The Director of Special Programmes in the Office of the Premier, Zine Mogorosi, says the programme is to offer support to all people who may be in need of their services. She says various departments in the province, including faith-based organisations, are part of the summit, to ensure that all services that may be required, are available at the summit.

Mogorosi adds that the summit was deemed necessary after seeing an increase in cases of GBV and femicide. She further explains that this provincial summit will be expected to compile a report for the presidential office, as President Cyril Ramaphosa will be hosting a national summit in November.

“On the first and second of November, the president will be holding the national summit, whereby all the provinces' reports will be consolidated. We will have to identify one way of doing things as a province, which will enable us to measure the effects of all our efforts”.

The two-day summit, taking place on 5 and 6 October 2022, is hosted at the Ilanga Estate in Bloemfontein, and can also be live-streamed on the Free State Provincial Government's (FSPG) official Facebook page.

ALSO READ: Social Development MEC encourages churches to act

OFM News previously reported that Social Development's MEC, Mamiki Qabathe, encouraged churches to not only focus on services but also become developmental centres in order to assist the government in dealing with these social ills, stating that churches and the government have the same vision of making sure that people live in a fair and peaceful society.

OFM News/Mpho Mohapi and Victoria Nkosi