CHARL CILLIERS – MS Environmental Projects, Women Affected by Mining United in Action and OXFARM recently, held a farm community dialogue at the Charl Cilliers multi-purpose centre.
Community members were encouraged to participate in the municipal IDP programme and be part of the decisions making, specifically in all social labour plans and projects.
“All community members should participate in IDP drafts and implementation, especially women because all decisions that are taken may affect them directly or indirectly, and by doing so, their issues may be taken seriously.
“We encourage women to be empowered to lead in all areas of society. For instance, now we need locally produced renewable energy, ” said Ms said Francina Nkosi from Women Affected by Mining United in Action. “Communities must be skilled to generate electricity to reduce the challenge faced by the country,” she said.
According to these organisations, if the community can take part in all municipality programmes, then there will be community-owned projects and the community can be empowered.
They said the community should take part in tender processes to make sure that all processes are run free and fair and not left up to only municipal officials who must take decisions.
These organisations promised to facilitate trainings for the locals to capacitate them with skills and understanding on how spheres of government work.
