UIF Launches 17 State-of-the-Art Mobile Buses to Serve Rural Communities

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) will roll out 17 state-of-the-art mobile service buses to reach deep rural areas across South Africa, including communities in the North West Province. The buses will officially be in operation from 01 September 2025.

Speaking to the media at Ngwenya Lodge in Stilfontein, UIF spokesperson Trevor Hattingh said the initiative is aimed at ensuring that even the most remote communities have access to vital UIF and Department of Employment and Labour services.

“These buses will access deep rural areas where service access is a challenge. As the Department of Employment and Labour and the UIF, our mission is to take services to the people, wherever they are,” Hattingh told North West media practitioners.

The engagement session brought together top officials from the department’s head office in Pretoria and the North West Provincial Office. Discussions with the media touched on a range of issues, including:

Community media advertising and the role of local outlets in public information campaigns.
Internship programmes to create opportunities for young people.
Labour inspections and the enforcement of workplace standards.
Addressing non-compliance by employers.
Other essential services offered by the Department of Employment and Labour.

Hattingh emphasised that the mobile buses will serve as fully equipped offices on wheels, offering services such as claims processing, queries, and general assistance, ensuring that no community is left behind.

The department said further communication will be made to outline the deployment schedule of the buses in each province.