Who is involved in the Bekkersdal Renewal Project?
The Bekkersdal Renewal Project is a partnership of various stakeholders:
- the Bekkersdal community,
- the Bekkersdal Development Forum,
- the Westonaria Municipality,
- the Westrand District Municipality,
- the Gauteng Department of Housing,
- other provincial and national government departments, and
- private sector businesses.
The Gauteng Department of Housing is leading the project, representing the provincial government. The department, however, manages this project jointly with the Westonaria Local Municipality and the Westrand District Municipality.
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| Bekkersdal community |
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The Bekkersdal Renewal Project touches on other areas outside housing, as a result the input of the following departments, which are important stakeholders in the Bekkersdal Renewal Project:
- Department of Roads and Public Works
- Department of Education
- Department of Health
- Department of Sports and Recreation
- Department of Agriculture and Environment
- Land Affairs, and others
The main customer for this project is the community of Bekkersdal. The project therefore takes into consideration the broader participation of the Bekkersdal Community in delivering this project.
Community Structures (Roles and Responsibilities)
The Role of the Bekkersdal Development Forum (BDF)
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To monitor implementation and progress of the project
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Represent the community with regard to the projects, relaying information to project coordinators and community structures
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To encourage public buy-in and participation
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Resolving disputes between the community and projects, through the affiliates of BDF e.g. Ward Councillors
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Maintain good relationships with councillors and all other stakeholders
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To schedule regular sectoral meetings in consultation with councillors
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To champion BRP communications, public participation and project buy-in within greater Westonaria
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To represent the interest of organised CBD’s through continued public participation
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To become the face of the project within Bekkersdal by becoming eyes and ears of the BRP
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To ensure incorporated community based needs and proposed projects into strategic goals that addresses the plight of the Bekkersdal Community
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To ensure that local people are given priority to benefit from the project wither through job creation or SMME development
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To ensure that the projects being implemented are representative of community needs
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To ensure that projects being implemented achieve the core objectives of the BRP, i.e poverty alleviation, job creation, socio-economic upliftment, community development and empowerment as well as SMME development
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To ensure conflict management within the BRP
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To ensure improved stakeholder relations
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The Role of the Community Liaison Officers (CLO's)
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Provide assistance in the community events and general activities
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Assist in the collection and distribution of information to the community and ensure effective communication to communities and community structures
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Assist by accompanying visitors to the area as required
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Disseminate information to ward councillors
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Provide support and perform liaison between contractors and the community
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Facilitate active participation and cooperation by the community and its structures (mobilization)
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Liaise between the BRP project and the community
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Review ongoing challenges and submit improvement proposals to the project implementation team
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The Role of the Community Development Workers (CDW's)
- To forge stronger relationships with the communities they serve, by means of one on one interaction
- Support councillors in public meetings
- Assist in information dissemination to the community, on a one on one action
- Assist the ward councillors in forging relationships and in the dissemination of information through public meetings
- To link communities with available government services and programmes
- To assist citizens by helping them to access services such as health, welfare, housing, agriculture, economic activity, education and training, and employment opportunities
- To ensure the integration of poverty eradication and job creation as well as capacity building for self sufficiency
- Promote democracy at the grass roots
- Social and economic integration of the community in the mainstream
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The Role of the Ward Councillors and Ward Committees
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To inform the community about the projects and the progress through public meetings
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To forge a stronger relationship with the communities they serve, through public meetings
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To ensure involvement of the municipality
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Ensure alignment of ward based IDP's
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Relationship building of all stakeholders, as a support function
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Support integrated programmes, support roll out in inter sectoral programmes
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Enhance participatory democracy at the grassroots levels
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Ensure that there is consistent information flow about the project to facilitate timorous council resolution on pertinent project decisions
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To ensure that the projects being implemented address the needs of the community of Bekkersdal;
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To participate effectively in the BDF meetings as ex-officio members
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To coordinate public participation between the BDF, CLOs, CDWs and Ward Committees through the Westonaria Speakers’ office
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To ensure monthly progress reporting regarding BRP public participation to the Speaker’s office
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To provide democratic and accountable governance for local communities
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To encourage the involvement of the Bekkersdal community organizations in the matters related to the BRP and broader local government issues
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To ensure overall participation, empowerment and capacitation of the local community in the BRP
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To ensure that the BRP achieves its core objectives of poverty alleviation, job creation, socio-economic upliftment, skills transfer, community development and empowerment as well as SMME development
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To ensure that there is community engagement and buy-in on the BRP and its core objectives mainly on the relocation of Bekkersdal informal to a new town
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To ensure that there is timeous conflict resolution on the BRP
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To ensure that BRP concerns raised from the grassroots are communicated to the relevant stakeholders and are addressed on time
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The Role of the Department of Housing
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Implementing agent
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Provide overall project strategic direction
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Identify, prioritise, approve and project manage implementation of identified projects
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To ensure that the project achieves its core objectives of poverty alleviation, job creation, economic upliftment, community development and empowerment; and SMME development
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To ensure implementation of projects within given timeframes, quality standards, policy frameworks and budget allocations
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To monitor, evaluate and report on project progress to all stakeholders
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To manage professional teams and contractor
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To manage all procurement aspects of the project in line with the PFMA and PPPFA
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To manage resources allocation for the effective and efficient delivery of the project
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To ensure that there is effective skills transfer to the local community beyond the BRP
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To ensure that there is effective communication and active participation in the BRP by all stakeholders
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The Role of the Westonaria Local Municipality
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Project custodian
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To provide an enabling environment both administratively and politically to ensure service delivery
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To ensure that the operational and capital budgets are supportive of the projects being implemented
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To ensure that timeous council resolutions are made in support of the BRP programmes and their sustainability
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To become the champions of the BRP public participation
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To become an anchor for cooperative governance and accountability for all stakeholders
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To provide technical capacity to ensure compliance of projects with legislated policy framewor
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To provide capacity to ensure that implemented projects are maintained and rehabilitated
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To monitor implementation of projects against given timeframes, quality standards and cost implications
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Business Partners
The BRP Professional Resource Team (PRT):
Powerhouse Consortium (Pty) Ltd is the professional resource team for the Bekkersdal Renewal Project, contracted by the Gauteng Department of Housing. Powerhouse Consortium is responsible for all project and programme management activities. This includes managing all the professional service providers before, during and after construction in the Bekkersdal Renewal Project, such as Engineers, Surveyors, and Urban designer and Town planners.
Contact:
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