Social Upliftment Programme

To ensure that those who are poverty-stricken are able to provide for themselves and their families, the government, with the help of private sector, provides assistance via the Poverty Eradication Programme.
Prior to receiving the package, the applicant would be provided with the necessary technical skills and awareness, and business training.

Typically, the Poverty Eradication Programme packages are for the following lines of business:
•    Kiosk.
•    Home-based laundry.
•    Leather works.
•    Jam and vegetable pickles.
•    Bakery.
•    Textiles.
•    Food catering.
•    Tent hire.
•    Landscaping.
•    Backyard tree nursery.
•    Hair salon.
•    Backyard gardening.
 

The process starts with the council through Social and Community Development Office and community leadership making arrangements to mobilize the community regarding empowerment projects. The community is consulted for their buy in, identification of their needs, and projects which will be relevant to their needs and problems and utilization of the empowerment programmes at their disposal.  Once the engagement is complete, other relevant processes are followed for implementation and monitoring of the programme.
Community economic projects are inclusive of the below examples;

•    Community farms 
•    Trusts
•    Leather works.
•    Bakery.
•    Textiles.
•    Food catering.
•    Horticulture gardens
Etc. 
 

The Government recognizes that communities and local institutions legitimize and give effect to national efforts to grow local economies and eradicate poverty by grounding developmental choices in the will of the people. This affirms and galvanizes the rope of communities in decisions making process and enhances good government at local level.
These programme is intended to promote community empowerment by strengthening the process through which citizens take the lead in initiating and proposing solutions for indigenous challenges. Selection of the committee members is conducted collectively at the village Kgotla through the assistance of Social and Community Development Office and extension teams. Ten members are elected in a democratic way and they also elect executive members among themselves.
 

Government poverty eradication initiatives are included in nation’s long term strategy, Vision 2036 and other National Development Plans, which outlines poverty eradication as one of the key policy deliverables.

In 2011 government revamped its effort and commitment to addressing poverty and came up with Poverty Eradication Programme (PEP) to economically empower and capacitate current and prospective beneficiaries to lead a dignified life. PEP is meant to assist individuals and or group to graduate from extreme poverty or abject poverty through;

• sustainable income generation and employment initiatives
• capacity building and skills development
• organized individuals or groups and provide funds in order to promote micro and small scale entrepreneurship

This is coordinated from the Office of the President through Poverty Eradication Coordination Unit (PECU). PECU was established to accelerate programme uptake particularly those in abject poverty whose dignity has to be restored as a matter of urgency, and at the same time coordinating efforts of other stakeholders.

Unemployment Relief 

This programme offers short term employment, for a minimum of 1 calendar month. Upon completion of the month, interested parties may re-apply to be re-enlisted into the programme. Selection of beneficiaries is conducted collectively at the village Kgotla through the assistance of ward/village development committees and extension teams. Successful applicants have the opportunity to commence working, but unsuccessful ones must reapply.

Ipelegeng Skills Development Component 
The development of the ISDC came as a result of Government’s decision to re-engineer the Ipelegeng programme. The main objective is to develop and implement the skills development component for Ipelegeng beneficiaries to grow the local economies on various sectors.  These includes construction and maintenance projects, food processing, tourism, arts and crafts including indigenous knowledge. To develop modalities of equipping Ipelegeng beneficiaries with occupational skills. The program also aims at identifying and collaborating. At the end of the training beneficiaries are certified

To ensure that those who are poverty-stricken are able to provide for themselves and their families, the government, with the help of private sector, provides assistance via the Poverty Eradication Programme.

Prior to receiving the package, the applicant would be provided with the necessary technical skills and awareness, and business training.

Typically, the Poverty Eradication Programme packages are for the following lines of business:

• Kiosk.
• Home-based laundry.
• Leather works.
• Jam and vegetable pickles.
• Bakery.
• Textiles.
• Food catering.
• Tent hire.
• Landscaping.
• Backyard tree nursery.
• Hair salon.
• Backyard gardening.