The City of Cape and the Provincial Government have renewed the Protocol Agreement which allows the City to undertake a range of programmes and initiatives in support of its commitment to being a Caring City, which follows the functions of local government as listed in the Constitution.
The agreement was initially entered into between the City’s Social and Early Childhood Development Directorate and the Provincial Department of Social Development whilst Mayor De Lille was still the Provincial MEC for Social Development. It was therefore fitting that Mayor De Lille signed the agreement with MEC Albert Fritz in her new role as City of Cape Town Mayor.
The agreement allows the City the ability to undertake some of the work ascribed to the Provincial Department of Social Development, especially in areas where local government is better placed to do so. Under such circumstances, the City would normally deliver these development interventions at its own cost and with its own resources.
This agreement gives the City the opportunity to increase its capacity and its ability to focus on the following priority areas of intervention:
- Street people
- Substance abuse
- Youth development
- Poverty alleviation
- Disability
- Gender
- Early Childhood Development
- Social crime prevention
“I am elated that we were able to renew this agreement which allows us to move forward in our quest to be a Caring City. It is especially helpful in terms of Early Childhood Development and Social Entrepreneurship programmes,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Social and Early Childhood Development, Councillor Beverley Cortje-Alcock yesterday.
The City’s Social and Early Childhood Development Directorate has a number of targeted programmes planned for implementation, with measurable outcomes.
“We are aware of the challenges that we face at this level of social development, but we are determined to work in a co-operative way with the Provincial Government. This not only allows us to work more efficiently, but to avoid the possibility of duplication,” said Councillor Cortje-Alcock.
The co-operation agreement allows for the exchange and cross-referencing of data, which in turn means that resources are allocated where they are needed most.
