​The Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD), in partnership with other stakeholders, brought services to the community of Krugersdorp on Thursday,21 August 2025 through a campaign focusing on the protection and safety of women and children.
The campaign, undertaken with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Krugersdorp Child Welfare, and Mogale City’s Public Safety, sought to educate residents about the dangers of children working or begging on the streets. The aim of the initiative is to reduce the number of children exposed to exploitation and unsafe environments.

West Rand Social Work Supervisor, Tanya Kriel, emphasized the Department’s holistic approach “Today, we are promoting services available to women and children begging on the streets. Our interventions include rehabilitation programmes, shelters, and skills development opportunities for those ready to change their circumstances, “she explained.

During the outreach, officials engaged with individuals at busy intersections, including Aletta Judith, a homeless woman along Randfontein Road. She expressed her willingness to seek shelter:“I’m waiting for my partner so that we can agree to get assistance, even if it means being separated for a while, so that we can get back on our feet again,” she shared.

The campaign route covered Randfontein Road through to Keywest Road and Paardekraal Road, reaching dozens of vulnerable individuals and raising public awareness about available social services.

Through such initiatives, GDSD continues to extend its services beyond offices and community halls, meeting people where they are, to restore dignity and protect the most vulnerable