Visiting Rutgers Professor joins Minister Fritz on oversight visits

The Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Adv. Albert Fritz, today conducted oversight visits to old age homes and the Rocklands Youth Café in Mitchells Plain.

The Minister was accompanied by visiting Rutgers University (USA) Assistant Professor at the school of Public Affairs & Administration, Dr. Lindsey McDougal. Dr. McDougal is a guest of the Department of Social Development (DSD), and is part of a visiting group of 13 academics and 7 students from the university.

Today’s visit in Mitchells Plain began with a meeting with just over 50 older persons at the Yvonne Parfitt Retirement Village. The issues discussed included housing for the elderly, SASSA illegal grant deductions complaints, and matters related to family support.

The department invests heavily in services for older persons, and this financial year had set aside R203.3-million. The Department plans to assist in excess of 24 931 older persons, funding services such as;

• Service centres
• Residential facilities (old age homes)
• Clubs.

The Minister also visited the Rocklands Youth Café with the Professor. The Minister oversaw the day’s programme and interacted with youth at the Café. Youth Cafés fall under the department’s Youth Programme, which is allocated a budget of R12.7-million this financial year.

DSD will continue to forge relationships with universities on the continent and abroad, with the view of exchanging research and looking into international best practices.