Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
(1) (a) Which sphere of the government is responsible for the employment of community development workers and (b) what is the job description, as well as the criteria, included in the performance agreement of community development workers;
(2) whether their employer is responsible for the supervision and all the administrative costs (such as office space and travel cost) related to their employment; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether community development workers are assisted with a formal induction process and an accredited training programme on the assumption of their positions; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) where can the contents of this process and programme be accessed?
6.1 (a) The Provincial sphere of Government is responsible for the Community Development Worker (CDW) Programme.
(b) The purpose of a CDW is to assist communities with access to services provided by Government and to assist communities to identify and communicate their needs-across the three spheres of Government. CDWs have the following key responsibilities:
To inform and assist communities with access to services provided by government
To determine the needs of communities and communicate these needs to the relevant government structures
To promote networks and enhance the activities of existing local community workers aimed at improved service delivery
To keep up to date with regard to all services rendered by government and processes to access these services
The responsibilities stated above, are captured in the Performance Agreements of CDWs and also aligned with the departmental Annual Performance Plan targets.
6.2 CDW Supervisors, appointed by the Department of Local Government (DLG), are responsible for the supervision of CDWs. DLG is responsible for all the administrative costs associated with the operationalisation of the CDW Programme.
6.3 (a) CDWs are appointed in accordance to the Public Service Act - which prescribes that officials should undergo a formal induction. Newly appointed CDWs undergo a formal induction process, facilitated by the Department of the Premier.
(b) The contents of the formal induction programme may be obtained from the Department of the Premier.
