Issued by: Department of Constitutional Development
The Director-General of the Department of Constitutional Development will open a conference "Towards Municipal Infrastructure in the 21st Century" taking place at Gallagher Estates, Midrand, from 24-26 May 1999. The purpose of the conference is to discuss policy issues relating to municipal infrastructure and partnerships for service delivery, as well as municipal planning and local economic development.
National departments including Constitutional Development, Public Works, Water Affairs, Land Affairs, Finance, and Housing will begin by outlining their vision for service delivery in the 21st century. They will also share information about their programmes and policies relating to municipal infrastructure and partnerships with private firms, public institutions (such as parastatals), non-governmental organisations, and community based organisations for service delivery.
Over a period of three days, participants will be given the opportunity to discuss and inform programmes run through the DCD's Chief Directorate: Municipal Infrastructure and Planning. It is an opportune moment for stakeholders to make an input prior to the second term of the democratic government. The conference is taking place at a critical time in South Africa's history - a time when real implementation must occur at an accelerated rate in order to positively impact on the lives of ordinary people in urban and rural areas.
The first day will be focused on how Government can develop a more co-ordinated approach to issues such as:
Over one-hundred representatives of the private and non-governmental sector are expected for the first day of the conference to receive the policy document in order to make further inputs. Following further consultation, the Department plans to issue the policy document as a Green Paper and then a White Paper later this year.
The second and third day of the conference will focus on "best practices" in municipal infrastructure and service delivery. Municipalities from across the country are presenting their experiences in local economic development, integrated development planning, municipal service partnerships, consolidated municipal infrastructure delivery, and rural development. Over three hundred and fifty municipal officials and councillors are attending the conference to share experiences and learn from each other.
A Media Briefing will take place on Wednesday 26 May 1999 at 13h00 to discuss the broad outcomes of the Conference with members of the Media.
For more information please contact: Onkgopots JJ Tabane or Gugu Moloi 012 344 0600; 082 465 6166/5
23 May 1999