Community Development Workers (CDWs) have been urged to report acts of corruption that threaten the progressive work of government.
Addressing hundreds of CDWs in Mpumalanga on Wednesday, Public Service and Administration Minister Faith Muthambi’s advisor, Patience Mushungwa, said corruption destabilises efforts aimed at improving the lives of the communities that government serves.
The engagement session with CDWs is part of the Department of Public Service and Administration’s programme.
“Corruption has a very negative impact on service delivery and can undo all the good work that you are doing as CDWs, if you allow it to happen.
“It is important to link CDWs with municipal wards and to ward councillors and committees. As government, we are committed to improve conditions of service in general, in particular the tools of trade,” said Mushungwa.
Mushungwa encouraged CDWs to always strive to know more about government programmes and make such information accessible to all community members. She said CDWs must always provide feedback to government regarding community experiences of services and governance.
As CDWs work closely with communities, it is important they are knowledgeable and can respond effectively in a forever changing environment that is largely influenced by ICT (information communication technology).
Mushungwa said CDWs must be equipped with ICT skills so they can meaningfully participate in the era of e-government and the fourth industrial revolution.
“CDWs must assist communities to engage with and provide input into integrated development plans and other programs of government. As the foot soldiers of government, you must report any corruption or irregularity encountered within any sphere of government, government department, community organisation, or private sector.”
Mpumalanga’s acting Director of Public Participation in the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, John Mogane, said they have 436 CDWs in the province and are located in the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
He said the appointment of CDWs per district are 160 for Ehlanzeni District, 160 for Nkangala and 116 for Gert Sibande.
“We are planning to roll-out a course on project management for CDWs starting with Nkangala during the third quarter and then followed by other districts. This course will be rolled out in phases to avoid over expenditure by Human Resource Management.
“There are other plans to conduct computer training for those that do not have computer skills probably in 2018/19 financial year,” Mogane said. – SAnews.gov.za
