THE Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme (MURP) is calling all interested parties to participate in its stakeholder mobilisation project.

The project is aimed at gathering information on representatives of the various stakeholders so as to build up a comprehensive database. According to a notice issued by the municipal urban unit, the main objective is to encourage all stakeholders to participate in the implementation of the urban renewal programme.

Luntu Bobo, the portfolio head, said MURP was targeting various groups and businesses, including those in the fields of sports, youth, arts and culture, social welfare, education and training, and international relations, and faith-based organisations.

“Each stakeholder should specify their core business to help us when filing and also offer the necessary support to MURP and its stakeholders.”

Bobo also encouraged stakeholders to fill in their contact details when completing the form. “It is important to have the contact details of each stakeholder in order for us to be able to invite them personally when we have stakeholders meetings and other events.”

The project also focuses on formalised or organised structures and organisations locally, provincially and nationally. According to a MURP notice, provincial and national stakeholders are invited to nominate two representatives to become members of the MURP Stakeholders’ Forum.

“These will act and represent the company or organisation to ensure that their interests are being considered,” he said.

There are already 185 local, 12 provincial and eight national stakeholders working with the MURP. “We expect stakeholders to come in numbers to boost what we already have.”

Established in 2001, the urban renewal programme is a government initiative aimed at speeding up service delivery and improving the lives of people living in townships.

Bobo said that through the programme, people’s needs had been identified - from poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment to the eradication of crime.

The stakeholder information form was easy to complete, but those who needed assistance should contact the MURP office on 043 708 4500 or email zandiles@buffalocity.gov.za.

Forms are available online, at the MURP offices in Mdantsane, and at the municipality's Customer Care Centre, Trust Centre Building, Ground Floor, on the corner of Oxford and North streets, East London.

The completed forms should be submitted to the MURP offices, or to the customer care centre, or by email by Friday, 16 January.