Department hold workshop on development of Ward Committees operational plans
05 March 2013
The Mpumalanga Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in collaboration with the National Department of Co-operative Governance held a workshop on the development of operational plans for ward committees. The workshop was attended by all officials responsible for Public Participation and Ward Committees in municipalities.
Ward committees are a platform on which communities have an opportunity to express their needs and opinions on issues of development in their particular wards and have them heard at municipal level through Ward Councillors. They also serve as advisory bodies created within the sphere of civil society to assist Ward Councillors in carrying out their mandate in the most democratic manner possible.
The operational plans are aimed at ensuring that operations by ward committees are structured and provide an enabling platform for them to actively take part in planning, implementation and monitoring of service delivery. In an effort to motivate members of ward committees, municipalities are paying out of pocket expenses to them. Due to financial difficulties experienced by some municipalities the National Department is assisting those municipalities on Grades 1 to 3 with payments of out of pocket expenses and other ward committee operations i.e. training, implementation of ward operational plans etc.
During the workshop Municipal officials discussed challenges experienced in their local municipalities regarding activities of ward committees and also shared best practices. The Department will continue to support municipalities to ensure that all ward committees are strengthened and remain functional to ensure that participatory democracy is alive in all our municipalities.
Contact Persons:
Simphiwe Kunene
Cell: 082 413 3931
Issued by: The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs
