that the national forum has embraced can take us to new heights. I appeal to the provincial forum to go back to the drawing board and continue to create a powerful legacy that will last generations.

“Their structure must be solid from ward level because it is at the grassroots, where you will harness unity and interest for a stronger older persons’ forum. The forum must also benchmark from other provinces with a similar outlook with the province,” she said.

Dantjie added that the forum must never underestimate their influence and must fight for better services in both public and private space.

Meanwhile, the National Chairperson of Older Persons’ Forum, Kgosietsile Sehularo, who is also the Provincial Chairperson said: “We have presented a detailed plan, which Dantjie embraced and will ensure its implementation, especially where it tallies with the plans of the department.

“However, we continue to experience poor services in most public spaces, where at times, older persons have to endure long queues while on their feet.  However, we vow to deepen advocacy and awareness on the rights of older persons.  We also made a clarion call to Dantjie to ensure that actions are taken on resolutions of the Older Persons Parliament.”

Sehularo said on the other niggling issues that afflict senior citizens, Dantjie has promised to support many pensioners, whose funds lay unclaimed.  He said there are many older persons who do not enjoy the ‘fruit of their hard labour’.

“Sometimes this happens based on minor technicalities.  The forum must drive this issue, while arrangements could be made on educational roadshows to help those who are yet to claim their money.

“The meeting was to acquaint Dantjie with structures under her belt. She donated a laptop and router to the structure to ensure that their work is recorded for future reference,” said Sehularo.

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