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Launch of the website
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Premier's Office

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MEDIA RELEASE,
 DAILY DISPATCH, 4 SEPTEMBER  1999


Govt website created to inform EC says Stofile

BISHO -- Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile yesterday committed his government to transparency, accountability and providing a fast, 
quality service by a courteous responsive staff to bridge the gap between intention and actual delivery to the people.

Speaking at the official launch of the Public Customer Service Charter and the government Public Communications Package (PCP) here 
yesterday, Stofile said PCP was part of the government's "deep-rooted commitment to transparency and accountability".

He said the package, which inclu-ded a provincial government website, was driven by the recognition of the fact that the government had an 
obligation to ensure an open flow of information on issues affecting the people.

"Our objective with the PCP is clear. We are empowering our people by ensuring they are better informed and as a result, they will be able 
to participate more actively in shaping the future of our province.

"It is a fundamental intervention into ensuring we consolidate demo-cracy in our province," he said.

This is a marked difference from the previous government which deliberately denied people access to information as part of their strategy 
of oppression.

"The present government is a government with a deep-rooted commitment to transparency and accountability.

"We do not embark on secret projects, we do not have 'slush funds' and we do not manipulate information to suit our own ends. Ours is a 
government which has entrenched in the Constitution the right of access to information, a right which will be substantiated later this year 
when our National Assembly adopts the Open Democracy Act," Stofile said.

The government facilitates free flow of information to the mass media.

It has appointed media liaison officers in each and every department and the provincial legislature to ensure the media, as the eyes and 
ears of the public, has access to all government activities.

"We do not always like what the media has to say and we may even question their motives at times.

''But we recognise their right to publish what they consider to be worthy of publication, provided they do so in accordance with the 
applicable code of ethics," he said.

It was unimaginable 10 years ago to have a website for the government to assist rural children to get information they need via the 
Internet to complete their school projects.

Stofile challenged people to use the PCP to build an understanding of the diverse strengths and weak- nesses of the province, sharing 
common problems and jointly finding solutions.

Regarding the Customer Service Charter, which was also launched at the function, Stofile said it contains a commitment to being courteous 
and helpful and to have knowledgeable staff available for public queries.

"This is not an empty commitment, or a public relations exercise. It marks a genuine commitment to being responsive to the public, to being 
service oriented and to putting the people first."

The Premier's Office new slogan: Spearheading Service Delivery was also unveiled at the ceremony.

By Eric Naki

Political Correspondent:  Daily Dispatch,4/09/99

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