Building local economies, skills development and creating opportunities for communities to thrive is taking centre stage at Phahamisang Primary School in Bloemfontein.

The Free State Department of Social Development is rolling out a programme aimed at curbing social ills affecting communities through its ‘Molo Makhelwane’ campaign, which translates into ‘Hello Neighbour.’

The campaign was first launched in Thabo Mofutsanyana District in Qwaqwa in November last year with the aim of empowering communities to take charge of their lives by bringing them together to identify their challenges and come up with solutions.

The department’s Thembile Nqabeni says, “At the heart of Molo Makhelwane is community development. This is the main objective of this programme, empowering people to take charge of their own lives and neighbourhoods. It means bringing people together by identifying their challenges and finding solutions within their communities and mobilising their strength to build strong communities that care for each other by protecting one another. Through ‘Molo Makhelwane’ we are bringing that spirit of ubuntu to our communities.”

30 SEPTEMBER 2025

The Free State department of Social Development under the leadership of MEC Mathabo Hlalele hosts Molo Makhelwane initiative at Phahamisang Primary school in Virginia, Free State. #freestate #fssocdev pic.twitter.com/VIuSn13LpA

— Free State DSD (@SocdevFs) September 30, 2025