SA News

Community Development Workers (CDW) programme is a bridge between government and communities

27 Oct 2009

The Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration Roy Padayachie has called for greater coordination and synergy between Community Development Workers (CDWs), provincial government departments and municipalities.

Speaking at the Gauteng Provincial Summit on the CDW policy development process in Mogale City on Monday, 26 October 2009, Minister Padayachie told delegates that the CDW programme was conceived from the idea of ensuring that citizens access government services and information.

He said the deliverables of the CDW programme should be aligned with the priorities set out in the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MSTF) (2009 to 2014).

“Its central objective is to set the country on a higher and sustainable growth trajectory by the end of 2014 with an expanded and more diversified economic base, with unemployment and poverty being halved and with greater equity and social cohesion,” the Deputy Minister said.

He said the conceptualisation of the CDW programme was motivated amongst others, by the Poverty Inequality Report (1997) and the Participatory Poverty Assessment (1998) into poverty levels in South Africa which showed that 70 percent of the poorest members of the population were unable to access programmes and other government services.

“Central to the CDW programme was priority area number ten of the MTSF, which aims to strengthen the capacity of the state to enable it to improve delivery and quality public services; to build partnerships with society for equitable development and to strengthen democratic institutions; and to promote a culture of transparent, honest and compassionate public service.

“The CDW programme seeks to improve the dissemination of information to the poor about benefits and services to which all citizens are entitled; assist the poor to access and benefit from the services that could materially improve their lives; and provide an interface or bridge between municipalities and communities to enhance the existing local government structures so as to improve the level of participation between communities and the Integrated Development Plans, Urban Renewal Projects and Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programmes,” the deputy minister said.

“The provision of government service and the effective utilization of service delivery by the poor and disadvantaged as well as the achievement of an integrated service delivery remains one of government’s national priorities.

He said the government is aware of the service delivery challenges in our communities and acknowledged that the current service delivery protests were among other things an indication that more work still needed to be done to bridge the gap between communities and government.

“It is evident that lack of communication between communities and government on service delivery issues can result in unnecessary destruction of property and loss of lives, the revitalisation of the CDW programme is thus critical in this regard,” Minister Padayachie.

The Deputy Minister reiterated the sentiments shared by President of South Africa Jacob Zuma in his inauguration address.

“In his 2009 State of the Nation Address, President Zuma committed government to speeding up service delivery. He further made a call for an inclusive society to do more in terms of realising a better life for all.

“Through policy, there will be a re-design of the programme to promote a high standard of professionalism for community development workers and those involved in the programme,” he said

Putting the Gauteng CDW Programme in perspective, Chief Director CDW and Public Participation Jackie Lamola said much progress has been made since the launch of the programme in 2005.

The achievements include, among others to; inform communities about problems in the delivery of basic services; help with the implementation projects; liaise with and advocate on behalf of communities with parastatals, monitor, evaluate and report on the impact of developmental projects; intensify education and awareness of sexually transmitted diseases and other health related matters.

Lamola cited challenges faced by the CDW as Ensuring that matters brought to the attention of the different spheres of government and different government departments by CDWs are responded to in a more speedily and efficient way in relation to service delivery blockages etc; ensuring that CDWs have the necessary support by all spheres of government; ensuring an effective intergovernmental relations with all spheres of government in relation to the CDW Programme.

The summit consulted various stakeholders including councillors, non-governmental organisation, community based organisations, faith-based organisations that have a working relationship with CDWs.

The consolidated policy document will be presented at a National Summit in December 2009.