Local government is the sphere closest to the people and this is where basic services should delivered. The existence of local government has always been important as is a crucial aspect of the process of democratization and intensification of mass participation in the decision-making process.
The South African government has clear policies that guides work at that sphere. This policies are crafted with communities as the main beneficiaries of the much needed services from government. It is within this context that municipalities and councillors should always be sensitive and responsive to community needs.
Following the local government elections in held on the 03 August 2016, the Municipality experienced a number of political challenges. The council has failed to convene meetings and take care of the business of the Municipality to govern and deliver services to communities of Mogale City. The contestation around who must convene council meetings between the DA Mayor and an ANC Speaker, regardless section 29 of the Municipal Structures Act which provide for the Speaker to convene council meeting has seemingly paralysed the Municipality.
Management of financial affairs of a municipality, including the determination of priorities, planning of the Medium-term Revenue and Expenditure Framework and monitoring of the budget is driven by specific legislation. The Municipal System Act addresses the role of local government in society and the planning processes such as Integrated Development Plan (IDP) that supersedes the budgeting process.
To this effect, the challenges experienced in Mogale City Local Municipality characterised by the failure of council to perform and carry out its executive obligations, are an assault on the poor who expect the delivery of services facilitated by their elected representatives. The failure of this Municipality to approve its budget as stipulated by the legislation, also poses serious challenges to meeting government’s commitment to deliver on its obligations to ensure and efficient and effective local government in line with the National Development Plan (NDP) and other key plans.
Minister van Rooyen emphasised that all municipalities have the legislative responsibility to develop and implement an Integrated Development Plan (IDP). This process of developing the IDP should include a number of stakeholders, especially communities. This IDP are used to plan for future development in their areas. Therefore, the absence or failure of Mogale City Municipality to have in place an approved IDP is a self-indictment. The Minister indicated that failure to develop IDP means that service delivery might be compromised and the lives of communities will not be changed.
Our laws have made provision that in such cases where a Municipality is unable to discharge its legislative responsibilities, relevant sections of the Municipal Structures Act can be invoked. Section 139 of the Municipal Structures Act provides that the Provincial Government through the MEC of CoGTA can intervene in the Municipality. The MEC of CoGTA can also in terms of section 139 (a) direct municipality to comply with managing and conducting its business.
Minister van Rooyen said that Local government must play a "developmental role” as directed by our constitution. It states that government must take reasonable steps, within available resources, to ensure that all South Africans have access to adequate housing, health care, education, food, water and social security. It is within this effect that Minister lamented the challenges in Mogale City as they will compromise the quality of service delivery to communities.
Ours is a developmental local government and this means that local government should be committed to working with citizens and groups within the community to find sustainable ways to meet their social, economic and material needs and improve the quality of their lives. Service delivery at local government should target especially those members and groups within communities that are most often marginalised or excluded, such as women, disabled people and very poor people.
“It is now time for the leadership of the Municipality to put the needs of communities first and ensure the speedy resolution of all disputes. Municipalities can only be able to meet the objectives it sets itself to deliver services to communities driven through clear plans, programmes and budgets.
In as much our democratic constitution allows for processes to choose and remove mayors, Minister van Rooyen urged the councillors who are also public representatives to have at heart the will and wishes of communities they serve. We cannot allow communities to suffer due to lack of service delivery as a result of infighting and disagreements by councillors. ”We call on all leaders in that Municipality to act now to avoid the catastrophic results from the lack of service delivery, especially the poor”, concluded Minister.
Enquiries:
Legadima Leso
Cell: 0833789495
