1. The MEC for Local Government and Housing, Mr RQ Dyantyi, together with the Premier's Department is embarking on an awareness campaign on public participation in integrated development planning (an integrated development plan reflects a community's needs). The campaign will run from 21 February to 31 March 2007
2. As part of the awareness campaign, people in communities will be requested to complete questionnaires and place them in collection boxes at local clinics, schools, social service points and police stations.
3. The focus of the campaign is to enhance participatory democracy at local level by encouraging communities to participate in the integrated development planning process. To this end, school learners, as part of their civic education, will be encouraged to persuade their parents and relatives to participate in the campaign.
4. The Department of Local Government and Housing is seeking a partnership with schools and learners to strengthen community awareness and to take greater responsibility for holding municipalities accountable for the provision of efficient services. Another benefit of this campaign will be the opportunity for learners to express themselves as citizens who have special needs that require the serious attention of municipalities.
5. As from 21 February 2007, community development workers will liaise with school principals and deliver questionnaires for learners to take home for their parents to complete and return to a collection box at school.
6. We appeal to schools to encourage learners to return as many completed questionnaires as possible. The school collecting the most completed questionnaires will receive special recognition, as well as a prize from the Department of Local Government and Housing.
7. The contact person for this campaign is Mr Heinrich Magerman, Acting Director : Public Participation, at telephone number 021 483 2865 / 082 301 2884. Should you need any further information regarding this important project, please do not hesitate to give him a call.
8. The WCED supports this initiative and it would be greatly appreciated if schools and governing bodies could co-operate to make this campaign a success.


SIGNED: J.H. LYNERS
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2007:02:27