DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

A government agency in South Africa called the Department of Social Development is in charge of offering social security, safeguarding, and services for social development to the general populace. Its name was changed in July 2000 from the Department of Welfare. Lindiwe Zulu is the current Minister of Social Development. 

What does the department do?

 It is our responsibility to devise a social policy that reduces poverty while also fostering an atmosphere that is supportive of doing so. We make sure that all residents of our country have access to social protection and social welfare services. 

Department of Social Development core functions.

• Management and supervision of social security, which includes programs for social assistance and social insurance aimed at preventing and reducing poverty in the case of risks associated with the life cycle, such as loss of income due to underemployment, disability, old age, or death.

• Developmental social welfare services that work in collaboration with program implementers like state-funded institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and faith-based organizations (FBOs) to reduce the prevalence of poverty, vulnerability, and the effects of HIV and AIDS.

Department of Social Development Services.

• Children and Family Directorate

-Children's care and protection program.

-Partial care and early childhood development program.

-Service to families program.

• Community Development Directorate

-Social relief of distress program.

- Sustainable livelihoods.

- Victim Empowerment.

-Youth Development program.

• Social Crime Prevention Directorate

-Social crime prevention program

-Victim empowerment program

• Special Programs Directorate

-Older persons program. 

- Persons with disabilities program.

-Substance abuse program.

 References.

Gray, M., 2006. The progress of social development in South Africa. International Journal of Social Welfare, 15, pp.S53-S64. 

Lombard, A., 2007. The impact of social welfare policies on social development in South Africa: an NGO perspective. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 43(4). 

Naidoo, I.A., 2011. The role of monitoring and evaluation in promoting good governance in South Africa: A case study of the Department of Social Development. Johannesburg: University of Witwatersrand.