Communities across the province will now be kept constantly abreast of the progress in project implementation in their areas in order to eliminate disinformation, including public protests.
The Department of Transport is looking to boost its link with communities to ensure communities are briefed about progress.
MEC for Transport Sboniso Duma made the announcement as he tabled the department's budget on Thursday.
Duma said, “As part of reclaiming the strategic location of transport in communities, we are reviving community structures that will link the department and the communities. This will bridge the gap and eliminate disinformation, including public protests.
“Reviving these structures will ensure that the department continuously consults citizens when planning and implementing projects, leading to more inclusive and effective outcomes,” he said.
He said the community structures such as the Rural Road Transport Forums (RRTF), Community Road Safety Councils (CRSC) and Public Transport Passenger Association (PTPA) were disbanded in 2017 in favour of Transportation Committees.
However, the Transportation Committees could not thrive and be as impactful as the previous structures because the department did not have control of the structure since it was composed of ward committee members.
Duma said the department will now re-establish the Rural Road Transport Forums and recruit over 600 people from local, district and provincial levels who will be community representatives as members of this community participation programme for five years.
“This change will not only bring back a more effective system of public participation but also provide more opportunities for citizens to be involved in the decision-making process. These community representatives, crucial to our mission, will act as a vital link between the department and the communities they represent.
“They will provide their communities with regular reports on departmental projects, ensuring transparency and fostering a sense of shared responsibility. They will also assist in linking up with the District Development Model (DDM) and other structures of government. Over R113 million will be spent in resuscitating these structures,” he said.
The Mercury