5 December 2007
Municipalities from all nine provinces of the country gathered at Gallagher
Estate in Midrand to hear who had come tops in the provision of services in
improving the lives of South Africans.
The awards were in recognition of the excellent work done by municipalities
in areas such as provision of water, electricity, and financial management. The
number of households with access to water has increased from 59% in 1994 to 88%
in 2007. In 2004, only 30% had access to electricity and households with access
are standing at 59% for heating, 67% for cooking and 80% for lighting. This
information was confirmed by the Statistics South Africa 2007 Community Survey.
"We note with a deep sense of appreciation, the findings of the Community
Survey as they communicate a message that untiring industry, sound sense and
unswerving fidelity are important qualities whose display is bound to bring
success," said Minister for Provincial and Local Government Sydney
Mufamadi.
The Vuna Awards recognised municipalities in different categories. The City
of Johannesburg took the top prize in the Metropolitan Municipality Category.
The runners up were Ethekwini and City of Cape Town respectively. In the
category of Local Municipalities, Swartland Local Municipality in the Western
Cape scooped the award, followed by Steve Tshwete from Mpumalanga and Umngeni
from KwaZulu-Natal. In the district category, Bophirima District Municipality
from the North West occupied the top position. The runners up, West Rand and
Ugu Districts were tied on second position.
"In addition to all this, we set out to eradicate the abominable system of
bucket sanitation in formal settlements by the end of December 2007."
A lot of progress has been recorded in the local government sphere during this
financial year as a result of proper planning and spending. By July 2007, all
municipalities had adopted Integrated Development Plans (IDPs). "We undertook a
credibility analysis which shows that 79% of all municipalities have IDPs whose
credibility is rated as either medium or high," said Minister Mufamadi.
Under the Five Key Performance (KPA) Awards, Nelson Mandela Metro took the
Service Delivery and Infrastructure award and tied with Ethekwini on the Local
Economic Development award. Ethekwini also took the financial viability award
while the City of Johannesburg took Institutional Development and Municipal
Transformation award as well as Good Governance and Public Participation.
Other winners were Umngeni Local Municipality from KwaZulu-Natal, Maruleng
from Mpumalanga, Overstrand from the Western Cape and Emalahleni from
Mpumalanga. West Rand dominated the District Municipality category in the KPA
awards as it went home with the LED and Institutional Development and Municipal
Transformation awards. Bophirima from North West and Sedibeng in Gauteng tied
on the Service Delivery KPA. The Good Governance and Public Participation also
went to Bophirima while Nkangala and West Rand District Municipalities took the
LED and Financial Viability respectively.
A total of 141 municipalities entered this year's competition following a
successful provincial Vuna Awards process. Also recognised in this year's
awards was Steve Tshwete Local Municipality for being the most improved Project
Consolidate Municipality. Three national departments were recognised for their
continued and exemplary support to local government. These are the Department
of Water Affairs and Forestry, Department of Minerals and Energy as well as the
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
"The accomplishment of, and the due recognition we give to the
municipalities, as well as to the best helpful provincial and national
government departments represent our attempt to show, in the most enduring way
possible, that we have no intention to lose our developmental sensibilities,"
said the Minister.
"We are determined to stay on course on the road to a better and worthy
future," he concluded.
Issued by: Department of Provincial and Local Government
5 December 2007
Source: Department of Provincial and Local Government (http://www.dplg.gov.za)
