The North West Department of Developmental Local Government and Traditional Affairs has deployed a team which comprises of officials from both provincial and national governments to assist municipalities to develop and implement their turn around strategies, following the approval of the Local Government Turn Around Strategy (LGTAS) by Cabinet last year.
During the course of last year, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, led by Minister Sicelo Shiceka, conducted an assessment on all municipalities throughout the country to ascertain the key problems in different areas as well as establish the root causes for poor performance, distress and dysfunctional in municipalities.
Some of the problems identified during these assessments included:
* systemic factors i.e. linked to model of local government
* policy and legislative factors
* political factor
* weaknesses in the accountability systems
* capacity and skills constraints
* weak intergovernmental support and oversight
* issues associated with intergovernmental fiscal system.
Municipalities have until 30 April 2010 to reflect on their own performance and develop their specific turn-around strategies which will be incorporated into their Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and budgets.
The LGTAS is intended to:
* ensure that municipalities meet basic needs of communities
* improve functionality, performance and professional in municipalities
* improve national and provincial policy, support and oversight to local government
* strengthen partnership between local government, communities and civil society.
It’s primary goal is to improve service delivery, municipal accountability and community participation.
Enquiries:
Ditshaba Makhate
Cell: 082 359 6970
Issued by: Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, North West Provincial Government
11 March 2010
