For residents of the Loeriesfontein community, accessing an ID, a grant or a work opportunity can mean travelling long distances to reach the right government office. During the 10th Annual Thusong Programme Week, the services came to them instead.
The week culminated in an event at the Loeriesfontein Thusong Centre, hosted by the Office of the Premier, the Loeriesfontein and Khobab Wind Farms, and the Mayor of Hantam Municipality, Cllr Koos Alexander, and attended by 17 departmental representatives and more than 200 community members.
In his keynote address, Mayor Alexander emphasised the importance of cooperation between different spheres of government. When institutions work together, he noted, services reach communities more efficiently and residents’ needs can be better prioritised.
The 2026 Annual Thusong Week, meant that residents could apply for Smart ID cards, register births, make SASSA grant enquiries and applications, access UIF support and register as work seekers – all under one roof.
The Department of Home Affairs brought its mobile service truck to Loeriesfontein, reducing the travel and distance barriers that often stand between our residents and the documents they need. SASSA and the Department of Employment and Labour were also on hand. Labour officials assisted residents with work-seeker registration and information on available employment opportunities, connecting people with practical support as they seek to enter or re-enter the workforce.
The event was made possible through collaboration between Hantam Municipality, Loeriesfontein 2 Wind Farm, Khobab Wind Farm and the Office of the Premier.
Now in its tenth year, the Thusong programme continues to provide an important link between residents and essential government services, and this year’s event saw increased community participation compared with previous years.
“Annual Thusong Programme Week is important because it brings essential government services directly to our community members, improving access to support, information and opportunities. It also supports our broader Economic Development programme by promoting community well-being, social inclusion and socio-economic development through partnerships with key government departments and local stakeholders,” said Gwynne Borcherds, Social Programme Manager for Loeriesfontein and Khobab Wind Farms.
