Launch of the Meet the Minister Programme | Western Cape Government

Speech

Launch of the Meet the Minister Programme

11 November 2009
In the last few months, we have seen an increase in the number of service delivery protests across the country, including here in Cape Town. People are getting frustrated, and this is understandable.

However, I don't believe that frustration arises only out of the pace of service delivery and, when it comes to my portfolio, the provision of housing opportunities. I believe that a very significant factor in that frustration is the lack of information people have about what the government is doing to address this issue, as well as the challenges we face in doing so. We as government need to improve our communication and engagement with the people we serve.

If people were given more platforms to engage with the government, they may be less inclined to take to the streets and damage property. That is the rationale behind this programme. We need to pre-empt riots over housing and service delivery by giving people more channels with which to engage with me and my department.

Therefore, I will be undertaking a road show to visit communities across the province to share my vision and my goals for addressing the housing needs of the people of our province, and to listen to some of the concerns that people have about the way we are addressing this challenge.

I will also be making myself available to participate in call-in shows on community radio stations across the province, where people will be able to call in and direct questions to me and senior officials in my department. My goal is to give as many people as possible the opportunity to engage with us, and to hear about our plans and programmes to meet their needs.

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