Riyaz Patel
President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched the first pilot site of government’s district-based coordination model dubbed ‘Khawuleza’ in the OR Tambo District Municipality, Eastern Cape.
Khawuleza aims to enhance service delivery through the synchronisation of planning across all spheres of government in concert with local communities.
The OR Tambo District Municipality comprises the King Sabatha Dalindyebo, Nyandeni; Ingquza Hill, Mhlontlo and Port St Johns local municipalities.
“Opportunities in this district are immense we want to stop this district from being one of the poorest in the country,” Ramaphosa said.
During his Budget Vote to the National Assembly in July, Ramaphosa said the “pattern of operating in silos” had led to “lack of coherence in planning and implementation and has made monitoring and oversight of government’s programme difficult.”
He said this ‘silo approach’ had resulted in retarded service delivery and a “diminished impact on the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.”
The integrated district based strategy seeks to enable rapid development in the 44 districts and 8 Metros in the country.
Ramaphosa officially opened the R58m Lusikisiki Village Clinic, a state-of-the-art NHI ready facility in rural Eastern Cape. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said the clinic has been structured to offer health services of the future.
As with the Lusikisiki Village Clinic, it’s envisaged that from planning to implementation, government will consult social partners to ensure that development meets the needs of local communities and stakeholders in each district.
The strategy further entails localised procurement to ensure businesses benefit from development, and that local job-seekers are prioritised for employment on projects, a statement from the presidency said.
OR Tambo District Municipality, Waterberg District Municipality in Limpopo and eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, have been identified as the first three pilot sites for the model.
