The Ministry of Local Government and Housing has embarked on a Letsema Program during the this month of September. It will be an annual event, launched for the first time at Rietpoort on the 10th September 2004.

Objectives:

• A mobilising call for partnerships and action to meet the challenges of the second decade of freedom, building on the progress of the first decade. It will also bring further change within a social compact, based on a vision that harnesses the efforts of all sectors around common development objectives, which contributes to the principles of Batho Pele (People first).
• In the context of the Western Cape: "A Home for All", the emphasis is on getting down to work together. This letsema programme starts the process of further consolidating our democracy and will take the Western Cape onto a higher growth and development path.
• Intensifying integrated programs that target the poor.
• Fast tracking of housing delivery in the Province.

Strategic Outcomes:

• Linkages and continued strengthening of relationship between other governments departments, spheres and programmes.
• Strengthening relationship with Private Companies, Civil Society and other sectors.
• Creating a spotlight focus on service delivery of governments (all three tiers) in areas identified.
• Finding mechanisms of consolidating service delivery in getting maximum outcomes.
• Contributing to the call by the President of 'a new way of thinking and doing in the civil service' - a new type of civil servant.

Areas identified as pilots:

1. Rietpoort: 10 - 11 September 2004 (pictures)
2. Khayelitsha: 17 -18 September 2004 (pictures)
3. Worcester: 22, 23 September 2004 (pictures)

Target Groups and Stakeholders

• Municipalities
• Rural Communities
• Financial Sector
• Informal Settlements
• Special Needs
• Social Housing
• Construction Sector (NHBRC, SERVCON etc.)
• Peoples Housing Processes (PHP's)
• Non Governmental Organisations (NGO's)
• GCIS (Government Communications and Information Systems)
• Other Departments and Government Programmes ( ISRDP, URP, National Skills Development Programme, Extended Public Works Programme, Consumer Education, Capacity Building etc.)
• Sports and Cultural Sector ("Building a harmonious Society") - [National Rugby Squad, Western Province Cricket etc.]