The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Council, chaired by the Premier, Sihle Zikalala, held its ordinary meeting today, Wednesday, 26 August 2020
KZN digital strategy
The Provincial Executive Council approved the implementation of the Provincial Digital Transformation Strategy. This strategy outlines the government’s digital vision to create a smart province that delivers effective and efficient services to all citizens.
The KZN Digital Transformation Plan presents a chance to achieve improvements and efficiencies in the workings of the provincial government.
Through this digital innovation, government will introduce new ways of working so as to transform the way it operates as well as the manner in which it provides services to the citizens. The digital future will eliminate duplication, waste and ensure streamlined and seamless service to the citizens.
Through this plan most government services will be accessed online and it will be easier to monitor and evaluate progress in order to ensure accountability and transparency.
Bid adjudication appeals tribunal
The Provincial Executive Council received the report on the work of the Bid Appeals Tribunal. The work of the Bid Appeals Tribunal includes among other tasks, hearing complaints from bidders and facilitating resolution of disputes on awarded bids.
During the 2018/19 financial year, the Bid Appeals Tribunal presided over 65 appeals while in 2019/2020 it presided over 90 appeals. The Provincial Executive Council, re-affirmed the Bid Appeals Tribunal as an important mechanism of checks and balances which also ensures that all bidders get a fair deal. Aggrieved bidders can approach the tribunal to seek recourse within reasonable time and at no cost.
The Bid Appeals Tribunal is headed by retired Judge CN Patel and the deputy chair is retired Judge P Levinsohn. The bidders who need to use the BAT must familiarise themselves with the Bid Appeals process as regulated in the KZN SCM Framework.
Interventions in municipalities
The KZN Provincial Executive Council also received a progress report from the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) on the status of Constitutional interventions in municipalities. The department whose primary mandate is to support local government institutions has made far-reaching proposals, including retaining some constitutional interventions or escalating and instituting others.
The Provincial Executive Council approved that interventions at Msunduzi, Richmond, uThukela District, Inkosi Langalibalele, uMzinyathi District, Abaqulusi and Mtubatuba be retained until 31 March 2021.
The Executive Council also approved that the intervention at Mpofana be escalated to a Section 139(1)(c) of the Constitution (dissolution of the council) to give the administrator total control of the municipality so as to be able to implement measures meant to turn the municipality around.
At the same time, the Executive Council approved the invoking of Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution at Emadlangeni Municipality until such time that the situation in this municipality is stabilised.
The Provincial Executive Council, authorised these interventions subject to approval by the National Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the National Council of the Provinces (NCOP). The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs will engage all affected municipalities and stakeholders.
KZN economic recovery and transformation plan
The Provincial Executive Council received a report from the Economic Cluster on the KZN Economic Recovery Plan, following the economic devastation unleashed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Executive Council approved the plan as a blueprint for KZN economic recovery and transformation and noted that Covid-19 has had a disastrous impact on the economy and jobs. The Executive Council noted the reform ambitions contained in the plan and concurred that radical economic transformation should be the hallmark of the new post Covid-19 KZN economy.
The Executive Council is committed to ensuring that the government does not simply fix what has been broken in the economy pre –Ccvid-19 reality but emphasised that it must address the fundamental gaps and fault lines exposed by the pandemic while also exploiting the opportunities offered by the crisis.
The Executive Council noted that the economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic require urgent policy responses to keep the economy afloat and enable people to retain their jobs and incomes.
For enquiries, contact:
Provincial Government Spokesperson
Lennox Mabaso
Cell: 082 884 2403
Bongani Mthethwa
KZN Premier Media Liaison
Cell: 083 253 0748
