Stakeholder Engagement and Education Workshop Strengthens Public Participation

A Stakeholder Engagement and Education Workshop was held today in Moses Mabida, Nqweba, bringing together key public participation practitioners from across the Sarah Baartman District.

The workshop, facilitated by the Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), was attended by Speakers, ward councillors and Community Development Workers from the district’s local municipalities. The engagement provided a platform for constructive dialogue on strengthening public participation and improving stakeholder management at local government level.

The purpose of the workshop was to promote a more coherent and activist model of public participation, encouraging meaningful community involvement in governance processes. Participants engaged on the importance of inclusive, responsive and community-driven approaches that empower residents to actively participate in decision-making.

The programme also included a presentation on the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that EC CoGTA intends to enter into with each local municipality. The MoU aims to enhance public participation frameworks, clarify roles and responsibilities, and strengthen collaboration between CoGTA and municipalities.

The workshop marked an important step towards reinforcing effective public participation mechanisms and fostering stronger partnerships between government and communities across the Sarah Baartman District.