Mahikeng – Integrated planning amongst national and provincial sector departments, as well as state owned enterprises with local municipalities will go a long way in expediting developmental agenda and turning around the situation in different municipalities. This emerged at a Local Government week Session held in Klerksdorp recently, which was facilitated by North West Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs.
The objective of the session was to promote and enhance Integrated Planning and Development between the spheres of government and to promote coordination, monitoring and evaluation of support programmes to municipalities.
The session created a platform for sector departments and state-owned enterprises, to share their support plans with municipalities for 2014/15 financial year. Representatives of relevant stakeholders presented their 2014/15 plans to local and district municipalities with input made by attending stakeholders.
Chief Director Development and Planning Seth Ramagaga said there are a lot of benefits to be derived from integrated planning. “If there is a housing project and we plan together with other stakeholders, Eskom will be able to plan for electrification of those houses once the project is complete. This means housing beneficiaries will not have to wait a long period for electrification of the houses. Unnecessary backlogs which should be dealt with by another sector department and project delays will be avoided. There will also be collaboration of available resources which will produce maximum results and time delays will be” said Ramagaga.
The session redefined the role of both national and provincial government in turning around municipalities and address concerns raised by municipalities about poor participation during municipal planning process. Representatives of all provincial departments will attend as well as Department of Energy, Water Affairs and Eskom.
The department will host the last session with Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District municipality and all its local municipalities soon.
