MEC Dieketseng Mashego Turns Sekhukhune into a Mental‑Health Beacon

MEC for Health Dieketseng Mashego.

By Mpho Dube – Editor‑in‑Chief, The Azanian

The Limpopo Department of Health’s flagship Bophelo Pele programme lifted the curtain on the Provincial World Mental Health Commemoration this Monday, and the Mighty Blues Sports Ground in Moganyaka Village became the province’s most vivid mental‑health stage.

Under the powerful theme “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” the event drew traditional leaders, councillors, SAPS members, health professionals, mental‑health ambassadors, caregivers, and a sea of community members eager for change.

Delivering the keynote address, MEC for Health Dieketseng Mashego left no doubt about her vision. “Mental health remains an essential component of overall well‑being and must be prioritised at every level of the health system,” she declared, urging a united front between government, traditional authorities, and local practitioners. Her words framed mental health not as a peripheral concern but as a human right that demands urgent, integrated action.

Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality Mayor Cllr Given Moimana stood beside the MEC, reaffirming municpal support. "Our municipality is committed to intergeating mental-health services into ward-based outreach. This event shows we can bring care closer to the people," he said.

Kgoshi Rahlagane Kotole, representing the Executive Mayor and the local council, praised the department for bringing the commemoration to a rural heartland. “When our communities are mentally healthy, they are more resilient and productive. We appreciate the Department’s continued outreach to villages like ours,” he said, highlighting the strategic value of reaching those most often left behind.

The programme blended awareness stalls, interactive workshops, and testimonies from mental‑health care users who shared how community‑based services transformed their lives. Attendees left with clear messages: stigma can be dismantled, early intervention saves lives, and accessible care is achievable.

MEC Mashego closed the gathering with a firm pledge: “We remain committed to strengthening mental‑health services and ensuring that every individual has access to care, treatment, and support close to home. Mental wellness is not a luxury, it is a human right.” The department reaffirmed its plan to fully integrate mental‑health services into primary‑healthcare facilities across Limpopo, ensuring dignity and person‑centred support for all.

The event sparked a flurry of online activity, with participants posting under #mentalhealthmatters, #BopheloPele, #LeaveNoOneBehind, and #LetsGrowLimpopoTogether, turning a rural gathering into a province‑wide conversation.

In a region where emergencies often expose the fragility of mental well‑being, Dieketseng Mashego’s leadership has turned a single day of commemoration into a catalyst for lasting change—proving that when health and community align, hope becomes a shared reality.

Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality Mayor Cllr Given Moimana stood beside the MEC, reaffirming municpal support.