South Africa Government

05/16/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/16/2023 04:33

Minister Thembi Nkadimeng on importance of District Development Model as an effective intergovernmental relations instrument

The Cape Winelands District Municipality to host the 6th Presidential DDM

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Thembi Nkadimeng as the chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) responsible for the Presidential Imbizo emphasised the importance of District Development Model (DDM) as an effective intergovernmental relations instrument. The Western Cape Imbizo follows the commitment made by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 2023 State of the Nations Address, that he will continue lead the DDM Izimbizo and to engage South Africans.

The sixth iteration in a series of the Presidential DDM Izimbizo will take place in the Western Cape province on Friday, 19 May 2023. The Cape Winelands District will host the DDM Imbizo at the Dal Josaphat Stadium in Paarl.

The DDM engenders joint planning, budgeting and implementation as well as integrated monitoring and evaluation amongst government, business and civil society especially Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. The DDM as an all of government and society approach requires all spheres of government and social partners to work together to bring sustained development and growth to communities in an integrated manner. In working together, they are guided by ethos of developmental local government which endearvours to find lasting solutions to challenges and leverage opportunities for inclusive development.

It is within this context that Minister underscores the fundamentals of a participatory democracy and the importance of Corporate Governance in coalescing all of government to enhance long term value for communities and protecting their interest. Through Cooperative Governance, the three spheres of government must work together (cooperate) to provide citizens with comprehensive services geared to changing their lives. This cooperation is guided by the Constitution which states that the three spheres have to assist and support each other, share information and coordinate their efforts. This is in keeping with the commitment of energizing the cooperative governance system through the DDM as an operating model for all of government and all of society.

"As a democratic government that listens and which value the voice of communities, we are imbued by the Presidential Imbizo as it provides an opportunity for communities and other stakeholders to engage directly with the President and government leadership across the three spheres", said Minister Nkadimeng.

The Imbizo in the Cape Winelands District Municipality will be attended by four thousand (4000) community members coming from all the five local municipalities - (1) Breede Valley; (2) Drakenstein; (3) Langeberg; (4) Stellenbosch; (5) Witzenbberg.

For those who would not able to attend physically, various media platforms that will be covering the event live, bringing the imbizo into people's homes and everywhere where they are (TV, Radio and Social media platforms).

As part of the Imbizo, communities will have an opportunity to speak to the President on key service delivery issues so that he can unblock any blockages. As the President will be accompanied by members of the Executive from the national, provincial and local spheres of government, communities will know in real time which actions or interventions will be employed to address their concerns and issues they raised.

The DDM Imbizo will also offer members of the public to access government services within their proximity through mobile services and exhibition rendered by multiple government departments and agencies including Home Affairs, SA Social Security Agency, etc.

The Minister calls on communities and other stakeholders to work with government to ensure that their development, guided by the principles of the DDM as no-one will be left behind. "Government is committed to work with all sectors of society to move the country forward and the Presidential Imbizo in Cape Winelands is but one important milestone towards achieving our goal and building a comprehensive social compact of all involved in bringing a better life for South Africans", said Minister Nkadimeng.

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