Poverty remains one of the key challenges facing South Africa and in particular the Northern Cape. The main objective of the Department of Social Development is to build a caring and integrated system of social development services that facilitates human development and improves the quality of life for all people, in particular those living in abject poverty or confronted with difficulties.

The Department of Social Development was approached by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Touching Lives Programme to inform us of the conditions in which the Mokgatle Family of Jan Kempdorp is living in. The Mokgatle’s are a family of 5 who were living in appalling and unbearable conditions. Their house is constructed of old plastics sheets, rusted zinc and waste metal.

As part of the Provincial Governments’ core value, that of being a caring one, the Departments of Social Development and Cooperative Governance , Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs and the Phokwane Municipality joined forces and embarked on a special project to ensure that we improve the lives of the Mokgatle Family. With the assistance of sponsors a house was build for the family and they will be provided with furniture and the basic amenities to ensure that their livelihoods are improved for the better.

The Premier of the Northern Cape Ms Hazel Jenkins will be handing over the newly built fully furnished house to the Mokgatle Family on the 14 February 2012 at 10H00 in Valspan Jan Kemdorp. She will be accompanied by the MEC for Social Development Mr. Alvin Botes and MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs Mr Kenneth Mmoeiemang

The media is hereby invited to the handing over of the house to the Mokgatle Family.

For more enquiries please contact Conrad Fortune @ 079 873 0679 or Gamien Abrahams @ 083 456 6161

Issued jointly by the Departments of Social Development and Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs.