In her presentation to the inter-governmental relations conference Premier Nomvula Mokonyane emphasised the need to break the silos that prevails in government. "Unless municipalities, provincial government and national government plan and work together, in the eyes of our people government is failing them. For instance in the Vaal area people in their integrated development plans (IDPs) contribution have been calling for Thetha FM to be supported by local government with resources, Local Government cannot turn around and say it is the competency of National Government. In the eyes of our people you are dismissive and not responsive to their needs" said Premier Mokonyane.
There is a need to ensure that while the province has different departments at Provincial and Local Government, the needs of the people are the same for every sphere. "Together as government departments we should be seen to be implementing the programmes of government in meeting the needs of our people. Unless we are able to correct intergovernmental relations and monitoring whether decisions from these (IGR) forums are made part of the government programme of action there will always be destructive competition which leads to government not meeting the needs of the people. We need to prioritise effective planning, monitoring and evaluation as well as identifying actions to be prioritised by government" said Premier Mokonyane.
"Our priorities should speak to the new mandate and therefore all government and municipal officials should use the law to enhance service delivery. It cannot be that when we have a priority of creating decent work for the people our officials tell us that we have contractual obligations on the past governments commitments, when people have told us what is it that they want and what type of change they expect. Equally all MECs and Mayors should begin to question whether strategic plans and reports actually speak to the priorities of the current government" said Premier Mokonyane.
"We want to integrate planning and delivery of services to the people and we should do so in a different way. Why is it that we cannot use people from Soweto to clean up Baragwanath Hospital? We always speak about the creation of jobs and empowerment of the people but in most cases it is our systems that hamper the creation of Jobs. If we have to change legislation to be able to implement our priorities, let us do that." said Premier Mokonyane.
For more information contact:
Fred Mokoko
Cell: 082 447 8407
E-mail: Fred.Mokoko@gauteng.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Local Government and Housing, Gauteng Provincial Government
10 November 2009
Source: Department of Local Government and Housing, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.housing.gpg.gov.za)
