Central SA
Free State probation officer celebrates 22 years working with youth─── ZENANDE MPAME 10:46 Sun, 09 Mar 2025
The Department of Social Development celebrates its assistant probation officer who has served for 22 years.
Jimmy Moiloa (53) has made it his mission to guide young lives back on track, ensuring they receive a second chance to reform and rediscover themselves after being in trouble with the law.
The One Stop Child Justice Centre's all-encompassing strategy includes crime prevention activities at schools in the Mangaung district, including those in Thaba-Nchu, Soutpan, Wepner, and Dewetsdorp.
“This is part of the department’s acknowledgement of devoted public servants who have been serving our department selflessly,” said Free State Department of Social Development spokesperson Thembile Nqabeni.
“We want to acknowledge Jimmy Moiloa, who spent 22 years guiding young lives back on track, ensuring they receive a second chance to reform and rediscover themselves.”
Moiloa has been doing this job in trying to make sure that our young people who are using drugs, and have lost themselves can be reformed and accepted back into society and become better individuals, he said.
As part of the centre's awareness campaigns, it targets schools as it has noticed that learners bring dangerous weapons to school, which often leads to criminal activity.
Children at the One Stop Child Justice Centre are given a new beginning by participating in programs intended to identify the root causes of their actions.
‘Learners bring dangerous weapons to school’
Meanwhile, two social workers from the department are fighting for their lives following an accident on the R701 between Bethulie and Smithfield on Thursday afternoon (6/3), and one lost her life.
OFM News previously reported assistant community development practitioner Manako Sipoyo and social worker Molotana Bukelwa Elizabeth were both seriously injured and remain in the hospital.
Nomathamsanqa Mei, social worker from the Xhariep district based in Smithfield, tragically lost her life.
“The department is mourning the death of a social worker who died in a car accident,” said Nqabeni. “We will miss her insight, especially within the public service and psychosocial support sphere, which is the service she offered to most of our communities around the area of Smithfield.”
“Social Development will be deploying a team to provide psychosocial support and counselling to Mei’s family in Sterkspruit. Funeral arrangements have not been finalised.”
