Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma statement on the launch of the ground-breaking COGTA/UN partnership to support the development of districts through the District Development Model
The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and the head of the United Nations (UN) in South Africa and Resident Coordinator, Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas, will launch the ground-breaking COGTA-UN partnership on 06 April 2021 in support of the implementation of the District Development Model (DDM) in the O.R. Tambo District, Eastern Cape.
Minister Dlamini Zuma will be joined by the MEC of COGTA in the Eastern Cape, Mr Xolile Nqata, and the Executive Mayor of O.R. Tambo District, Cllr Thokozile Sokanyile.
The model will foster a ‘One Plan’ approach to local development that seeks to incorporate public, private and civil society participation and investment in a joint effort to provide service delivery, localize procurement and create jobs.
The COGTA-UN partnership will initially focus on the three DDM pilot districts, namely: O.R. Tambo (Eastern Cape), Waterberg (Limpopo) and eThekwini (KwaZulu-Natal). The partnership will give practical expression to the DDM principles which are based on cooperation and collaboration among stakeholders.
This ground-breaking launch signifies the results of joint COGTA-UN extensive consultations in the three pilot districts to understand their development priorities. The partnership has identified specific areas of support that the UN can provide to the districts, building on existing work and addressing specific gaps by establishing Business Solution Centres and strengthening the Thuthuzela Care Centres and the Thusong Centres to improve service delivery.
The partnership has developed district-specific implementation plans based on three interrelated pillars. These include the Unlocking Economic Value Chains pillar, which will provide opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth and the Social Transformation pillar, which is intended to result in increased stakeholder commitment and advocacy in Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. The third pillar, the Service Delivery Enhancement, will focus on resuscitating and restructuring entities such as the Thusong Centres, which for decades have been strengthening platforms to give citizens access to public service and information.
The media is invited to cover the launch which will include the following media activities:
Day One:
Activity: MoU Signing Ceremony and Hybrid Media Briefing (Link):https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85670816193?pwd=Ui9zTW9NZEtwRzZkN0kyUTlLVy9rZz09
Date: Tuesday, 06 April 2021
Time: 10h00 – 12h00
Venue: Dan’s Country Lodge
Day Two:
Activity: Site Visits – Media Door Stops:
Date: Wednesday, 07 April 2021 - Time: 10h00
Venue: Dan’s Country Lodge (Arranged Common Transport for Journalists)
Day Three:
Activity: Adoption of the Implementation Plan – Media Door Stops:
Date: Thursday, 08 April 2021
Time: 12h00
Venue: Dan’s Country Lodge
Media Enquiries: Lungi Mtshali on 082 088 5060 or Zeenat Abdool, UN in South Africa - 082 778 8080
