Mid Term Report - Gauteng Online

• Social crime prevention to prevent and addressthe causes of crime and violence, particularlyagainst women and children.• Youth development to increase the opportunitiesfor young people to participate in the economyand realize their potential, including throughenabling participation in sport, art and culture.• Women’s empowerment through all governmentprogrammes to remove remaining barriersto equal participation in the economy andsociety, strengthening the human rights agendafor women and instilling values of compassion,dignity and responsible sex amongst men andwomen. An annual Gauteng Women’s Dialoguewill plan and evaluate progress together withwomen in civil society.• Using arts and culture, sport and recreationprogrammes to strengthen nation building andsocial cohesion.• Sports development as an important programme,not only to promote healthy and active lifestyles,but also nation building and youth development.• Promoting public participation and accountability,including through our Izimbizo, Lets Talkcampaign and public hearings, and strengtheningthe role of the Legislature in this regard.• Consolidating democratic participation in allforms of governance through strengthening theparticipation of our people in forums such asward committees, School Governing Bodies andCommunity Policing Forums.• Promoting responsible citizenship, includingthrough:– Promoting awareness of our national andprovincial symbols– Deepening a sense of civic responsibilityand pride, such as paying for services andtaking responsibility for the maintenance ofinfrastructure– Exercising democratic rights.• Safeguarding our human rights culture.• Actively listen to and consult our people on keyprogrammes and policies of government, and• Lead by setting the example.ProgressPublic participationand accountabilityThe provincial government has enjoyed a healthy relationshipwith the Gauteng legislature as the electedrepresentatives of the people and accounts to thelegislature, including through its standing committees,on a regular basis on plans and delivery.Stakeholder engagement and consultation in policymakingand planning has been significantly expandedsince 2004. Civil society sectors have beenconsulted on a range of key strategies and directlyinvolved in consultative bodies.Public participation and accountability has alsobeen significantly advanced through the GautengIzimbizo where the Premier, Members of the ExecutiveCouncil and mayors have engaged directly withGauteng residents on issues affecting them in theircommunities. Over 100 Gauteng Izimbizo acrossthe province, including women’s imbizo, have beenheld since 2004. This has given over 150 000people an opportunity to hold government to accountand influence government’s delivery programme toimprove their lives.The African Peer Review Mechanism process inGauteng in 2005 and early 2006 was anothermilestone in democratic participation in the province.Civil society stakeholders, including labour, women,business, faith-based organisations, people withdisabilities, youth, NGOs and civics, joined gov-Deepening democracy, nation building and realizingthe constitutional rights of all our people also requiresus as government to incorporate these priorities in allour programmes and actions. We will thus in all ourprogrammes:• Mainstream issues of youth, women, children,the elderly and people with disabilities• Work in partnership with other people andorganizations in the private sector and communitiesto collectively contribute to our nation buildingand social agenda• Involve our people in improving their lives andthose of their communities through, for example,promoting social activism, volunteerism and enablingcitizens to monitor service delivery46 • Midterm Report - 2004/06