Social movements brawl closure of development council

By Ofentse Mokae
01 June 2010

Business, organised labour and civil society is outraged with plans by the provincial government to close down the Provincial Development Council.

The social partners met today with the provincial government officials to express their displeasure and called the move as undermining to the accepted practices of broadening democratic practices, within society.

The council was established to enhance commitment, cooperation and coordination between government and social partners, in achieving economic and social developments objectives.

Cosatu says the move will deny Social Partners the space to make contributions and inputs to social policies.

“The DA is attempting to close down the structure and replace it with DA cronies because they see the structure as being set up by the ANC. The fact is the structure was set up by the National Party around 1994 and then brought in line with national practices in 2003,” said provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich.

The PDC like Nedlac brings together Social Partners who are representative of Business and Civil Society and Labour who with government draft policy in consultation, and brings the experiences of the broader society into the policy making process.

The council falls under the department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.

The provincial government says their plan to close down the entity is largely due to ineffective management.

Attempts to reach the relevant authorities for comment proved unsuccessful.