Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ms Ayanda Dlodlo, today held an empowerment workshop with the Community Development Workers (CDWs) in the Eastern Cape. The Community Development Worker’s Programme (CDWP) championed by Deputy Minister Ayanda Dlodlo is one of the DPSA’s key and priority programmes.
In her budget vote speech to Parliament in 2011, the Deputy Minister made various observations regarding the Community Development Programme and the role of Community Development Workers (CDWS) in particular.
Addressing the CDWs on their roles and responsibilities, Deputy Minister Dlodlo emphasised the need for CDWs to know and understand the Batho Pele principles in order to execute their responsibilities in line with these ethos, “I expect all of you to learn these principles and take them to communities, you are an important core in the wheel of government and the source of hope for our communities” she said.
The Deputy Minister also encouraged the Community Development Workers (CDWs) to equip themselves with information to distribute to communities stressing the need for CDWs to familiarise themselves with the clauses in the Constitution that speak to a better life. She reminded them of the importance of their role in bringing hope to their communities adding that they need to work diligently because people rely on them for information on government services.
The workshop aimed to share the Deputy Minister’s vision of the programme as articulated in her budget vote speech last year, to discuss the need for the realignment of programmes with key government priorities in order to strengthen the programme to ensure that it meet its obligations, to identify issues that can contribute to the improvement of the image and institutionalisation of the Programme, to interface directly with CDWs and other field workers within government as a way of identifying issues that will contribute to better coordination and a positive relationship among department programmes responsible for community development and public participation.
To listen to their experiences, opinions and share lessons learned in the implementation of their various programmes at operational level, to create a dialogue within government programmes and other stakeholders with the purpose of strengthening coordination and collaboration within government programmes and to enhance relationships between CDWs and other community workers in government.
A presentation on the provincial perspective of the Community Development Programme highlighted the functions of CDWs namely, Coordinate inter-departmental programmes and encourage integration, promote principles of Batho Pele and community participation, inform communities of problems in the delivery of basic services, Assist in the implementation of government programmes and projects, alert government and other service providers to the problems and delays in the delivery of basic services, maintain on-going liaison and collaboration with various community based organisations and other community based workers, assist communities in understanding development and assist in submission of proposals for IDP to all spheres of government and Disseminate government information to communities.
Challenges outlined include Cooperation and support by the sector departments of the CDWs’ work coordination of the CDWP (DPSA vs. DCOG be resolved), integration of the CDW work with other community work programme, deployment of CDWs in Wards (some without the CDW), funding and limited resourcing of the CDWP, Strained working relations between Ward Councillor and CDW, office space and equipment, reporting of CDW not reflecting on entire Clusters and ill-discipline.
Enquiries:
Dumisani Nkwamba
Tel: 012 336 1704
Cell: 082 885 9448
E-mail: dumisanin@dpsa.gov.za
Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration Ms Ayanda Dlodlo hosts an empowerment workshop with Community Development Workers in the Eastern Cape.
