Danielskuil

The Danielskuil Advice Office falls under the umbrella of KSDF – the Kgatalopele Social Development Forum (KSDF).

Scat's work in Danielskuil is supported by The Panaholo De Beers Trusts; The DG Murray Trust and the WesBank Fund.

Danielskuil is a small rural town situated in the Northern Cape in South Africa. Fertile soil and a history of an abundance of water saw man dwelling in the Danielskuil area since prehistoric times.  According to tradition, the name of the town is derived from a natural pit, named “kuil” in Afrikaans, in the dolomite structure. According to a legend, many prisoners were imprisoned under awful conditions in this pit.  A link was apparently made with the biblical figure of Daniël, who ended up in a pit with lions, hence the name Daniëlskuil. Danielskuil was the first town in the area where asbestos related diseases were reported in 1942.  Large scale lime-mining helped develop Danielskuil in to its previous size, which is now much diminished due to less mining activity.

Home Based Carers in Danielskuil start their long morning walk to their first patients

The Advice Office is fully functional and is regularly finding solutions to pressing issues, such as engaging with South African Social Security Agency SASSA to make them aware of their unacceptable service delivery and cumbersome administrative practices endured by beneficiaries and applicants in the Northern Cape. 

The most pressing issues for the Advice Office are the outcomes of social grant applications that take longer than the legislated three months. In Danielskuil it can take up to nine months to process an application before an outcome is communicated due to staff shortages at ‘smaller’ service points and decision making on grant applications are done on national level. This has resulted in backlogs and delays in applications and reviewing of applications.  Beneficiaries are experiencing difficulties in understanding the SASSA processes and the various requirements for grant applications. Similarly, officials, applicants and beneficiaries lack information regarding the various changes in the social assistance system and Social Assistance Legislation and Regulations.

In 2011, SASSA visited the Northern Cape, to confirm the need to prioritize pay points to ensure that beneficiaries receive their grants in dignity, as well as the need to ensure that pay points are managed better and deliver improved service to beneficiaries.  This visit was primarily organised by the KSDF.

The case work under the Advice Office's paralegal is picking up slowly and currently about 10 new cases are dealt with monthly.  During October 2011 alone, 23 new cases were opened of which the bulk is with Department of Labor, which 6 cases have been resolved successfully.  In assisting community members, a total of about R15 700 were paid back to individuals after dealing with these cases. 

Activities during 2011:

Business Skills Training (Food Gardens)

The Gardeners form part of a group of 18 community members from the Kimberley and Springbok area who were trained in basic business skills to enable them to understand business and in the process transfer this knowledge to their existing projects.  The outcomes of the course were as follows:

- To understand the business cycle

- To generate business ideas that is viable and within participant’s local communities

- To implement the business cycles in a simulation business exercise

- To understand the various functions in a business

- To understand the basic elements in a business plan

- To give participants an opportunity to present their business idea

Positive feedback was received from the course, the gardeners took their new skills to practice and are now selling on average 3 times a week fresh produce to the local OK Bazaar to the value of about R200 per week.  They also provide vegetables to the local Spar and OK which they are paid for as it sells.  This has been a huge accomplishment and builds group morale.

Proud gardeners in Danielskuil with their produce

Danielskuil locally grown organic vegetables at the local OK store

Social Auxiliary Work (SAW) Learnership

This learnership facilitates learning and certification in modules including Communication, Research and Report writing.  It was positively reported by the learners that they gained a lot of knowledge and it is clear that a high level of excitement is evident.  Despite challenges experienced, learners are performing on a high standard.  For some of the learners, this is the first opportunity they have had to study.

According to the service provider, this project is one of the programs showing the best results and best improvements.  

Enterprise Development

A Local Economic Development (LED) study towards the end of 2010 was conducted to explore what LED could mean for Danielskuil and KSDF.  At the time, the results did not show a common understanding of LED. During this year, the women involved in the feeding scheme did catering for the Department of Social Development which opened the discussion around LED, together with the gardens and the selling of their compost.  In consultation with the groups, Scat is in the process of conducting a Local Economic Development Pilot project with the women involved in the Feeding schemes. 

The first explorative visit took place in October 2011. The cooks indicated that they wish to be part of the business process.  A challenge is to facilitate a long term sustainable process rather to be focused on the relief of immediate needs such as food.  The next step will be to have an inclusive process with the committee and project members in order to workshop the ideas coming forth from the pilot project.                  

Life Skills Training for Project and Community members

The Bright Star Programme is an existing life-skills programme, focusing on personal development and leadership.

The aim of Bright Star is to encourage and enable participants to raise their level of life-performance on various levels – personally, socially and even on a skills-level.  By focusing on principles, explained and practiced in a practical manner, participants are given “tools” with which to take responsibility for their own personal development.  The overall goal is to challenge participants to live lives of excellence – something that does not take place automatically, involves a lot of hard work, and becomes possible when we see challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles.

The value of this programme for the participants was evident from day one.  The participants were positive and enthusiastic, and actively participated in the processes.  Many commented on how they realized throughout how much they need to focus on the themes and skills addressed in the programme. A few commented that they never thought it would be possible for them, in their challenging circumstances and with limited resources, to live a life of excellence. 

Networking with outside institutions:

Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN)

The need for bycicles is dire in Danielskuil.  Home Based Carers walk for hours to and from patients homes as there is no affordable public transport in the area.  In 2011, a partnership with the Bicycle Emporment Network (BEN) was discussed with the committee and staff.  The Danielskuil fieldworker was approached by a community member, an influential individual to start the project and therefore discussions will follow.  The future and continued engagement with BEN is unclear without committed funding.    Andrew from BEN visited Danielskuil and the foundations of a partnership have been established. 

Department of Justice Northern Cape

The Scat fieldworker met with senior management of the Department to determine which support they could offer to the Advice Office.  The KSDF paralegal has been in contact with them on a weekly basis but due to political instability, they are not willing to facilitate workshops as yet. 

Danielskuil Advice Office Committee:

The committee and staff members are energized to bring about change within their community and good governance is adhered by all.  The committee shows leadership abilities which is much needed in order to move to sustainability. The committee is well informed and updated about the activities of the LDA. All of the committee members have full time jobs and assist on a voluntarily basis but are committed to the organization. 

Gender Dynamics at the Advice Office:

Women are being treated as equals and respected in leadership positions.  Senior positions within the organization, staff & committee, are held by females.  Women fulfill their rightful leadership roles and are not expected to fulfill typically stereotypical roles.

Future Priorities for Scat’s relationship with the Advice Office:

Learnership:  continued support to the mentors, learners, administration involved in the project, project team meetings, payments etc. 

Gardens:  Food garden training (partnered by The DG Murray Trust)

Life skills

Management/Leadership skills

LED Pilot project

Field visits and ongoing support and mentoring

Danielskuil
Kgatalopele Social Development Forum (KSDF)
208 Park Road, P.O. Box 189 DANIELSKUIL, 8405
Tel: 053 384 1759
Fax: 053 384 1780
Contact: Jeanette Mqomo