The Deputy Minister for Public Service and Administration, Ayanda Dlodlo today hosted an Open Government Partnership (OGP) workshop with Community Development Workers (CDWs) in the Northern Cape province.
The OGP aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies
to strengthen governance. To achieve these objectives, OGP brings together governments and civil society organisations as true partners.
With the theme, “Empowering Community Development Workers through access to information for service delivery improvement,” the workshop also served as
a feedback session from the National Community Development Conference that was held in Gauteng on 14 - 15 March 2013.
Opening the workshop, the MEC for Cooperate Governance, Housing and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Kenny Mmoiemang, said that the CDWs play an important role in bridging the gap between the three tiers of government and the community.
He added that the workshop will “empower CDWs on the province’s priorities for the year” which will assist them in carry out their duties. The MEC also gave a brief report on the Premier’s State of the Province address and outlined the province’s progress in terms of access to water, housing and sanitation. He added that the province is “on the right path in meeting the Million Development Goals (MDGs).
Addressing the CDWs, Deputy Minister Dlodlo gave an overview of the CDWs Conference held in March and the President’s expectations of CDWs in their roles and responsibilities. The Deputy Minister said, “Your responsibilities as CDWs is what the President outlined in his speech at the conference”.
She encouraged the CDWs to be leaders in their communities and continuously visit communities and share information with them saying that the “improvement of the quality of life is in your hands”. Speaking on protest action, the Deputy Minister reminded CDWs of their roles in protecting the rights of citizens and the responsibilities that come with those rights urging them to familiarise themselves with the Bill of Rights so that they are able to disseminate information.
The workshop featured information sharing presentations that included the Open Government Partnership and creating an understanding of how government communicates through the GCIS and the information centres.
Dumisani Nkwamba
Cell: 082 885 9448
Tel: 012 336 1704
Email: dumisanin@dpsa.gov.za
Olebogeng Kgasi
Cell: 0767934229
Tel: 012 336 1206
Email: olebogengk@dpsa.gov.za
