By David Masango

Pretoria - Hundreds of local government communicators have converged here for a conference aimed at ensuring that municipalities communicate service delivery matters effectively to their constituencies.

The three-day conference seeks to establish a "comprehensive government-wide" communication system.

The conference is jointly hosted by the South African Local Government Association (Salga), the Government Communications and Information System (GCIS) and the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG).

It is being held under the theme: "Communication for development and better service delivery in the age of hope".

The event came as a result of Salga's Municipal Communicators Conference that was held in June 2002 to strengthen communication system across government's three spheres, explained Salga's Smanga Sethene.

He said discussions between the three departments culminated in the establishment of a tripartite working committee to implement resolutions of that conference and develop a plan of action to manage future interventions.

During the three days, the meeting will be deliberating on five topics.

These include developing a five year communication plan; strengthening communications infrastructure and support to ward committees and guidelines for local government communication and a roll-out plan.

Delegates are also expected to come up with immediate interventions to accelerate communication support to service delivery initiatives.

Addressing delegates, Government Communications (GCIS) CEO Joel Netshitenzhe said government communicators were a "crucial" link between government and the public and were the face of government.

"As communicators we have the challenge of bridging the gap between reality and perception of the public about government's service delivery and must also ensure that we understand government's programme.

"Our job is not to formulate government policy but to articulate it," he emphasised.

He told the delegates that Community Development Workers (CDWs) were also an important link in communicating municipalities' work and interventions to the community since they worked with communities, especially in remote areas.

Netshitenzhe also advised the delegates to use community media to advance their communication objectives.

He emphasised the importance of communication research when formulating an effective communication system.

Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad said although there was still a lot to be done to achieve a comprehensive government-wide communication system, platforms such as Multi-Purpose Community Centres (MPCCs), the Izimbizo and the Vuk'uzenzele magazine were playing an ever greater role.

"The use of these shared platforms is just the beginning. Progress in finalising the Inter-governmental Relations Act (IGR) creates the opportunity for the vision of government communication across three spheres to become reality," he said.

He explained that many of the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (Asgisa) projects were aimed at promoting economic growth would require intensive local communication about how such projects featured as cornerstone projects in specific municipalities or as key projects for the provincial growth and development plans.

In her address, Provincial and Local Government Deputy Minister, Nomatyala Hangana said the recent local government elections gave government an impetus to accelerate its efforts towards ensuring more effective service delivery in the new term of local government.

"Communication has a key role to play in ensuring that local government, as the sphere closest to our communities, is in touch with the needs, concerns and aspirations of our communities so that government service delivery as a whole can be improved," she said.

She explained that communication was an indispensable governance tool in any and all institutions and in the local sphere, together with public participation initiatives, that would assist to bridge any gaps in the interaction between municipalities and the communities they served.

Source: BuaNews