policies of government � NGOs
24 August 2007
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) coming from different parts of the
country kicked-off their engagement on the White Paper process at Emperor's
Palace in Boksburg today with NGOs from different sectors.
During this meeting, the Director-General of the Department of Provincial
and Local Government Lindiwe Msengana-Ndlela invited the NGOs to fully
participate and help enrich the process with their experience and ideas, but
most of all to make inputs that will help develop and review the white
papers.
"When we launched Project Consolidate in 2004 we stated that there is a need
to address capacity challenges and policy challenges that exist," said
Msengana-Ndlela.
While NGOs noted the challenges that still remain with regard to development
in Local Government, they acknowledged significant progress that has taken
place in the area of public participation.
"Local government is much more participatory than it has ever been in the
history of this country, but the ward committees require added support to be
able to function better and make a notable impact," said Terrence Smith,
representing the Local Government Resource Centre in Contemporary Research.
"Although violence must be condemned, but the protests that we see currently
must be seen as part of public participation," added Smith.
NGOs are calling on government to identify tools and techniques to ensure
effective participation as part of the White Paper process.
"This to us says that that government admits that they do not have answers
to all issues and need all of us to work together in developing systems that
will work for the development of our communities" said Girlie Njoni from South
African Women In Dialogue (Sawid).
The White Paper process intends to respond to some of these challenges that
were identified. It will culminate into the formulation of a White Paper for
provincial government and a report that will inform the review of the existing
White Paper on Local Government.
The meeting with the NGO sector is important as stakeholders continue to
make inputs in the process of developing and reviewing policy for these two
spheres. It follows the launch of the White Paper process by the Minister for
Provincial and Local Government Sydney Mufamadi on 31 July 2007.
At this launch a list of 65 questions was published with the aim to trigger
a robust public debate on the systems. These questions cover five main
categories but are not exhaustive. They focus on: local government, provincial
government, national government, development planning, monitoring and
evaluation.
For more information contact:
Luzuko Koti
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 334 0699
Cell: 083 391 0073
Issued by: Department of Provincial and Local Government
24 August 2007
