West Coast residents get a DSD mobile office

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) took another step to increasing its service footprint, by launching a mobile office in the West Coast on 28 November 2024.

This is the second DSD mobile office, and it is not the last, with more planned. 

In October, Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Jaco Londt, launched the first one – and the first of its kind in South Africa – in the Central Karoo. That mobile office has traversed hundreds of kilometers already, reaching farm workers and residents living in the most rural parts of the Central Karoo. Social workers have also been using the innovative Social Work Integrated Management System Application (SWIMS App) to capture cases “on the move”, even in areas with little to no network coverage.

The West Coast DSD Mobile Office is kitted out to do the same. Various local government officials and community members attended the launch in Elands Bay, a small coastal town in the Cederberg Municipality.

Deputy Executive Mayor of Saldanha Bay Municipality, Charmaine Laubscher, said, “We wholeheartedly support the launch of the DSD mobile office in Elands Bay, an inspiring initiative by the Western Cape Government that truly puts people first! This caring step brings essential services right to the doorstep of our remote West Coast communities, ensuring everyone gets the support they need and deserve. It’s about fostering dignity, equity, and hope while bridging gaps and showing that no one is ever forgotten. Together, we are bringing care and compassion to the heart of our communities!”

West Coast District Executive Mayor Boffie Strydom added,“We welcome the launch of the DSD Mobile Office, especially during the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, as the West Coast District Municipality has launched various GBV support and awareness interventions across the West Coast region. In partnership with the local municipalities in the region, we will aim to give effect to GBV-related risks as identified by our Community and Rural Safety Plan. The DSD mobile office will bolster the plan, as it will give access to communities who need social support or professional social services. This is a prime example that an investment into the lives of people often pays the best dividends.”

Some of the features of the mobile office include:

• Two secure rooms (for social workers to conduct confidential interviews with clients);
• Storage space;
• Sheltered outside area;
• Power by inverters, allowing DSD staff to take the office anywhere, without placing a burden on a municipality’s energy network.

Provincial Minister Londt said, “The Central Karoo mobile office has enabled DSD social workers to reach clients that ordinarily would have difficulty accessing government services due to barriers such as a lack of transport or money for public transport. Staff have also used the office to do community outreaches to educate residents about DSD support services, and they’ve included other government agencies in these initiatives. The mobile office has empowered and uplifted rural communities, and I am confident the West Coast one will do the same for residents of this region.”

The next mobile office is headed to the Witzenberg region on 02 December 2024.

Minister Jaco Londt with staff from the Western Cape Department of Social Development

The brand new West Coast DSD Mobile Office