The North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Paul Sebegoe, has urged ward councillors in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District to take full advantage of the Councillor Induction Programme (CIP) which is intended to provide councillors with an in-depth understanding of the local government environment and applicable legislation which will enable them to fulfill their developmental mandate as legislated.
Speaking at the district’s launch of the CIP in Mafikeng recently, MEC Sebegoe said this programme (CIP) will enable councillors to reconcile their mandate within the context of governance.
MEC Sebegoe urged ward councillors to familiarise themselves with critical municipal documents such as the Auditor General’s report. This, he said, will put councillors in a better position to fulfill their mandate of providing political oversight.
“Deviation from strategic objectives of the municipality is the most common expression of the Auditor-General when auditing municipalities in the North West province. To curb this, councillors need to provide political oversight and make sure that the administration of their municipalities is accountable to council”, he said.
MEC Sebegoe said that ward councillors should learn as much as they can during this induction programme and practice what they have learned at their respective councils.
“Through this induction programme, you will learn about municipal systems, structures of local government, policy and legal framework guiding local government, development of policies and by-laws and the role of local government in economic development. This should encourage a change in the way councils conduct their business and there should also be an improvement in the quality of decisions taken by councils”, MEC Sebegoe said.
He also called on councillors to work closely with ward committees, community development workers (CDWs) and other structures of government to solidify the common goal of rendering quality services to communities.
Meanwhile, the department will develop a monitoring and reporting system which will see ward councillors generate consolidated wards reports on a monthly basis.
CIP will officially be launched in the remaining three districts, i.e.:
- Dr Kenneth Kaunda District - 3 July 2011
- Bojanala Platinum District -10 July 2011
- Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District – 17 July 2011
Enquiries:
Spokesperson Dineo Lolokwane
Cell: 072 542 8444
