MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A collaborative approach is needed to tackle social issues such as homelessness, the abuse of alcohol and drugs and the proliferation of crime that is a result of unemployment, says George councillor Sean Snyman, the Portfolio Councillor for Community and Social Development Services.
Councillor Snyman's call for an intercultural sports festival was met with enthusiasm.
The Eden District Council will champion a collaborative forum of all stakeholders, also the private sector, to jointly tackle social ills. Eden municipal manager Monde Stratu committed the services of Lusanda Menze to convene the forum.
This stems from a lively debate during the Eden District Municipality's (EDM) Representative Forum on Integrated Development Planning, Budgeting and Performance Management. Councillor Snyman argued that a greater and concerted effort was needed across all spheres of government if any success in dealing with problems was to be expected.
He reminded local authorities of their legislative responsibility to make their towns more accessible to people with disabilities.
Eden District Municipality municipal manager Monde Stratu committed the services of Lusanda Menze to convene the collaborative forum on social development. Photos: Nickey le Roux
"To make a difference, we need to take hands."
Councillor Snyman also called for parents to be more involved with their children to prevent children from roaming the streets and becoming unsuspected victims of crime.
He said society owed it to young people to jointly come up with workable programmes that would effectively deal with unemployment, petty crime, substance abuse and the resultant effects of crime.
The EDM executive mayor, Councillor Memory Booysen, supported the proposal and called on all stakeholders to avail themselves for such an initiative.
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