Durban to establish online engagement platform for ward councillors and residents

THE eThekwini Municipality is planning on establishing an online platform where residents can communicate directly with their ward councillors.

A report of the Ward-Based Online Engagement Platforms was presented to Durban’s executive council for deliberation.

The report cites the Coronavirus pandemic as the main reason behind exploring new avenues for engagements between Durban councillors and their constituents.

With the country’s regulations on social distancing, travel and gathering restrictions, it has become difficult for some councillors to engage directly with residents in their respective wards, said the report.

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“It was advised that the online engagement platforms being recommended include, but is not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Instagram for direct and instant communication between Ward Councillors and Community members,” reads the report.

“Communities (need) to be informed and made aware of development in their wards; Communities (need) to be made aware of opportunities and municipal programmes, to enable them to better their lives and reach the youth and gainfully engage them.”

The motion was adopted despite councillors from the Democratic Alliance abstaining from the vote.

The DA stated they need to discuss the report within their party caucuses.

The city resolved to conduct a R100 000 pilot programme in a couple of selected wards and extend it to all 110 municipal wards later.

Councillors will be asked to identify unemployed youth in their wards who will undergo basic computer and online platform training for the rollout of the programme.

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At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.

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