War-rooms Functionality Monitoring Reveal Unresolved Challenges In Most Wards

09 November 2022
Embargo: For Immediate Release
Attention: News/Assignment Editors, Political Reporters, Reporters

WAR-ROOMS FUNCTIONALITY MONITORING REVEAL UNRESOLVED CHALLENGES IN MOST WARDS

Members of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature this week (8-9 November) were deployed throughout the province to assess the functioning of War-Rooms which were established to facilitate a well-co-ordinated, collaborative and inclusive service delivery to communities.

This is part of the legislature’s mandate to ensure that service delivery indeed takes part in our province.

The legislature adopted the War Rooms Functionality Programme in 2018 as part of its constitutional mandate to exercise oversight over the executive arm of government.
Whilst a lot of good work was observed in a number of War-Rooms throughout the province Honourable Members also noted a number of challenges including the following:
• Lack of infrastructure such as office space, computers and other tools to support War- Rooms to function optimally.
• Lack of co-operation from a number of government departments who are almost always unavailable to attend War-Room meetings and report or listen to issues affecting communities in that specific ward.

• A need to improve working relationship between War-Rooms and institutions of traditional leadership especially in rural areas to tackle developmental issues and criminality including gender based violence.
The fact that almost all wards have War-Rooms was noted as a positive development from which the province needs to build on strengthen the work of War-Rooms.
Eleven teams were deployed in all districts and Ethekwini Metro to assess the work of the War-Rooms and each team visited about six war rooms in each district.
All spheres of government, national, provincial and local, as well as civil society players participate in war rooms to deal with issues affecting communities that need government intervention.
Ends

Issued by KZN Legislature Communications Unit

For more information please contact Wonder Hlongwa at 0829083532