East London — - The Eastern Cape Department of Social Development launched a multi million rand state of the art "Thetha noRhulumente wakho" communication campaign on Friday.

These multimedia facilities were launched in five districts of the province including Aliwal North, Queenstown, Umtata, Port Elizabeth and Mt Ayliff to enhance customer care and efficient service delivery.

The move is in line with government's determination to ensure people have access to information as that would help promote participatory democracy.

MEC for Social Development Neo Moerane-Mamase said during the launch that the five regional facilities would allow communities to have "face to face" interaction with her and senior management on issues relating to service delivery.

"This programme is bridging the gap through information sharing with special emphasis on customer relations, Batho Pele and quality assurance. We are bringing the government to the people and also restoring lost dignity our people suffered through negligence by some of our officials," she said.

"As we celebrate Ten Years of Democracy and International Year of Families, it is important that we give a meaning to the objective of social contract.

"Our biggest challenge we are facing now is to engage the private sector towards building Internet café's to empower young people with necessary skills and information especially in rural areas," she said.

He said the department had been mandated to join hands with stakeholders to ensure the realisation of the objective of improving the lives of people