Cape Town: The City and Province renewed its partnership to strengthen community services. Vulnerable communities will receive benefit from two renewed agreements signed this week between the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government, which aims to strengthen collaboration on key community programmes.
Reportedly, these agreements set out how the two spheres of government will work together more closely to share knowledge, resources and skills. The coordinated approach will help in ensuring that programmes rolled out to the community can be more effective and will reach more people.
Such Programmes benefit the agreements including arts, culture and heritage programmes, substance abuse and gender initiatives, youth development, early childhood development, support for people sleeping rough on the streets, and recreation programmes for children and youth.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham said that the programmes target some of the most vulnerable areas in the communities. While the City continues to do everything what is possible. They are also keen to extend their reach.
Higham highlighted that several residents rely on these programmes for support opportunities and safe spaces. By working more closely with the province they can strengthen the services that matter most and ensured that more people can participate in the programmes that affect their lives.
Considering this, Minister of the Department of Social Development, Western Cape Government – Jaco Londt said that one of the biggest partners in the province is the City of Cape Town and they have built an incredible relationship with them. They have got so many challenges that they need to face head on together, i.e. the whole of society, whole of government approach.
Londt thanked the City for being that incredible partner and he is looking forward to build on the relationship they have got and going from strength to strength.
“Everybody out there: the NGOs, the private sector thank you for holding our hands in making sure that in this social welfare space, we can provide the safety net to those in need,” said Minister Jaco Londt.
Minister of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport – Ricardo Mackenzie said that they are very fortunate to work with the City of Cape Town in the field of arts, culture, sports, events and facilities. They are signing a protocol agreement to improve and strengthen that working relationship through co-creation and co-funding.
Such agreements have been in place for several years and is renewed every three years. This cooperation will help in sharing knowledge, resources, and skills so that programmes rolled out to the community can be more effective and reach more people.