Gauteng Local Government and Housing will implement a new Provincial Debt Strategy that will compel all government departments to pay their rates and taxes owed to municipalities.
MEC Mmemezi told the Gauteng legislature during his delivery of the Budget Vote Speech that they cannot allow a situation where the sector departments are not paying for services rendered by respective municipalities. “We are encouraged by the spirit of the Executive Council where they have ensured that all departments must pay what is due to municipalities.”
He further said the department will implement the Debt Structuring Model to reduce consumer debt by the 2014, improve the integrity of all municipalities’ billing systems and revenue collections.”This will afford our municipalities a much needed cash injection through an upfront payment to be paid to the municipality by a chosen investor as a sign of confidence in their ability to collect,” said Mmemezi.
He also said a cadre of competent leadership and staff at municipalities, focused on good governance, services delivery and accountability should be strengthened. “Our interventions will focus on acquisition of skills and building institutions that will geared towards serving the community as articulated in the Batho Pele principles.” He said the Department and municipalities are active partners in the drive to successfully implement the Scarce and Critical Skills Strategy.
In an effort to assist municipalities to achieve clean audits by 2014, several initiatives by the department, Gauteng Treasury, the Auditor General and other stakeholders have been implemented to achieve the goal. To date, of the 12 municipalities that in Gauteng, eight received unqualified audit opinions.
MEC further said progress is being made to realise the West Rand District, the developing metropolitan municipality. In 2016 the West rand will become a unified municipality, with capability to deliver quality services. Some of the benefits currently experienced by the municipalities is the sharing of personnel, services and systems.
He also pleaded with the public to refuse to resort to violence, vandalism and destruction of government property when raising their frustrations. “This culture of violence or destructive protests is taking us one step forward and two step backwards. Even people of Rathanda, can now attest that violence is not only destructive but suicidal to the current and future generations. We are busy addressing their concerns but we cannot condone the violence,” said MEC Mmemezi.
Enquiries:
Mary Martins Van Zyl
Cell: 079 873 5022
The Gauteng Government aims to reduce consumer debt by 2014
Province
