The Department of Cooperative Governance, the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) and the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority today, 25 March 2014 signed a crucial collaboration agreement between government entities at the offices of the Cooperative Governance in Pretoria.
MISA is the component of the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA). It is an integral part of government’s programme of action to improve infrastructure and service delivery in line with the objectives of the Local Government Turnaround Strategy (LGTAS) which was approved by Cabinet in 2009.
Signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Administrator of the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA), Mr Nqaba Nqandela, the Administrator of the LGSETA, the Director-General of Cooperative Governance, Mr Vusi Madonsela, said that “this agreement was an important collaboration which will address skills needs within the local government sector.”
“With this agreement, we also plan to roll out the training of administrative staff, senior management and councillors as part of government’s priority to professionalise the local government sector,” he added.
The Director-General said that the MoU was a prelude to the Local Government Institute which will be launched by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in April 2014.
The Director-General also said this close collaboration with the LGSETA will aim to improve the quality of lives of unemployed youth because LGSETA will provide training in artisanship and other scarce skills which will see young people being employed in the local government sector to build water and electrical infrastructure and most importantly to maintain this infrastructure because South Africa lacks skills in infrastructure maintenance.
Among other priority skills to boost performance and closer working relations with communities, elected representatives and municipal staff will be trained in financial management, technical expertise and public sector leadership and management skills to enable them to engage communities in a way that will improve public participation, reduce community protests and inspire confidence in government performance.
Contact:
Tsakani Baloyi
Cell: 082 052 0892
