Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla has announced that her Office will begin assessing individuals currently living on the streets to determine whether they can be reintegrated with their families.
For those without family support, arrangements will be made with local chiefs to allocate them homes.
Dladla announced the plan on Friday during a meeting with the pioneers of a street outreach initiative, businessman Walter Bennet and Prince Mphiwa. 
The meeting was held to acknowledge their contribution to assisting vulnerable people living on the streets.
The initiative was implemented by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in partnership with Municipalities, Town Boards, Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society and the National Disaster Management Agency, Umphakatsi Wesive.
According to the Office, over 100 people have already received immediate assistance through the programme.
Dladla commended Bennet and Prince Mphiwa for their vision and compassion.
She said the project was inspired by their concern for vulnerable people who have often been neglected by society.
She said government’s focus was now shifting to sustainable solutions.
“My Office will begin an assessment of all individuals living on the streets.
Where there are families that can take them back, we will work to reintegrate them. Where there is no family, we will engage our chiefs and communities to identify homes where they can be settled,” Dladla said.
She emphasized that the process will be conducted with respect for the individuals involved and in collaboration with relevant structures.
The Deputy Prime Minister also expressed appreciation to Social Welfare Officers for their work in serving vulnerable citizens across the country.
“I want to thank our Social Welfare Officers for their dedication in serving vulnerable citizens, even under difficult conditions,” she said.
Dladla further thanked Municipalities and Town Boards for providing shelter facilities. She also acknowledged NDRMA and Baphalali for their support during the outreach programme.
She extended gratitude to business leaders who partnered with the Office to provide fresh, hot meals to beneficiaries.
“To our business community, thank you for ensuring that fresh, hot meals were made available. This assistance contributes to restoring dignity,” she said.
On future interventions, Dladla announced that her Office, together with two municipalities, will soon pilot a soup kitchen programme.
The programme will provide meals once a month. “We recognize that hunger remains a challenge.
This pilot will help us understand how best to roll out such a programme in a sustainable way, working with communities and partners,” she said.
Businessman Walter Bennet commended the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for its swift response to the needs of vulnerable people.
He donated two cows to support the initiative. One cow was allocated to Social Welfare Officers and the other will support the upcoming soup kitchens.
Bennet also presented a cake to the Deputy Prime Minister and her staff in recognition of their service to the nation.
Dladla said the collaboration between government, traditional structures, municipalities, civil society and the private sector is important in addressing vulnerability.
“No single institution can do this alone. It takes all of us, government, chiefs, municipalities, NGOs and business to ensure that no one is left behind,” she said.
She said assessments of individuals living on the streets will be led by Social Welfare Officers in collaboration with local authorities.
The objective, she said, is to ensure that assistance results in long-term stability for beneficiaries.
“Our goal is to ensure that every person has a home, a meal and an opportunity to live with dignity,” Dladla said.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the reintegration and housing allocation process will commence immediately following the assessment phase.
