In its effort to improve basic service delivery and uphold good governance at local government level, the North West Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs has, in consultation with various Local Government institutions and relevant service delivery agents has identified strategic intervention methods to accelerate and improve service delivery in the province.
The ward councillors’ summit which was held recently in Rustenburg, resolved that in order to improve access to basic services such as water and basic sanitation, the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs would have to work hand in glove with the Department of Water Affairs to develop data collection guidelines and its approach thereof, develop a strategy to improve inter-governmental relations in the province and forge positive relations between ward councillors and traditional leaders to enable facilitation and implementation of projects at the required speed.
Furthermore, the summit resolved that in order to improve the state of good governance and administration in municipalities, municipal councils need to be efficient and responsive to the developmental needs of their communities. This will also strengthen the functionality of ward committees and mainstream ward based planning as part of the Integrated Development Planning (IDP) process. In order to create viable municipalities, all relevant stakeholders will develop a support programme for municipalities across four key strategic areas i.e. financial viability and management, service delivery and infrastructure, governance and administration, planning and economic development.
In his opening remarks, MEC Paul Sebegoe said that the major challenge the province is faced with is to restore lost confidence in the system of local government as well as instilling trust and meeting the expectations of our people in government service-offering at large
The delegates signed a declaration committing to the following deliverables:
- To promote and sustain inter-governmental relations
- Develop systems and mechanisms for collection and organisation of statistics and data on basic service delivery in consultation with Statistics South Africa
- Ward Committees and Community Development Workers to champion service delivery and ward profiling annually
- Strengthen ward based integrated infrastructure planning and development Ward councillors to champion ward and municipal priorities identification processes
·Review the prioritisation process of municipal needs to strengthen ward councillors role and influence
Municipal Annual Performance Plans(Service Delivery Budget Implementation Plan) must be consulted with the ward councillors/ward committees before tabling and adoption by Council
Leading revenue collection initiatives and campaigns
Establishment of service delivery forums as a structure to champion and monitor ward based infrastructure programmes
Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs to champion coordination, alignment and integration of National and Provincial Support Programmes with municipal spatial needs to maximise impact
Strengthen coordination and partnership between Provincial Government and SALGA NW to improve municipal good governance
As a matter of urgency we ward councillors, councillors, municipal officials, Provincial and National Government officials declare that we will take the lead in municipal services payment to support our municipalities in providing basic services, infrastructure, operations and maintenance- all our accounts will be fully paid by end of 2012
We are also calling on the Provincial Legislature and the Premier to repeal the Traditional Authorities Act so as to minimise frictions in our wards.
Enquiries:
Dineo Lolokwane –
Cell: 072 542 8444
