Sandveld Local Development Agency

LED BY: Jonathan van der Westhuizen

MAIN CHALLENGES FACED BY THE COMMUNITY: Poverty, unemployment, domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse.

MAIN ACTIVITIES: Paralegal support; development of the local economy; educating the community, YouthBank programme.

The Sandveld Local Development Agency (SALDA) was established in Graafwater in 2011 to provide access to justice services to poor and marginalised members of their community and to educate them of their rights. SALDA’s other focus areas include farm worker development, health and HIV/Aids issues, local economic development and youth development. SALDA is also part of the SCAT YouthBank programme. The organization also formed a strong partnership with Enel Green Powers, the solar power plant operators in Paleisheuwel. This partnership has allowed them to start a community computer training and internet facility. The Port St Johns Advice Office is an established local development agency and one of the longest funded by SCAT. It was initially established in 1992 by a group of women who were concerned about the many retrenchments of mineworkers who were not being allowed to access their employment benefits. The organisation has continued to work and focus on access to justice. They are also known for their flagship beekeeping project which supplies honey products to a local branch of one of South Africa’s leading supermarkets.