A successful engagement took place in Delft on Wednesday, 26 April 2023, between the Western Cape Department of Social Development (WCDSD), provincial Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Reagen Allen, the South African Police Services... Read More
Delft has become synonymous with crime in recent years, with the neighbourhood named as one of the gender-based violence (GBV) hotspots in the Western Cape. Read More
The Western Cape Government is committed to ending the scourge of gender-based violence 365 days a year. As the lead minister for GBV in the province, Minister Sharna Fernandez believes it is important to raise awareness around the issue wherever... Read More
The SASSA crisis continues to get progressively worse. Read More
The first Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Courageous Conversations webinar for 2023 kicked off with the topic: “Understanding Toxic Masculinity.” Read More
I was invited to a Substance Abuse Awareness program hosted by the Cape Agulhas Municipality and what I saw was impressive. Read More
Today we observe World Autism Awareness Day, a day in which we raise awareness about autism and celebrate individuals who are on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Read More
The Western Cape Department of Social Development (WCDSD) – like many other government sectors – has been under immense pressure to meet increasing service demands under significant fiscal constraints. Read More
Our Department – along with many others – have been battling against the fierce “headwinds” which the Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities referred to during her budget for action. Read More
I have been conducting oversight visits to different Western Cape Department of Social Development facilities along the Garden Route and in the Klein Karoo. Read More
The Western Cape Government (WCG) is continuing to take its “Break the Cycle” media campaign into communities. This time around it was Delft, one of the country’s biggest crime hotspots, that has seen targeted interventions by the WCG. Read More
Today, on World Social Work Day, the Western Cape Department of Social Development (WCDSD) wishes to acknowledge the social work professionals across the province and country, who are changing lives for the better every day. Read More
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is hosting the 66th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna from 13 to 17 March. Read More
World Hearing Day is commemorated annually on 3 March. The World Health Organisation (WHO) explains that the day is used to “raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world.” Read More
Today marks World NGO Day, and so we salute the work done by the 1 131 organisations funded by the Department of Social Development, and many more who provide social welfare and community development services. Read More
I welcome and appreciate the transparent way in which Western Cape and national management from SASSA responded to concerns the provincial Department of Social Development team and I raised during a long-anticipated meeting yesterday. Read More
As Social Development MEC I have consistently raised my concerns about the experiences of the beneficiaries of SASSA grants. Read More
I have made it my duty to continue applying pressure on my national counterpart, Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, to fix the mess that is the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). Read More
Gender-based violence (GBV) has been plaguing our country for generations. The calls have grown louder for men to play their part in addressing gender-based violence. Through the launch of a media campaign, we’re adding our voices to that call. Read More
Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Sharna Fernandez, joined dozens of young people from Prince Albert, Leeu Gamka, and Klaarstroom on 28 January 2023 for a Youth Indaba hosted by the Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT). Read More