City begins its review on policies in Rabie Ridge

MMC for Health and Social Development, Eunice Mgcina kicked off the first public participation meeting at the Rabie Ridge Community Hall.

The meeting on 20 November allowed the City to engage with community members and stakeholders on various draft policies.

The public participation process focused on issues in the community relating to gender, youth, disability, the expanded social package and substance abuse. “The youth draft policy identifies that youth development is a transversal programme which cuts across every department and entity in the City and it identifies several programmes to support this transversal approach,” she said.

These include job creation, poverty alleviation, skills development, health and environment, and youth moral regeneration programmes.

“The gender draft policy unified gender issues which were now elevated and required action therefore the policy review is non-negotiable. Previously, the policy focused on women’s development, whereas the current draft policy focuses on gender, including issues for both men and women.”

Mgcina added that the draft policy on people with a disability focused on the removal of discriminatory barriers through disability-specific measures that perpetuated the segregation of persons with disabilities.

She said the Expanded Social Package draft policy identified that Joburg continued to be characterised by a high poverty rate which was above 25 per cent. “The city’s poor and marginalised residents are most vulnerable to social, economic, and physical challenges, but at the same time they are most likely to experience challenges to access the support they need.

“The substance abuse draft policy engages in improved quality of life for people living in and around the city and it also engages in efficient and effective substance abuse prevention and early intervention programmes in the community.”

She urged residents and stakeholders, individuals, NGOs, and the private and business sector to familiarise themselves and engage with the draft policies as the responsibility of policy formulation was a joint effort between the City, the public and business.

“I cannot over-emphasise that this is a crucial process for all stakeholders which requires their full participation as it assures their importance in the decision-making about the future of the city.”