Multi-purpose community centres
26 November 2003
Government services have moved closer to South Africans in remote or disadvantaged communities with the introduction of multi-purpose community centres, one-stop shops that offer a range of government products and services under one roof, and simplify the processing of applications for passports, identity documents, pensions and other social grants.
Four years after they began rolling out, multi-purpose community centres (MPCCs) have mushroomed in every province. To date, 54 MPCC centres - including seven satellite sites - have been established. The government aims to establish 60 centres across South Africa, with at least one per district/metropolitan municipality, by 2005.
- MPCC contacts: see full list below
 Aside from improving communication – government information is available at the centres, with at least six government departments represented in each
centre – MPCCs also shorten the distances people have to travel for public services.
From the centres, communities also receive training in skills, such as how to use information and communication technologies like the Internet. The telecentre at the Mapela MPCC in Limpopo province, for example, has a satellite-connected network that will give a state-of-the-art edge to computer skills training courses for members of the community.
Some MPCCs offer banking services, some include primary health care clinics, some enable entrepreneurs to set up small businesses on the premises, others host women's clubs centering on crafts.
"We have orders from individuals around Soweto who want us to sew for them", says Bertha Mncube, a trainer at a sewing project at the Ipelegeng centre in Jabavu, Soweto.
 The centres also serve as venues where community events such as education campaigns, exhibitions and
other activities can take place, helping people get information they can use to improve their lives and to develop their communities.
Some centres, like the Ipelegeng MPCC in Gauteng, offer extra services like information on HIV/Aids and support for both infected and affected people. Through working with schools and non-governmental organisations, "we disseminate information about Aids to disadvantaged communities", says Aids counsellor Boitumelo Rakhosa. "We are playing a pivotal role in Aids education."
Correctional Services Minister Ben Skosana, speaking at the launch of the latest MPCC, in Mohlakeng on the West Rand in Gauteng, said the MPCC programme was "a good example of how successfully government departments from local, provincial and national levels can work together with parastatals, NGOs and community groups to make development a reality."
Limpopo Premier Ngoako Ramathlodi, speaking at the launch of the Mapela MPCC in November, said the centre would
"provide a two-way communication channel - people receive information from government, but it also empowers them to talk back to government about their needs and aspirations".
MPCC CONTACTS
EASTERN CAPE
Tombo
PO Box 182608, Port St Johns, 5120
Tel: 0475641131
Sterkspruit
PO Box 18, Lady Grey, 9755
Tel: (051) 611 0042
Cofimvaba
PO Box 456, Cofimvaba, 5380
Tel: (047) 870 0874
Centani
Butterworth, East London
Tel: (047) 498 1207
Sandrift
Tel: (041) 484 2022
Mount Ayliffe (satellite centre)
Alfred Nzo District, Kokstad
Tel: (039) 254 0708
Zalu Hill
PO Box 182608, Port St Johns, 5120
Tel: (047) 564 1139
FREE STATE
Namahadi
PO Box 17942, Witsieshoek 9870
Tel: (058) 789 1147
Botshabelo
PO Box 5208,
Botshabelo, 9781
Tel: (051) 532 1508
Sediba
PO Box 517, Bloemfontein, 9300
Tel: (051) 357 0027
GAUTENG
Vaal / Sebokeng
Private Bag X029, Van der Bijl Park, 1900
Tel: (016) 988 1960
Ratanda (satellite centre)
Heidelberg
Faranani
PO Box 70021, Tsakane
Tel: (011) 738 8753
Tembisa
Tembisa Civic Centre, Igqagqa section, Room 7
Tel: (011) 926 7171
Shoshanguve
Nafcoc shopping centre, Room 49, Section F, Soshanguve, Pretoria
Tel: (012) 799 5005
Zithobeni
Bronkhorstspruit
Tel: (013) 937 0556
Mamelodi
19481 Makhubela Street, Mamelodi West, Pretoria
Tel: (012) 805 9085
Ipelegeng
St Paul's Anglican Church, Jabavu, Soweto
Tel: (011) 982 5810
Diepsloot
Stand 381, Main Street, Diepsloot West, Krugersdorp
Tel: (011) 464
7073
Mohlakeng
Randfontein, West Rand
Tel: (011) 834 3560
KWAZULU-NATAL
Mbazwana
PO Box 231, Mbazwana, 3974
Tel: (035) 571 0070
Bhamshela
Kwamthiyane Ngcogongcongo Road, Bhamshela, Tongaat
Tel: (032) 949 076
Ladysmith (satellite centre)
76 Murchison Str, Ladysmith, 3370
Tel: (036) 638 5100
Dukuza
Private Bag X 1620, Bergville, 3350
Tel: (036) 438 6103
Zululand (satellite centre)
Private Bag X 763838, Ulundi
Tel: (035) 870 3904
Tugela Ferry
Main Rd, Tugela Ferry Village
Tel: (033) 493 0282
Sisonke (satellite centre)
PO Box 5719, Ixopo 3276
Tel: (039) 834 1631
Pietermaritzburg (satellite centre)
242 Longmarket Street, Pietermaritzburg
Tel: (033) 897 6892
Mtshezi / Imbabazane
P.O Box 750, Escort, 3310
Tel: (036) 353
3212
Dududu
Private Bag X 54332, Durban, 4000
Tel: (039) 974 0989
LIMPOPO
Kgautswane
PO Box 9, Ohrigstad, 1122
Tel: (013) 231 8027
Makhuva
PO Box 30, Phangwani, 0816
Tel: (015) 812 5601
Atok
Pietersburg
Tel: 073 198 6714
Leboeng
Burgersfort
Tel: 073 198 6714
Vaalwater
Tel: 082 975 8303
Mapela
Tel: 082 975 8303
MPUMALANGA
Tholulwazi
PO Box 74, Leslie, 2265
Tel: (017) 683 3000
Kgolomodumo
Tel: 073 238 3365
Matsamo
PO Box 601, Shongwe Mission, Schoemansdal, 1341
Tel: (013) 781 0666
Mpuluzi
PO Box 2856, Nelspruit, 1200
Tel: (017) 888 0014
NORTHERN CAPE
Galeshewe
Private Bag X 5016, Kimberley, 8300
Tel: (053) 872
2644
Colesberg
PO Box 101, Colesberg, 9795
Tel: (051) 753 0386
Pescodia
Private Bag X 5038, Kimberley, 8300
Tel: (053) 873 1072
Calvinia (satellite centre)
PO Box X 28, Calvinia, 8190
Tel: (027) 341 1216
NORTH WEST
Lebotlwane
PO Box 223, Lebotlwane, 0411, Hammanskraal
Tel: (0124) 244 0032
Morokweng
Private Bag X 1006, Morokweng, 8614
Tel: (053) 998 3346
WESTERN CAPE
Waboomskraal
Sandklaar Rd, Thembalethu, George, 6530
Tel: (044) 886 0040
Zolane
6th Avenue, Nyanga East, Cape Town, 7755
Tel: (021) 386 8656
Masibambane
Vanrysdorp
Tel: (027) 219 1917
Bonteheuwel
Cape Town
Tel: (021) 695 5425
Hartebeeskraal
1 Nottingham Street, Atlantis, 7349
Tel: (021) 572
1872
Tembalethu
George
Tel: (044) 880 1174
Langebaan
Cape Town
Tel: (022) 772 2622
Guga S'Thembe
PO Box 6, Washington, Langa 7455
Tel: (021) 695 3328
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