By Nangamso Mabindla
15 May 2006

INTENT on improving communications with the public, Mayor Zintle Peter led a delegation to a workshop on Communications for a Developmental Local Government in Pretoria last week.

Organised by the Department of Provincial and Local Government, the workshop aimed to assist the government to improve communications at grassroots level.

The city"s communications manager, Darby Gounden, said it was important to hold such workshops with local government as municipalities were closest to the people.

"We have been trusted with the responsibility of delivering basic services and development to the people. The workshop was timely as it looked at communications from a strategic point of view."

Gounden said that it was agreed that communications at local level needed to improve and close working relationships needed to be developed between municipalities and their people.

Buffalo City was ahead in its efforts to improve communications with its communities and the City was establishing three multi-purpose community centres, one each in King William"s Town, Mdantsane and Gompo.

"With the aid of the Swedish International Development Agency we are looking to set these up before the end of the year. These multi-purpose support centres are also expected to speed up service delivery."

Last year the City also conducted a Customer Care Survey that aimed to assist the municipality in its drive to be result oriented in the delivery of services. "We also had an out-reach programme late last year. That is why we are ahead of most municipalities when it comes to communicating with our public," Gounden added.