Main Functions of The Department

Main functions of the Department
The primary function of the Department is to support the Minister of Social Development in the execution of his political responsibilities. In doing so, the Department is responsible for:

• The drafting of policies and legislation to achieve the strategic goals set by the Minister for the social development sector.
• The development of strategies and programmes to give effect to policies and legislation.
• The development of norms and standards for the delivery of services.
• Providing support to the Provincial Departments, Non-Governmental Organisations, Community-Based Organisations with the implementation of strategies and programmes.
• Monitoring and evaluating the impact of policies and programmes and the expenditure of conditional grants to the Provincial Departments.
• Conducting research on social development issues.
  Advising the Minister on a range of budgetary matters pertaining to the social development sector.
• Communication and dissemination of information on the social development sector.

The Provincial Departments of Social Development and Non-Governmental Organisations deliver many of the social development services. Some of the direct services provided by the National Department to the public include:

• Payment of relief to victims of declared disasters
• Registration of Non-Profit Organisations
• Payment of subsidies to National Councils
• Poverty Relief Projects
• Home-Based/Community-Based HIV/AIDS Projects
• National Call Centre for social grants enquiries