Date: 22/11/2003
Source: Ministry of Correctional Services
Title: Skosana: Launch of Mohlakeng MPCC
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR BEN M SKOSANA, MP, AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE MOHLAKENG MULTI-PURPOSE COMMUNITY CENTRE, Randfontein, Gauteng, Saturday, 22 November 2003
Programme Director
Representatives of the GCIS
Members of the Mohlakeng Community
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Over the past nine years, the Government has shown its desire and commitment to fulfilling its constitutional obligations to the citizens of this country, especially women, who despite constitutionally enshrined rights and we continue to be exposed to reports of unacceptably high levels of abuse and violence against women and children in many areas of our society.
Our commitment to combating violence and related forms of abuse directed at women and children continues to be a priority of our Government.
This is not just for the 16-day period but on an ongoing and sustainable basis and on every possible front including the provision of social assistance to women and children in need, the provision of specialised domestic violence legislation, roll-out of fifty sexual offences courts in the past five years and a plethora of other mechanisms aimed at protecting vulnerable groups.
The sixteen-day period allows us as a collective to focus our attention intensely on the problem of gender-based and child-directed violence, take stock of progress and re-commit ourselves to eradicating this scourge.
It is therefore no coincidence that the beneficiaries of the project are women, who according to the latest statistics constitute the majority of this country's population. Most households are headed by women and they therefore are the ones mostly in need of government information so that they may know how Government can be of assistance to them.
Most people know what it is like to be sent from one place to another to get government information and services. This is even worse in areas where distances are vast and travelling becomes expensive. People who are already amongst the poorest in this country then carry this cost. It should not be the duty of citizens to go to such lengths to access that, which is their right. President Thabo Mbeki has long supported the idea of one-stop government service and information centres where long delays and travelling can be cut.
One of the ways this is being done is by establishing Multi-purpose Community Centres (MPCCs) across South Africa, a programme that first began at Tombo in the Eastern Cape in December 1999. Since then a successful rollout of MPCCs has occurred nationwide with forty-five MPCCs now available in all provinces.
The Mohlakeng MPCC here in the West Rand is the tenth MPCC in Gauteng established in response to the needs of communities for information and services. The project in Gauteng is spearheaded by the Premier's Office. In partnership with Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), this initiative is being extended in the province as a further three MPCCs are planned for this financial year.
Through this initiative, more than five hundred government services from national, provincial and local government as well as parastatals and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been taken to areas where they never were.
At these places people have been getting services and information closer to them and in a more accountable manner, that is, people are closer to the public servants and hence can hold them accountable and can expect service in line with Batho Pele principles.
The government plans to have sixty (60) MPCCs, one in every district and metropolitan municipality in the country by the end of March 2004.
Some people may begin to wonder what this MPCC is and what purpose does it serve? An MPCC is a place where a number of services are provided by local, provincial and national governments as well as parastatals, NGOs, community-based organisations and the private sector. The services offered at an MPCC are those that have been identified by you the community. Every MPCC is different; some will be made up of just one building with a number of service providers in various offices, while sometimes a number of them will be on one site providing a variety of services.
The MPCC will be an important place for the following reasons:
* For communities to tell government what information and services they need so that government departments and other partners from parastatals and NGOs can then respond to these needs.
* Where communities can develop their skills and knowledge and this will see many different types of training and skills development, which can help in promoting employment in the community and also help local leaders to be better equipped to promote community development.
* Where many activities and programmes will happen and many networks can operate because an MPCC is a stable place, properly managed by partners especially those from local government and this will encourage investors and development groups to want to link with communities through the MPCC - public and private sectors can have a common place where they can work together in a coordinated way.
The Agency for International Development said this about community development:
"Community development as a process has been defined in terms of helping people learn the attitudes, the skills and the concepts they need in order to participate effectively in the democratic solution of common problems.
More specifically, community development is: giving technical assistance at the local level on how people plan and work together for better living for all. Its real objectives are:
* to help community people to find ways of organising self-help programmes
* to furnish them with techniques for cooperative action on plans which they themselves develop to improve their own circumstances.
At the heart of all this is village organisation."
(The Village-Aid worker and Democratic Program Planning - Series A. Volume 7, June 1962, Washington)
The following are some of the benefits that the community will derive from this MPCC:
* Access to training and the development of skills
* Access to integrated and cost-effective government information and other services
* Sustainable services because the community will be involved in the MPCC and will help keep those giving the services accountable
* The community will receive and use specialised information and services from participating government departments.
The MPCC programme of government is a very comprehensive one and a good example of how successfully government departments from local, provincial and national levels can work together with parastatals, NGOs and community groups to make development a reality. This project rests on strong partnerships, and we are proud that many of our important stakeholders and partners are here today.
Many social problems gave rise to the MPCC programme including the fact that delivery of the basic services especially to the poorest of the poor such as housing, etc. has been slow.
Despite some organisations having taken on the responsibility to bring about change, further disillusionment was caused because organisations were working in an uncoordinated manner, battling for ownership or participation.
It was therefore decided to provide facilities under one roof in a coordinated manner to address the social ills facing the communities of Mohlakeng, Bekkersdal and Simunye, to ensure that communities get services at close proximity while on the other hand they are able to access sporting facilities.
The services in this centre reflect all the three spheres of government as service providers range from the local, provincial and national spheres. Currently the following municipal services are offered:
* payments of rates
* electricity
* housing
* primary health care
* library services
* sports and recreation.
In conclusion, I would like to express my appreciation to everyone present here today to grace this occasion. You are witness to the fact that Government is genuinely concerned about the welfare of the disadvantaged people of this country.
The impact of the Imbizo outreach programme as well as the establishment of MPCCs throughout the country are some of the means that Government employs to enhance communication with the people and also to bring services closer to them. Let us all take collective responsibility to protect these facilities as they are meant to benefit all of us.
Those who do not have your interests at heart must not be allowed to destroy these facilities, because they are not just meant to benefit you, but they will be of benefit to your children and your children's children.
God bless you.
I thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Correctional Services
Source: Ministry of Correctional Services
Title: Skosana: Launch of Mohlakeng MPCC
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR BEN M SKOSANA, MP, AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE MOHLAKENG MULTI-PURPOSE COMMUNITY CENTRE, Randfontein, Gauteng, Saturday, 22 November 2003
Programme Director
Representatives of the GCIS
Members of the Mohlakeng Community
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Over the past nine years, the Government has shown its desire and commitment to fulfilling its constitutional obligations to the citizens of this country, especially women, who despite constitutionally enshrined rights and we continue to be exposed to reports of unacceptably high levels of abuse and violence against women and children in many areas of our society.
Our commitment to combating violence and related forms of abuse directed at women and children continues to be a priority of our Government.
This is not just for the 16-day period but on an ongoing and sustainable basis and on every possible front including the provision of social assistance to women and children in need, the provision of specialised domestic violence legislation, roll-out of fifty sexual offences courts in the past five years and a plethora of other mechanisms aimed at protecting vulnerable groups.
The sixteen-day period allows us as a collective to focus our attention intensely on the problem of gender-based and child-directed violence, take stock of progress and re-commit ourselves to eradicating this scourge.
It is therefore no coincidence that the beneficiaries of the project are women, who according to the latest statistics constitute the majority of this country's population. Most households are headed by women and they therefore are the ones mostly in need of government information so that they may know how Government can be of assistance to them.
Most people know what it is like to be sent from one place to another to get government information and services. This is even worse in areas where distances are vast and travelling becomes expensive. People who are already amongst the poorest in this country then carry this cost. It should not be the duty of citizens to go to such lengths to access that, which is their right. President Thabo Mbeki has long supported the idea of one-stop government service and information centres where long delays and travelling can be cut.
One of the ways this is being done is by establishing Multi-purpose Community Centres (MPCCs) across South Africa, a programme that first began at Tombo in the Eastern Cape in December 1999. Since then a successful rollout of MPCCs has occurred nationwide with forty-five MPCCs now available in all provinces.
The Mohlakeng MPCC here in the West Rand is the tenth MPCC in Gauteng established in response to the needs of communities for information and services. The project in Gauteng is spearheaded by the Premier's Office. In partnership with Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), this initiative is being extended in the province as a further three MPCCs are planned for this financial year.
Through this initiative, more than five hundred government services from national, provincial and local government as well as parastatals and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been taken to areas where they never were.
At these places people have been getting services and information closer to them and in a more accountable manner, that is, people are closer to the public servants and hence can hold them accountable and can expect service in line with Batho Pele principles.
The government plans to have sixty (60) MPCCs, one in every district and metropolitan municipality in the country by the end of March 2004.
Some people may begin to wonder what this MPCC is and what purpose does it serve? An MPCC is a place where a number of services are provided by local, provincial and national governments as well as parastatals, NGOs, community-based organisations and the private sector. The services offered at an MPCC are those that have been identified by you the community. Every MPCC is different; some will be made up of just one building with a number of service providers in various offices, while sometimes a number of them will be on one site providing a variety of services.
The MPCC will be an important place for the following reasons:
* For communities to tell government what information and services they need so that government departments and other partners from parastatals and NGOs can then respond to these needs.
* Where communities can develop their skills and knowledge and this will see many different types of training and skills development, which can help in promoting employment in the community and also help local leaders to be better equipped to promote community development.
* Where many activities and programmes will happen and many networks can operate because an MPCC is a stable place, properly managed by partners especially those from local government and this will encourage investors and development groups to want to link with communities through the MPCC - public and private sectors can have a common place where they can work together in a coordinated way.
The Agency for International Development said this about community development:
"Community development as a process has been defined in terms of helping people learn the attitudes, the skills and the concepts they need in order to participate effectively in the democratic solution of common problems.
More specifically, community development is: giving technical assistance at the local level on how people plan and work together for better living for all. Its real objectives are:
* to help community people to find ways of organising self-help programmes
* to furnish them with techniques for cooperative action on plans which they themselves develop to improve their own circumstances.
At the heart of all this is village organisation."
(The Village-Aid worker and Democratic Program Planning - Series A. Volume 7, June 1962, Washington)
The following are some of the benefits that the community will derive from this MPCC:
* Access to training and the development of skills
* Access to integrated and cost-effective government information and other services
* Sustainable services because the community will be involved in the MPCC and will help keep those giving the services accountable
* The community will receive and use specialised information and services from participating government departments.
The MPCC programme of government is a very comprehensive one and a good example of how successfully government departments from local, provincial and national levels can work together with parastatals, NGOs and community groups to make development a reality. This project rests on strong partnerships, and we are proud that many of our important stakeholders and partners are here today.
Many social problems gave rise to the MPCC programme including the fact that delivery of the basic services especially to the poorest of the poor such as housing, etc. has been slow.
Despite some organisations having taken on the responsibility to bring about change, further disillusionment was caused because organisations were working in an uncoordinated manner, battling for ownership or participation.
It was therefore decided to provide facilities under one roof in a coordinated manner to address the social ills facing the communities of Mohlakeng, Bekkersdal and Simunye, to ensure that communities get services at close proximity while on the other hand they are able to access sporting facilities.
The services in this centre reflect all the three spheres of government as service providers range from the local, provincial and national spheres. Currently the following municipal services are offered:
* payments of rates
* electricity
* housing
* primary health care
* library services
* sports and recreation.
In conclusion, I would like to express my appreciation to everyone present here today to grace this occasion. You are witness to the fact that Government is genuinely concerned about the welfare of the disadvantaged people of this country.
The impact of the Imbizo outreach programme as well as the establishment of MPCCs throughout the country are some of the means that Government employs to enhance communication with the people and also to bring services closer to them. Let us all take collective responsibility to protect these facilities as they are meant to benefit all of us.
Those who do not have your interests at heart must not be allowed to destroy these facilities, because they are not just meant to benefit you, but they will be of benefit to your children and your children's children.
God bless you.
I thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Correctional Services
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