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Speak to government online

Paul Vecchiatto
By Paul Vecchiatto, ITWeb Cape Town correspondent
Cape Town, 24 Jun 2004

South Africans will be able to communicate directly with government through the Gateway Portal from next month, President Thabo Mbeki said in Parliament yesterday.

Speaking in the National Assembly during the Presidency`s budget vote, he said the public would soon be able to use the Batho Pele portal to follow the implementation of government`s programme of action.

Government first introduced Batho Pele in 1997 as an initiative to improve delivery in the public service based on the principle of putting the people`s interests first.

Mbeki said it would also be possible for the public to communicate its views about the programme directly to the government, through the Internet and other, more traditional ways.

"This obviously entails an undertaking on our part as government that we will do everything possible to respond to this honest feedback from the people," he said.

The government`s portal will also provide streamlined services online, including services being provided through public information terminals in Post Offices and Multi-Purpose Community Centres (MPCCs).

MPCCs are government`s one-stop service centres, offering basic services such as welfare, tele-centres, labour, agriculture and government information to residents.

"The Presidency has provided all our national ministries and departments with a copy of the tasks they have to carry out," Mbeki said.

The tasks, mentioned during the State of the Nation address in May, come with a clear indication of the timeframes within which they have to be completed.

Mbeki said it ought to be ensured that the Presidency had the capacity to monitor and evaluate implementation of the programme, saying any stumbling blocks should be identified early and addressed as soon as possible.

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