The Good Party in the Western Cape has called on the Public Protector’s Office to ensure greater public participation in future community engagements.
The office held a public participation hearing on maintenance and systemic issues at the Lentegeur Civic Centre in Mitchells Plain on Wednesday. The Department of Justice and the National Prosecuting Authority attended the hearing.
According to the GOOD party, officials outnumbered public
members, as many of them didn’t know about the engagement due to poor
organisation.
‘’What could have been a key step in improving the current
maintenance system, turned into a damp squib with officials outnumbering
members of the public. But due to poor organisation, residents of Mitchells
Plain, who are the ones dealing with issues relating to maintenance on a
day-to-day basis, didn’t even know it was happening,’’ said Chad Davids, GOOD
City of Cape Town Councillor.
‘’An official of the Public Protectors office was asked how
the meeting was advertised, to which a very obtuse answer was given which
related to the capacity of the meeting venue and that they had to keep the
numbers at a manageable level. The few members of the public that were in
attendance put forward various complaints, to which they received responses
from stakeholders.’’
‘’The maintenance system is a mess and the engagement was
necessary. This important issue potentially affects the most vulnerable within
our communities, that being women and children. The office of the DoJ undertook
to work on the current system. Other officials shared critical insights on the
processes relating to maintenance claims. But without meaningful public
participation the system cannot truly be transformed,’’ added Davids.
Done By: Mitchum George
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