Bongani Majola
Government moves to reconnect with the people were taken a step further this week when six African National Congress ministers, five deputy-ministers, three premiers and a host of senior officials embarked on a crash programme of visits to local communities across South Africa.
Dubbed “Imbizo focus week”, the programme involves 52 separate visits between November 5 and November 11.
The concept of “interactive governance”, concentrating on service delivery issues, was initiated by President Thabo Mbeki when he visited the Northern Province in April and the Eastern Cape in October this year.
The imbizo involves all levels of government and particularly those in delivery portfolios such as land affairs, housing, health, social development, justice and water affairs and forestry.
Deputy President Jacob Zuma will visit Lethlabile in the North West, while the range of activities in all provinces will include interactions and meetings “around launches of projects or visits to projects in progress”.
“The central thrust in the building of our democracy has been building a partnership of government and people for development,” reads a statement by the Government Communication and Information Service. The theme of “intergovernmental cooperation for local delivery” meant the imbizo would focus on “the democratisation of local government as an instrument of delivery”.
In concrete terms, however, the imbizos emphasised the practical implementation of government’s programme of action; integrated development plans; free basic services; rural development and urban renewal.
Asked whether the programme arose out of a sense that people were disillusioned with government and its ability to deliver, director of government liaison Tshilidi Ratshitanga said: “This is not just a communication exercise. Government is consciously taking time out of ministers’ diaries to listen to all the issues, problems and concerns that people raise. And a commitment is made by government to address all those questions.”
Congress of South African Trade Unions spokesperson Patrick Craven said Cosatu would welcome any attempts to improve service delivery.