Newly appointed Social Development Minister Dina Pule says her controversial past will not affect her ability to lead the department, insisting that criticism is inevitable for public officials who are actively doing their jobs.

Pule’s remarks came after the National Coalition of Social Services (NACOSS) called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to reconsider her appointment, arguing that the department requires leadership that commands public confidence and upholds the highest standards of ethical governance.

NACOSS said in a statement on Tuesday that it had submitted an open letter to the President requesting that Pule’s appointment be rescinded and that a new minister be appointed.

Pule addressed the criticism during her inaugural media briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday after being asked whether she viewed the appointment as an opportunity to redeem herself following her dismissal from Cabinet over ethical misconduct more than a decade ago.

“I usually do not want to dwell much on the past, but I must say that when I was appointed by the President, I accepted with humility and said I am going to do my job to the best of my ability,” she said.

“Of course, criticism comes with the work that you do. I have been around the block and I understand that criticism will always be there. You are not going to have criticism if you are not doing anything. I believe that when people criticise you, they want you to improve, and therefore I am willing to do that.”

Pule was appointed earlier this month, replacing Sisisi Tolashe, who also exited the department amid allegations of misconduct and irregular appointments.

Her appointment drew criticism from opposition parties and political analysts, who questioned the ANC’s commitment to its renewal agenda, a key pillar of President Ramaphosa’s leadership.

Pule was dismissed by then-president Jacob Zuma in July 2013 after Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests found that she had failed to disclose her relationship with businessman Phosana Mngqibisa, who allegedly benefited from the 2012 ICT Indaba.

At Tuesday’s briefing, Pule outlined her vision for strengthening the country’s social development sector, with a focus on improving service delivery, strengthening governance and accountability, and enhancing collaboration across government and civil society.

She said the department would prioritise filling critical vacancies, including appointing a permanent Director-General and finalising the appointment of the Executive Director of the Inspectorate for Social Assistance.

Pule also confirmed that the department would continue conducting grant reviews nationwide to identify fraudulent beneficiaries and safeguard public funds.

“This grant review process also continues to guard against the wasteful use of government resources in line with the already pressured government fiscus. The more we save, the more our people are covered with social assistance,” she said.

To reduce long queues at South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) offices, the department plans to accelerate the digitalisation of services through an expanded modernisation programme, including WhatsApp and mobile application platforms that will allow beneficiaries to apply for grants and access other services online.

Pule said the department was also recruiting 1,000 contract workers to bolster capacity at SASSA offices and ease pressure caused by staff shortages.

“Our intention of restoring respect and dignity to older persons is reflected in our home visit policy for clients older than 75 years and those who are frail, so that they do not have to visit SASSA offices,” she said.

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Social Development Minister Dina Pule on Wednesday called for stronger partnerships between government and the private sector to tackle South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis, urging stakeholders to deliver practical solutions that create jobs, expand skills development and improve opportunities for young people.

Speaking at the opening of the Department of Social Development’s three-day National Youth Summit at Orion Safari Lodge in Rustenburg, North West, Pule said collaboration was essential to address persistently high youth unemployment and economic exclusion.

Held under the theme, Economic Uprising for the Next 50 Years: Partnerships for Skills, Jobs and Youth Development, the summit forms part of South Africa’s commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Youth Uprising.

It brought together young people, government, development partners and the private sector to discuss youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, skills development and employment.

“This is a noble platform to empower the youth of our country. However, we need to strengthen partnerships between government and the private sector in order to deliver real empowerment for young people,” Pule said.

She said the gathering should not become “a talk shop” but should produce practical and measurable outcomes.

“In our decisive efforts to empower our youth, the task lies in the need for all stakeholders in youth development to come together in order to support, empower and enable the youth through relevant interventions, including knowledge and skills transfer,” she said.

Reflecting on the legacy of the 1976 Youth Uprising, Pule said today’s generation faced different but equally pressing challenges.

“The youth of 1976 fought for freedom of movement, education and identity. The youth of 2026 have a responsibility to fight against gender-based violence, substance abuse and for economic freedom,” she said.

Pule cited Statistics South Africa data showing unemployment among people aged 15 to 24 stood at 59.6%, while 33.5% of people in the same age group were not in employment, education or training (NEET).

“I read these statistics not for the sake of reading them, but to show that government is aware of the challenges you face as young people,” she said.

She said government would continue investing in skills development, entrepreneurship and programmes preparing young people for a changing economy, including opportunities in digital technology and artificial intelligence.

Participants at the summit will attend masterclasses on innovation, digital solutions, artificial intelligence, digital productivity and Africa’s digital economy.

“The desire is to develop young people who do not only wait for opportunities but who create opportunities through innovation,” Pule said.

Pule also acknowledged Germany’s support through the German Development Bank (KfW), saying the partnership had funded the construction of 17 multi-purpose Community Care Centres in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and North West to support children and young people made vulnerable by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

She said the partnership had also led to the launch of the Iindlela – “Ditsela; Pathways” Orphaned, Vulnerable Children and Youth Skills Development Programme, which equips young people with practical, employable skills.

According to Pule, 6,311 young people have completed social and life skills training through the programme, while 1,014 have received technical training in fields including property maintenance, cellphone repairs, sustainable farming and electrical house wiring.

Eleven career fairs have also been held across the three provinces to connect participants with employers and training opportunities.

Pule said South Africa’s youthful population presented a significant opportunity for economic growth if young people were equipped with the necessary education, skills and employment opportunities.

She also welcomed the release of the United Nations Population Fund’s Demographic Futures Survey, which examines the aspirations and challenges facing young adults in 73 countries. The findings will be discussed during the summit ahead of World Population Day on July 11.

Pule urged young people to make use of government support programmes, continue investing in their education and register to vote in the upcoming local government elections.

“We urge you, our young people, to take these opportunities seriously and transform your lives. Never grow weary and continue to work smart and hard in grabbing opportunities that government and the sectors have devised to support them,” she said.

The Department of Social Development said its youth empowerment initiatives are guided by the National Youth Policy 2030 and the department’s Youth Policy, which sets six priority areas to improve young people’s quality of life.

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