About Us

In July 2000, the Department of Welfare was renamed “The Department of Social Development”. We are called the Department of Social Development for these reasons:

• Commitment to social transformation — We are committed to the agenda of social transformation embodied in social justice and the Bill of Rights. We endeavour to create a better life for the poor, vulnerable and excluded people in our society.
• Reduce poverty and promote social integration — We develop and monitor social policy that creates an enabling environment for poverty reduction, and ensure social protection and welfare services for all who live in our land.
• Partnerships and Batho Pele — Our work requires ongoing consultation with all sectors. Programmes are integrated across government, and we partner with NGOs, faith-based communities, business, organised labour and other role players, guided by Batho Pele (People First).
• Solidarity and self-reliance — We act in solidarity with all of humanity and seek to empower communities by creating conditions for sustainable livelihoods and expanding the choices available to them.
• Range of human services — Our development, social protection and welfare services span the life cycle and include advocacy, promotion, prevention, care, mitigation and palliation.