Special ad hoc committee aims to overhaul public service delivery

By Ofentse Mokae
30 January 2010

A special Ad hoc committee in parliament’s National Assembly established to conduct oversight visits on service delivery, will next week kick-start its nation-wide public hearings.

The hearings are aimed at finding out more about progress in service delivery.

The committee, which was set up in September last year under the theme “Working together to ensure the delivery of quality services to communities” will use the hearings to also find out about Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department’s turnaround strategy.

In a press statement committee chairperson Lechesa Tsenoli said now that the department has completed its strategy they will be going to establish what processes are underway.

“We will seek feedback on the strategy and the readiness of the municipalities,” Tsenoli said.

The two month long hearings draw members from various portfolio committees including social development, basic education and health amongst others and will be conducted in all nine provinces.

Last year saw a wave of protests that erupted in townships across South Africa over shoddy housing and public services, adding to pressure on President Jacob Zuma to deliver on promises to fight poverty.