Pretoria - Cabinet has put in place measures to better anticipate and manage service delivery protests in various parts of the country.
At a post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday, government spokesperson Themba Maseko said the interventions are part of the local government turn-around strategy that seeks to address the challenges confronting local government.
"These interventions include the establishment of rapid response teams at all levels of government; the utilisation of disaster management centres and the joint operations centres to act as early warning mechanisms; strengthening of ward committees and community development workers," Maseko said.
The local government turn-around strategy envisages, among others, to develop infrastructure, a new funding strategy, quick loan repayments, review of grants and programmes and intergovernmental co-operation and faster development especially in rural areas.
One of the more palpable dilemmas that have faced the 12-month President Jacob Zuma's administration had been a spate of service delivery protest at local government.
Service delivery protests that have erupted recently include those from Siyathemba in Balfour, Mpumalanga as well as Orange Farm and Sharpeville in Gauteng. No potable water, electricity and basic services have all contributed to violent demonstrations.
