The Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mr. Parks Tau, today launched the reimagined Community Work Programme (CWP), focused on forging Smart Partnerships to maximize impact.

This West Rand District leg of the launch is convened under the theme “Mobilizing Public and Private Sector Smart Partnerships for an Impactful CWP toward Artisan and Enterprise Development.”

Joining the Deputy Minister is the Executive Mayor of the West Rand District, Cllr Thabiso Bovungana, the Executive Mayor of Mogale City Local Municipality, Cllr Danny Thupane,  Deputy Chairperson of SALGA Gauteng, Ald. Tundzi-Hawu, and the Deputy Mayor of Merafong Local Municipality, Cllr Sello Mogomotsi, as well as Deputy Mayor of Rand West, Cllr Nontombi Dyase.

The CWP programme of the Department of Cooperative Governance has been strategically reimagined to ensure collaborative partnerships between government, businesses, and civil society, ensuring impactful and transformative development outcomes.

The key drivers of the reinvigorated CWP, are smart partnerships that optimise reach and impact through imparting relevant technical skills and undertaking useful work to enhance service delivery. Additionally, the programme is targeting a cohort of youth, women, and persons with disabilities with the aim of empowering them for employability and viable entrepreneurship enterprises.

The launch gives practical expression to an all-of-government and society approach as envisioned by the District Development Model (DDM). The Smart Partnerships initiative recognizes the mutual benefits that accrue from social compacting between public and private sectors to address unemployment and deliver efficient services to citizens.

Deputy Minister Tau highlighted that CWP is an entry point to better opportunities because it facilitates training and placement for employability as well as self-sufficiency.

In keeping with the ethos of a participatory democracy, participants raised questions pertaining to stipend increases, training programme for participants without matric, and possible avenues of partnerships.