In line with the renaming of the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and putting more emphasis on co-operative governance, the MEC for the department, Norman Mokoena has outlined the need to establish a new unit that will focus solely on performance monitoring and support of municipalities. “This unit will be headed by a senior manager and will amongst other issues ensure the development and implementation of a performance and management system in municipalities, review their performance, oversight reports such as section 46 and annual reports. It will also develop support programmes, support the strengthening of skills and capacities in monitoring survey and evaluation and mobilise resources for interventions in municipalities. This unit will strengthen our ability to monitor and support municipalities,” said Mokoena
MEC Mokoena further emphasised that the renaming of the department means that we need to put a lot of emphasis on co-operative governance and therefore as the entry point to local government we must ensure that all the three spheres of government work together and there must be no working in silos. “We must make sure that where possible resources given to the different departments and municipalities are used collectively in communities to make sure that we make a bigger impact and dent on poverty and unemployment” said Mokoena.
MEC Mokeona has also outlined five “non negotiables” that the department would continuously monitor municipalities on and they would be expected to report back on frequently.
These are:
* Compliance with legislation, policies and programmes as frameworks for the creation of job opportunities
* No roll overs-there must be expeditious rolling out of plans
* There must be increased, continuous and regular engagement with the public through the public participation forums
* Promoting private public partnerships to enhance service delivery
* Provision of services in a sustainable manner.
Enquiries:
Simphiwe Kunene
Cell: 082 413 3931
Issued by: Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
22 June 2009
