THE month of October is declared Social Development Month to highlight the role the nation plays in caring for the most vulnerable. Social development is about improving and ensuring the well-being of every individual in society so they can reach their full potential.
Social development is important in that it helps relieve people’s suffering, fight for social justice, and improve lives and the community. In South Africa, the Department of Social Development is responsible for this, which includes social grants that are received by the marginalised community.
The department reported that almost half of all South Africans rely on social grants, and they said the number of South Africans who rely on social transfers is about 47%.
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The types of grants available in South Africa are: older persons, child support, care-dependency grants, war veterans, foster children, and disability. The grants have given relief to the vulnerable communities that make up most of the South African population. They are also one of the biggest responsibilities of the department in conjunction with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).
For Social Development Month, the department said they will commemorate older person’s week. “Older person’s week is used to recognise the contributions of older people and to address issues that specifically affect them. Active-ageing week, on the other hand, highlights the capabilities of older people to be fully participating members of society and encourages them to participate in simple exercise routines.
The department emphasised that this year’s campaign aims to inform communities of the various social security programmes available to them and how these can be accessed.
