20 May 2008

By Thabile Mange

THE West Rand District Municipality now has a newsletter that it will use to communicate with its residents.

Speaking at the official launch on 9 May, the district mayor, Faith Matshikiza focused on the power of knowledge and the consequences of ignorance. Quoting the Dalai Lama, she said: “Knowledge is the great liberator … All suffering is caused by ignorance.”

She was concerned that the media only reported on the negatives, and ignored the positives achieved by the government - a common sentiment among speakers on the evening. The newsletter, which is as yet unnamed, would give the district “an opportunity to communicate with our people”.

It was the mouthpiece of all municipalities on the West Rand and their people, Matshikiza stressed.

Thami Mogomane, from the provincial legislature, admitted that communication was one of the government’s concerns and, as a result, not many people were aware of what their local government was doing. The newsletter would help to resolve this challenge.

Mogomane encouraged people to learn about the roles of the district municipality and the Gauteng government, so that they would know what to do and where to go with their problems. He briefly explained that the provincial government played an oversight role and facilitated public participation.

Gauteng's local government deputy director of communications, Aaron Madadasane, had mixed emotions: he was elated and angry. He was excited about the launch of the newsletter, which showed that local municipalities took communication seriously.

Yet he was unimpressed that local governments received negative coverage in the media, saying that “municipalities are targets of disinformation”. This happened while the government was delivering.

Motivational speaker Makheni Motaona was the last speaker, and had only 30 minutes to motivate the audience - and she didn’t disappoint. Carrying a biscuit jar, she moved around the audience while speaking. Her message was, “Fill up your empty cookie jar.”

Motaona encouraged people to take full responsibility and to stop blaming the government for everything that went wrong in their lives. In her words, “You have a choice in life.”

She challenged the government to put money into positive communication, so that people on the ground could be well informed of its successes.

Refreshments and entertainment rounded off the evening, with gospel singer Deborah Fraser getting the audience dancing. Funny man Cebo Manyapelo, the long-serving Motsweding FM DJ, was the master of ceremonies on the night.

The newsletter is yet to be named, and the district wants the public to give their “mouthpiece” a name.