SDB ABM Engage Ward And PR Councillors
As part of its stakeholder engagement exercise the South Durban Basin (SDB) Area Based Management (ABM) in partnership with Sizakala Customer Care department hosted a breakfast briefing for both Ward and PR Councillors within the SDB and its surrounding areas on 16 September 2011 at Mondi Sports Centre. The purpose of the briefing was to introduce departments within the Regional Centres Unit, their services and establish future effective ways of engagement.
In his key-note address, Councillor Simon Zwane said ‘the main objective is to inform Councillors about programmes and projects in the pipeline and encourage them to work with City officials in the implementation of those. He said ‘it is important for Councillors to be on top of information so that they can ensure that the communities they represent participate and take ownership of projects delivered by the eThekwini Municipality.
Gerard Strydom, Head of the Regional Centres Unit said ‘it is important to build relationship with all the stakeholders that work with the City. He said ‘for us this is a strategic gathering because besides the introduction of departments within the Unit, we want to open up channels of communication with our Councillors, Businesses, NGOs and all other community structures so that they participate in the affairs of the Municipality’.
The SDB ABM Communications Manager, Sifiso Xulu said ‘the briefing helped us to get to know new Councillors in the area. He said this exercise was very important because the SDB ABM department has incorporated new areas of operation and we need to know Councillors that are responsible for those wards’. Xulu said ‘in order to achieve more as different departments within the Regional Centres Unit we need to cement the relationship by ensuring that all our stakeholders participate in our operations’.
According to Phindile Mdletshe, South Region Customer Care Manager the briefing was a huge success. She said ‘as we move forward we need to look at the issues raised by Councillors and address them systematically’. Mdletshe said ‘we are very happy about the response and the interest shown by Councillors who graced our function. It was also fulfilling to see representatives from Business and the NGO sector’, added Mdletshe.