Led by the Chairperson, Honourable Refilwe Mogale, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s (GPL) Standing Committee on Petitions will convene a Provincial Petitions Week from the 19th – 23rd March. The Provincial Petitions Week is aimed at helping the Committee gain traction on the backlog as there is a significant number of petitions which are still ongoing. This is due to factors such non-compliance by relevant authorities, junior staff members being sent to hearings that they have no jurisdiction over, and authorities not always adhering to the recommendations of the Committee and committed timeframes.
The three day Petitions Week will ensure outstanding petitions are resolved as relevant senior Departmental authorities have been invited to implement the Committee’s recommendations. The Committee is hosting the Provincial Petitions Week, guided by the constitutional right of the people of Gauteng to petition on issues related to the work of the Gauteng Provincial Government and Gauteng municipalities, and are thus entitled to a platform to raise their concerns and have them addressed by relevant structures. The right to petition is given and protected in sections 17, 115, 118, and 195 of the country’s Constitution, and the Gauteng Petitions Act (no. 5 of 2002).
A total of twenty-four petitions will be dealt with over the three days, with the relevant petitioners in attendance to form part of the discussions and receive tangible feedback on their grievances. Petitions form part of one of the most effective and peaceful means of resolving community concerns, grievances and requests without resorting to violent demonstrations. Community members are encouraged to submit petitions/grievances/complaints to the Legislature.
The Provincial Petitions Week is scheduled to take place as follows:
For more information, kindly contact:
Mr Mbulaheni Likhade Tel: (011) 498 5952 Cell: 072 630 0607 email: MLikhade@gpl.gov.za
Ms Jabulisile Shabalala Tel: (011) 498 5407 Cell: 082 606 4103 email: JShabalala@gpl.gov.za
