C Mashego-Dlamini: Graduation ceremony of Community Development
Workers

25 September 2007

Programme Director
Members of the Executive
Members of the Provincial Legislature
The Executive Mayor of Sibande District, Councillor Andries Gamede
Executive Mayors
Councillors
Senior government officials
Community Development Workers from the province
Distinguished guests
Graduants
Ladies and gentlemen

Today marks a very important day in the life of the Community Development
Worker programme. This programme was started in 2003 and it has grown from
strength to strength. The growth of this programme can be attributed to the
good work that has been undertaken by our Community Development Workers (CDWs)
through out the province, and the country at large.

The CDWs programme has indeed ushered in a new era in as far as government
services reaching our people is concerned in the province. As we celebrate the
graduation of additional CDWs and welcome them to our fold. We need to evaluate
the progress that we have made. We must ask ourselves how far we have gone
towards improving service delivery for the people, facilitating community
development and working towards sustainable economic and social upliftment.

When we first introduced the CDWs programme, their focus was on bringing
government closer to the people. As the foot soldiers of government and service
delivery theirs was to make sure that these services reached all our people
especially the marginalised, aged and most rural. As a new cadre of public
servants, whose work cut across the spheres of government and departments, over
the past few years the work of the CDWs has truly brought government to the
people and improved the lives of thousands of vulnerable citizens. Through this
programme we have seen many of our most marginalised and vulnerable citizens
receiving government services and being brought into the social security
system. The CDWs have really given meaning to the principles of Batho Pele and
we can learn a lot from them in terms of really realising the slogan 'Putting
People First.'

As we enter a new phase of the CDWs programme, we need to identify and
explore opportunities of economic development for our communities. We must
initiate programmes that will respond to economic challenges, that will promote
the growth of Local Economic Development, that will improve skills development,
and critically that will ensure that as we implement government programmes we
do so in a manner that will impact positively on the targeted citizens both in
terms of receiving the services whilst also making sure that they receive
economic opportunities.

The new phase of the CDW programme must also be looked at within the context
of governments targets of provision of proper sanitation by 2007,access to
clean water and decent sanitation by 2010,all houses will have access to
electricity by 2012, eradication of informal settlements by 2014 and the
Millennium Development Goals. As we seek to meet all these targets that we have
set for ourselves we must clearly define the roles that must be played by the
CDWs in assisting us reach these targets. If l may ask, are any of you familiar
with these targets? The phase we are entering means that we must take the role
of the CDWs to a more strategic level. On top of being government's foot
soldiers and assisting in social security and assistance programmes they must
now become agents of economic development. This however also places a huge
responsibility on the CDWs to begin to access more government information to
enhance them selves.

We must acknowledge that despite the great progress we have made as
government since 1994, we are still faced with challenges of finding practical,
effective and efficient ways of providing quality services particularly in
rural areas, where transformation has been slow. Through the CDW programme we
have made some inroads to ensure that poor people access vital information and
services from government. However there is still a lot of work ahead.

I must also indicate that some of our CDWs have been performing very
excellently in their different areas, whilst others have not. I have been
informed that in some cases some of you have not even been reporting to work.
In the past we have tended to rely on the municipalities to assist us in
monitoring of the CDWs. As part of strengthening our monitoring capacity, we
have begun a process of appointing District Co-ordinators for this programme.
Interviews have already been held and we will be appointing them shortly. Once
again let me state that we need all CDWs to submit their monthly itineraries
and reports to the department so that we can know what you are doing in your
respective areas.

Our gathering here today is one that will give our people hope. They will
have hope that the CDWs will bring about an improvement in their lives. We are
confident that as CDWs you will not disappoint our people and the trust that we
and the people have in you. As CDWs you are products a thorough selection
process, which was in line with identifying cadres who belong to the respective
communities and who will truly implement the principles of Batho Pele. CDWs
have been trained to strengthen government service delivery initiatives by
interfacing directly with the communities. Amongst some of the functions and
programmes we expect CDWs to perform the following:

* Conduct door to door visits so as to be able to identify key service
delivery backlogs such as communities being unable to access social grants,
identity documents, health services
* Facilitate and promote the participation of communities in government
development programmes and project
* Assist in determining the needs of communities and communicate these to the
relevant government structures
* Develop the profiles of their respective communities through maintaining a
database of frequently asked questions and answers
* Assist communities in awareness and advocacy work
* Keep the community up to date with regard to all services rendered by
government and the process and mechanism to access the services
* CDWs should form close relations with government structures and government
agencies in order to understand the funding opportunities available for the
people in the communities.

One of the biggest challenges that we are still faced with is that of
creating an understanding amongst all our structures of the key role that CDWs
play. They must not just be seen as another structure or individuals who are
there just to form part of the bureaucratic tap that stifles people from
accessing government services or even Government Leaders. It's important that
we create an understanding to our communities that CDWs are multi skilled
workers who can provide a variety of services and assist all the three spheres
of government provide their services. It's important that we remember that
these CDWs come from the very communities that they will serve. As a department
we will not allow any CDW to be placed in a ward from which he or she does not
come from. We will make sure that every CDW is in the ward from which they come
from, because they know the community well and the community knows them well,
they will be able to point out the needs of the community and act accordingly
to address them.

As government we must clearly define the relationship between CDWs,
traditional leaders and local government leaders. We must do away with the myth
where CDWs are seen as competition instead of being seen as supplementary to
the existing structures. This misguided myth must not be allowed to spread. We
must also clearly define and clarify the roles between CDWs, councillors and
ward committee members.

Communities and must take ownership of these CDW's programme. Ward
committees must also embrace and work with CDWs. Together CDWs and Ward
Committees must play a constructive role in strengthening local organs. This
relationship must lead to better development opportunities for our
communities.

There are still some challenges that we need to deal with to ensure that the
operations of CDWs are able to work effectively. Through the izimbizo
programmes we have been made aware of some of the problems they are faced with
such as the misunderstanding with councillors, the lack of necessary working
tools such as computers, furniture equipment, telephones and budget, and in
some instances not being supported adequately by some municipalities. Not
withstanding these challenges we must make sure that all municipalities have
CDWs deployed to them.

As the new group of CDWs graduate today, l want to appeal to you learn from
those who are already in the field. You are in a more advantageous situation as
you already have people that you can learn from.

Today 59 CDWs are graduating in our province. This number will be added to
the existing 326 CDWs. The 59 CDWs graduating today will be deployed as follows
amongst the district councils:

* Gert Sibande: District nine
* Nkangala: 11
* Ehlanzeni: 13
* Marble Hall, Groblersdal and Greater Tubatse: 26

The group from Marble Hall, Groblersdal and Greater Tubatse have been
transferred to Limpopo as their areas now fall under that province. We have
begun a process of recruiting an additional 160 CDWs, through out the
province.

We would also like to thank the University of South Africa (Unisa) and the
Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA) for providing
quality training to our CDWs.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our new graduates. We
hope that you shall keep the banner of CDWs flying high wherever you shall be
deployed in your respective municipalities. From today you will be bound by the
Public Service Act and your actions need to be in line with this Act. As you
will be operating in your respective wards, please remember that you are an
official of government and not a councillor.

I would like to urge all of you to hit the ground running as you return to
your communities to continue working. Let us get down and work.

I thank you

Issued by: Department of Local Government and Housing, Mpumalanga Provincial
Government
25 September 2007