A Gauteng Ward Councillors’ Conference is expected to produce possible solutions to the increased number of violent service delivery protests by residents in the province.

The Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) will next week host the conference on 1 and 2 September. The newly elected Cogta and Human Settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo will interact with all ward councillors in Gauteng for the first time at the conference.

“The conference will also be an opportunity for various stakeholders operating in local government, to understand each other’s issues and challenges, and most importantly, the plight of ward councillors who have been besieged with protracted violent community protests for the longest time in history,” said the department.

Creating a peaceful environment

According to the department, destruction of community infrastructure is a leading concern for the department, as communities burnt facilities to grab attention of the political leadership during protests.

Mamabolo said communities and councillors must engage constructively to create a conducive and peaceful environment, leaving no room for violence.

“Achieving this will not only be beneficial to councillors and community leaders, but also crucially beneficial for peace and stability where children can go to school uninterrupted, with workers not losing hard earned salary for not showing up at work,” said Mamabolo.

Public participation

Public participation has been highlighted as one of the key points of discussion at the conference. The delegates will discuss ways of improving or innovating current forms of public participation at the disposal of councillors.

“In radically transforming our society we must confront our challenges head on, and in so doing we must mobilise the entire society and jointly participate in a dialogue that will find lasting solutions to problems we encounter daily. This conference will engage with such challenges and more,” concluded Mamabolo.

 

(SAnews.gov.za)