to support companies hard-hit by the economic crisis. Applications to the value of R1.1 billion were approved and; (iii) as part of a strategy to avoid retrenchment, private companies and trade unions were able to access government’s Training Layoff Scheme. The Scheme was jointly launched with the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in September 2009. The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and National Skills Fund committed R2.4 billion to the scheme. 5.2 Service Delivery Challenges Progress has been made in accelerating access to basic services for the poor. Government continues to build on initiatives such as Free Basic Services, the new Comprehensive Rural Development Plan, Municipal Infrastructure Grants and Local Economic Development Plans, to unblock service delivery. Yet, during the period under review, the country witnessed service delivery-related protests. A Government report on the state of Local Government identifies the causes of the protests as being varied and complex and places these into four broad categories: systemic, (such as maladministration, fraud, nepotism and corruption); structural (such as healthcare, unemployment, and land issues); governance (such as weak leadership, the erosion of public confidence in leadership and ineffective public participation); and opportunism (such as the pursuit of private gain at the expense of the common good ) In addressing these challenges several mechanisms have been put in place, these include : · Accelerated community outreach programme · Integrated public participation arrangements such as ward community systems, constituency office systems, Izimbizo, and street committees; and · Stakeholder participation and coordination mechanisms Government has also developed national key performance areas (KPAs) for local government, including the establishment of a Local Government War Room based at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). A new Integrated Development Plan Format Guide, aimed at providing guidance on how to structure and organize the IDP process has been developed. To this effect, government has further facilitated the training of 88 officials in the IDP Skills programme in Gauteng and Free State in October 2009. The initiation of programmes aimed at accelerating service delivery through the stimulation and development of local economies and infrastructure remains a priority for the government. Provincial governments have thus concentrated efforts in assisting municipalities with the implementation of Local Economic Development (LED) strategies and resolutions of growth and development summits that were held in municipalities. For instance, a partnership between the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture and the Chris Hani District Municipality has led to R2, 9 million being pumped into the construction of livestock marketing and handling facilities. Municipalities have also benefitted from the Nguni Programme where bulls and heifers have been given to farmers. 34