Gauteng on alignment of government spheres

1 June 2006

An assembly of local government councillors was held today, Thursday, 1 June
2006 to address issues relating to local government and discuss the alignment
of metro and local councils with the provincial government.

The meeting was held in Midrand and was attended by Gauteng Premier Mbhazima
Shilowa, MEC for Local Government Qedani Mahlangu, the MEC for Sport, Arts,
Culture and Recreation Barbara Creecy, the MEC for Public Transport, Roads and
Works Ignatius Jacobs, mayors, councillors and local government stakeholders in
the province.

The assembly was held under the theme “Empowering our councillors for better
service and a better life for all” and hosted by the Gauteng department of
Local Government.

In delivering the keynote address, Shilowa said all spheres of government
had a responsibility to be responsive to the electorate.

“Government, in all its spheres, has to respond to the issues of
communities’ failure to do so will tarnish the reputation and image of
government,” said Shilowa.

Shilowa also said that safety and security must be an integrated strategy in
the province, that the provincial government should work towards establishing a
single transport authority and that positive regional branding is important in
establishing the province as a global city region.

Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor, Duma Nkosi, opened the meeting by saying that
the metros, local municipalities and local government acknowledges that there
are problems but that is not insurmountable.

“We all need to be in tandem with what the demands are and the challenges we
are facing. We need to do an assessment of how to reach our targets. We cannot
continue if we are not all aligned and speak with one voice,” said Nkosi.

Mahlangu said the province had achieved a lot in terms of sustained progress
in establishing new institutions of local government. She said that from the 51
municipal structures in Gauteng 15 new authorities have been created.

“We have made great strides in achieving infrastructure growth and
extension. We are also improving service delivery to poor communities,” said
Mahlangu.

Mahlangu said some of the challenges hampering service delivery were
increasing debt in municipalities, the increase of in migration from other
provinces, the slow pace of infrastructure roll out, vacant posts in local
government and deficiencies in technical and professional skills.

Jacobs spoke about the growth and development strategy and said that local
government needed to provide strategic support in order for the province to
achieve its growth targets.

“Structures like e-governance and multi purpose community centres are in
place to provide channels between the public and government into political
communication. That way we can mainstream transversal issues and communicate on
them,” said Jacobs.

He also emphasised the importance of supporting the transport system in the
province and said it was an integral part of the economy.

“Transport moves the province. When transport moves, the economy grows,”
Jacobs said.

Creecy made a presentation on the objectives of the social development
cluster and said there is an increasing overlap between social and economic
development.

“Improving the quality of life is dependant on the twin dimensions of
economic performance. We aim to reduce disparities, inequalities and social
exclusion in communities,” said Creecy.

She said that more community involvement would solve most of the service
delivery problems in the province.

“Communities are not passive recipients of services. They are active
participants in development and they should take ownership of their
communities. We need to involve communities to achieve growth and development
and helping them secure their own futures,” she said.

For enquiries:
Vivienne Rowland
Deputy Director: News and Media Liaison
Tel: (011) 355 6414
Fax: (011) 355 6245
Cell: 083 395 1239
E-mail: vivienner@gpg.gov.za

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
1 June 2006