Pictures: Gauteng Department of Health
Residents of Orange Farm and surrounding areas will have access to a wide range of free health and government services today as the Gauteng Department of Health rolls out its Siyabaphilisa outreach programme at the Solwazi Sports Ground in Mokokotlong Informal Settlement.
The programme, taking place from 09:00 to 15:00 on Friday, 4 September 2026, forms part of the department’s efforts to bring essential healthcare closer to communities, particularly residents living in informal settlements and areas where accessing health facilities can sometimes be challenging.
Health teams will provide comprehensive health screenings and education, HIV and TB testing, immunisation services, vaccinations, Vitamin A supplements and deworming. Residents will also be able to access family-planning services, oral healthcare, support for people receiving chronic treatment, Pap smears and Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening.
Lenacapavir administration will also form part of the services available during the outreach. The programme gives community members an opportunity to receive several important health services at one location while also gaining information about prevention, treatment and maintaining their overall health.
Parents and caregivers whose children have missed any scheduled vaccinations are particularly encouraged to bring them to the sports ground, where health teams will provide immunisation services. Parents should take advantage of the outreach to ensure that children remain up to date with the vaccinations recommended as part of routine healthcare.
The initiative extends beyond healthcare, with other government departments and agencies joining the outreach. The Department of Home Affairs, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), Department of Social Development and the Department of Sport, Recreation and Culture are expected to provide various services and assistance to residents throughout the day.
By bringing several departments together in one community-based programme, Siyabaphilisa aims to reduce the distance residents have to travel to obtain essential services while making government assistance more accessible to vulnerable and underserved communities.
Residents wishing to make use of the services can visit Solwazi Sports Ground in Mokokotlong Informal Settlement, Orange Farm, between 09:00 and 15:00 today.
