Department of Social Development Limpopo - DSD

18/06/2026

17/06/2026

Limpopo MEC for Social Development, Mme Florence Radzilani, joined Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, fellow MECs, and Mayors today for the crucial first Provincial AIDS Council meeting of the financial year.

​The session focused on reviewing Q4 performance and intensifying the province’s response to HIV, TB, and intersecting social challenges.
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Limpopo continues to make gains, but still lags behind the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. ​The Current Gap: While 93% of people know their status, only 81% of those diagnosed are currently on treatment. Men are testing at lower rates than women, and overall progress has remained flat since late 2025.
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Premier Ramathuba urged all council members and partners to deeply reflect on current bottlenecks. To eliminate HIV and TB as public health threats by 2030, the 7th Administration is calling for urgent action, innovative strategies, and stronger teamwork.

13/06/2026

Limpopo MEC for the Department of Social Development, Mme Florence Radzilani, today attended the emotional funeral service of two young lives cut tragically short: Akonaho Advice Siphugu and Okhethwa Brilliant Thenjeni, from Madabani Village in the Makhado Local Municipality.

The two children were allegedly poisoned to death by their mother, who is currently in police custody.
The Department’s immediate focus is on the grieving family, particularly the grandmother, Mme Nthatheni Margaret Siphugu, who has been deeply affected by this unimaginable tragedy. Both the deceased children and their grandmother were recipients of social grants.

MEC Florence Radzilani emphasized that our hearts bleed for this family and the entire Madabani community. We cannot begin to fathom the pain the grandmother is going through. Our team of dedicated social workers has already stepped in to provide vital psychosocial support to the family.

The Department will continue to deploy social workers to offer long-term counseling and trauma support to help the family navigate this dark period. We send our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to the Siphugu family, their relatives, and the community of Madabani. May the innocent souls of Akonaho and Okhethwa rest in eternal peace.

12/06/2026

Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, the Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and MEC’s are today at The Ranch Resort for the Deputy President's Engagement with Limpopo Traditional Leaders. MEC Florence Radzilani has joined the session today.

12/06/2026

We wish our colleagues all the best with Comrades Marathon 2026. We are with you on the long road. You can do this!!

11/06/2026

“You need something that justifies your intervention and something that guides you. That’s why research is important."
The Head of Department of Social Development, Ms. Thembeni Mhlongo and social work professionals today heard from UNISA, the University of South Africa's professors K.A Malesa, M.P Dipela and Dr. K.A Mmolokoe, who offered presentations on “Bridging the Gap Between research and practice in social work”, "Integration of theory into practice” and "Research informed intervention", giving professionals a new view on how to use research effectively in their daily work. The session was received with thanks and new insight. HoD Mhlongo opened the session encouraging further studies among social work professionals and also to "narrow the gap between academic output and community needs in order for effective service delivery in the social work profession".

09/06/2026

Today, Mme. Florence Radzilani, the MEC for the Department of Social Development, conducted an unannounced visit to the Caroline Thema Foundation as part of her oversight duties.

With a strong emphasis on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) initiatives, the Caroline Thema Foundation is vital to our communities. Their goal as a department-funded partner is essential to helping people who are dealing with some of life's most difficult obstacles.

This is the MEC's initiative to look at the funded non profit organisations, asses their operations with a view to ultimately have well functioning NPO sector.