The Honourable Speaker of the House and the Deputy
The Honourable Premier of Gauteng
Members of the Executive Council from Gauteng and other provinces
Members of Parliament
Honourable Members of the Legislature
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
1. Introduction
The quest for humanity to be free has changed all the aspects of our history as people of South Africa. Our history is filled with thousands of examples of heroes and heroines who laid their lives for this quest of humanity to be free. Many struggles were fought, resistances enforced, and uprisings organised. You will remember the battle of Isandlwana in 1878 where, under the leadership of King Cetshwayo, the Zulus brought a crushing defeat to the English army. There were other rebellions and great battles led by the great leaders of our people such Bambatha kaManciza, Moshoeshe, and so on. At the turn of the century most of these leaders and their rebellions were crushed, but the quest for humanity to be free could never be crushed.
The one strategy that could bring the oppressive regime down was for African people to unite. On 8 January 1912 people’s organisations, religious bodies, prominent individuals, clergymen and Chiefs gathered in Mangaung in Bloemfontein to form the South African Native National Congress, which later became to be known as the African National Congress (ANC). This became the organisation that brought all peace loving, democratic, non racial, non sexist and non-tribalist South Africans together in the quest for humanity to be free.
In those early days, the South African Native National Congress fought in many just and disciplined struggles. This organisation fought against passes and permits, unfair taxes, stealing of prime, arable and valued land from the rightful indigenous owners. The infamous Land Act of 1913 was used to dispossess Africans of their land. The same Africans were forced to be migrant labourers, working in unsavoury conditions in the mines from that period of the Gold Rush in the then Transvaal.
Dehumanised, forced to squalor, separated from their loved ones, robbed of their land, cattle and dignity, these workers’ quest for humanity to be free remained intact. In the light of this plight of the workers, the South African Native National Congress became the active and strategic supporter of the militant mineworkers’ strike led by Clements Kadalie’s Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) in 1920.
Halfway through the century, this very organisation gathered people in Kliptown on 26 June 1955 and the representatives at this conference unanimously adopted the Freedom Charter, a guiding document that laid the foundation for our Constitution, hailed as one of the best in the world and regarded as very progressive indeed.
As we remember these great leaders of our times, as we remember all the fierce battles and struggles they fought, and as we remember how this powerful organisation was formed; we must not forget all the unsung heroes and heroines. These are ordinary men and women, millions of them who participated selflessly in the quest for humanity to be free. They could be your cousin in Mafikeng, your aunt in Thohoyandou, your brother-in-law in Barberton, your great-grandmother in Kimberley, your comrade in Viljoenskroon, your classmate in Gugulethu or your brother in eNgquza Hill in Lusikisiki.
Talking of eNgquza Hill, I am sadly reminded of the unsung heroes of the Eastern Pondoland Revolution of the 1960s. The Ingquza Hill in Eastern Pondoland became the headquarters of the Mpondos since the mysterious death of their popular king, King Mandlonke Sigcau in 1937. The culture of communal meetings was very strong in this community, and consultations were the order of the day.
On 6 June 1960 people had gathered to demand representation in parliament, lower taxes and an end to Bantu Education. These poor people (peasants) were sadly massacred when the apartheid regime’s police opened fire on them. More than thirty of the so-called perpetrators from Eastern Pondoland were finally hanged at the Pretoria Maximum Prison for literally no crime at all – theirs was just a quest for humanity to be free. They were then given a pauper’s funeral in Mamelodi despite the fact that they were martyrs, heroes - who died for me and you to be free. Honourable Speaker, I felt very fulfilled when in 2001, one subsequently assisted and led the families of those Mpondo victims who were hanged and we successfully exhumed their bodies and we finally gave them proper funerals at eNgquza Hill in Lusikisiki.
We have similar sad incidents around the country, including Sekhukhuniland, some of these rural struggles came to be known as the ‘peasants’ revolts’. Our unsung heroes and heroines deserve our recognition and honour on this day, as we celebrate the quest for humanity to be free. Madam Speaker, these are the facts that show how our organisation, the African National Congress, managed to survive from 1912 to date. In 2012, just under six months from now, the ANC will be celebrating its centenary, which was characterised by lot of sacrifices, selflessness, strong resolve and resoluteness for the quest of freedom and humanity for all.
2. There shall be houses, security and comfort!
Between 1994 and the first quarter of this year a total of 4 million houses were built in South Africa. Of this total the ANC led government built 3.1 million houses. Africans, Indians and Coloureds account for 56.2% ownership of South Africa’s primary residential market, as opposed to 43.8% held by whites. These are the results of the study conducted by one of the leading and respected economists in South Africa, Mike Schussler. The study attests that “the handing over of houses to black citizens since the advent of democracy has been the country’s most successful reform”. Honourable speaker, I am proud to say that to date Gauteng has contributed more than 1.5 million housing opportunities. This is a resounding success of people working together, in the quest for humanity to be free.
I cannot hold myself but take a moment to congratulate this ANC-led government for a job well done. Across the length and breadth of Gauteng and South Africa, millions of our people are enjoying peaceful nights in the comfort of their homes. The advances and achievements of this government are a gift to and an act of gratitude to the class of 1976 and all others who fought fearlessly to ensure that one day all the South Africans will enjoy peace, democracy and freedom. Today we are enjoying the fruits of the vision that this generation had. This generation never failed the earlier struggles fought by our fore fathers as illustrated in the above paragraphs.
As we enter the Nelson Mandela month, we are reminded of his acts of selflessness, sacrifice and commitment to fighting injustices. This is one man who, like his friend and comrade Oliver Reginald Tambo, gave up everything, including his family, a man who was not afraid to face death. This is the people’s leader who remained true to his convictions, principles and ideals. In his memory and commemoration, this government will continue to provide services, jobs, homes, security, education, hope etc, to all the people of South Africa. In his inaugural address in 1994 former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela said;
“We enter into a covenant that we shall build a society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity – a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world."
3. 2011 Local Government elections
In its Local Government Elections Manifesto the ANC committed itself to making progress towards creating decent work and sustainable livelihoods, better quality of local public service and access for all. The manifesto further states that, “We need to create more united, non-racial, integrated and safer communities; and to strengthen local participation with effective, accountable and clean local government”.
I present this budget vote just a few weeks after the local government elections. This was the most contested local government elections since the advent of democracy in South Africa. All political parties took out their best political ammunitions and canvassed people across all communities to vote for them. Our democracy was put to the test, and it passed the test with flying colours. This is the democracy that was bequeathed to us by our greatest leaders of all time – Oliver Reginald Tambo, Walter and Albertina Sisulu, Chief Albert Luthuli, Chris Hani, Kadar Asmal, just but to mention a few.
These elections further cemented participatory democracy and proved that we are the rightful leaders of our people as directly elected by them. The ANC was given a clear mandate to lead people of South Africa, to lead them to a better life, a better future and a better South Africa. As the new term of local government starts, the expectations of our people are high. True to the Congress tradition, we are going to make sure that all promises we made in our elections manifesto are realised so that they can meet and exceed the expectations of our people. Ours is a responsibility that knows no leave, no weekend or public holiday.
We are lucky to be the leaders of today, where we have resources, however limited, at our disposal. A witty, dexterous and wise deployment of these resources will go a long way in improving the lives of our people in Gauteng. Rolling over capital expenditure is declared a crime by my department and municipalities are well advised of this. We as leaders are responsible for changing the way that people experience local government and its services.
President Jacob Zuma in his State of the Nation Address earlier this year said; “We have to make people’s experience of local government a pleasant one, as it touches their homes and their lives directly, every day. Some municipalities are functioning very well, and some councillors are also performing their duties as well as they should. We have instituted a turnaround strategy for local government, focusing on, amongst others, the strengthening of basic administrative systems, financial management and customer care”.
4. Reflecting on the 2006 to 2011 term of democratic local government in Gauteng.
In May this year Honourable Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and myself released the much anticipated Local Government End of Term Performance Review. \
The review focused on these important areas:
- Municipal Transformation and Institutional development
- Local Economic Development and Growth
- Financial Viability and Management of Resources
- Basic service delivery and infrastructure investment
- Deepening Democracy and Public Participation
- Build Gauteng as a Globally Competitive City Region
The end of the term of local government (2006 to 2011) signified a very important milestone in the journey we have travelled in transforming local government. Considering the important elements that characterised the various phases of local government transformation, we can confidently say that we have been able to build a very responsive system that is able to respond and adapt to changing circumstances. To that effect I can confidently say that all our municipalities have been able to deliver services like water, sanitation, electricity and refuse removal to all households including informal settlements although at varying levels.
Honourable Speaker, the period has been marked by very positive signs of increased levels of community participation in the governance of our municipalities; we have also witnessed a drastic improvement in the financial management and accountability of our municipalities to the public especially on service delivery and financial management issues.
During the start of the term, we committed ourselves towards a local government that is transformed, well capacitated and stable, accountable, transparent and promoting greater community participation, financially viable and sustainable and to speed up access to basic services and more representation of women, youth and people with disabilities.
A number of programmes have been undertaken at a municipal level to give effect to these commitments. We have seen a number of programmes undertaken by municipalities which were focusing on making sure that the capacity of our municipalities to deliver on their core mandate is enhanced. We have seen the creation of accountability and oversight structures to ensure that both the administration and Councillors are held to account on the delivery of services to communities.
The creation of viable and sustainable municipalities was also taken to higher levels with the introduction of policies and strategies targeted at increasing their revenue base. As mentioned earlier, we pride ourselves as Gauteng by the achievements we have made during this term wherein a number of municipalities achieved unqualified and clean audits. This was represented by a seventy one percent of municipalities in Gauteng receiving unqualified and clean audits. That on its own, is a clear indication of their commitment to manage their finances in a very prudent and sustainable way. I will touch on some of these achievements later in my speech.
These achievements are clearly supportive of the Premier’s commitment towards creating a better Gauteng for its entire people. Just to quote what the Honourable Premier said in the State of the Province Address earlier this year; “It is of paramount importance that we continue with the right things we have been doing and periodically review and address our challenges. It is only when we do the right things that we can build a proud, united and self-respecting nation. Our actions today should be such that they not only benefit the present but also honour the past and benefit future generations”.
A platform has been created, now an immediate task in this new term is to consolidate the gains achieved and focus attention on the priorities that have been identified. We will make sure that all our programmes continue to be injected with vigour from time to time so that the quality and access to government service are improved. Surely we are witnessing the triumphant spirit of the quest for humanity to be free.
5. Outcomes-based approach for accelerated service delivery
Our government has set itself clear targets on the acceleration of service delivery to the citizens, and these targets speak to the core and key deliverables by all departments. Key to my department is outcomes number eight and nine.
5.1 Outcomes eight – Sustainable Human Settlements and improved quality of life
Speaker, the department has continued with its efforts to make sure that they deliver not just quality homes but also necessary amenities that people will have access to without major challenges and obstacles.
In this financial year we are continuing with the implementation of various Mixed Housing Development projects in all regions of the province. Through such projects, we have been able to ensure that people with different incomes are able to live side by side without any discrimination. Government at all levels together with the private sector is heavily investing in infrastructure on these projects.
The integration of housing across all racial groups remains as one of the crucial priorities in building sustainable human settlements and a cohesive society. Part of deracialising housing in South Africa is to nullify the perception that government-subsidised houses are for Black people only. We have seen today that poverty knows no colour or race. All qualifying South African must apply for government subsidies, irrespective of their historical background.
We are currently working with the communities of Kagiso, Krugersdorp and Coronation Park to integrate deserving white families into the Chief Mogale housing project. The quest for humanity to be free must ensure that we all enjoy access to all services provided by government, government brought to power by the blood of many unsung heroes and heroines.
To prove that we really mean business in our quest to provide shelter to all deserving South Africans in Gauteng;
To-date Phase 1 of newly developed township called Mohlakeng ext11 we have already built 570 houses which will accommodate 250 beneficiaries from Bekkersdal Informal Settlement, Zenzele and Mohlakeng residents. The Westonaria Local Municipality has identified Transit Camp as the priority area to be addressed during the relocation.
Construction at Mohlakeng Ext.11 is nearing completion with installation of bulk link sewer and connection of water meters scheduled to end soon. Construction for another 500 stands and houses is expected to start in this financial year. Again, 50% of beneficiaries from Bekkersdal Informal Settlement are earmarked to be allocated to those houses by December 2011.
In Westonaria South the developer is scheduled to commence with installation of internal services for 1000 stands. Construction of 1 000 houses will start once the stands are serviced and it is anticipated that 500 houses will be ready for occupation by December 2011.
In Lufhereng, the project is progressing well and to date the following have been achieved:
- 2,433 erven have been serviced with internal water and sewer connections done
- 912 houses are complete and handed over to approve beneficiaries another 280 are being allocated currently as we speak.
The key programmes for Outcomes eight in my department are: Alternative Tenure, Mixed Housing Development and Eradication and Formalisation of Informal Settlements. Now I will turn to the different points under outcomes eight.
Accelerate delivery of housing opportunities
We are continuing with our efforts to reduce the housing backlog in Gauteng. The centrality of Gauteng and its leading economic activity makes it attractive to people from other provinces and across our borders. This has resulted in the housing demand being extraordinarily higher in our province. However, through careful planning we have managed to provide 46,983 human settlements opportunities in the last financial year.
Mindful of the enormous housing demand in Gauteng, in this financial year we are planning to deliver a total of 48,450 housing opportunities in sustainable human settlements.
This will find expression in the following ways:
- 25,575 houses for Eradication of Informal Settlements
- 9,550 serviced stands for Eradication of Informal Settlements
- 4,906 mixed housing development
- 4,906 serviced stands for mixed housing
- 1,822 hostel units
- 1,691 rental units
This year we will continue to accelerate the provision of houses also through our Urban Renewal Programmes. These flagship projects to revitalise and renew key settlements in Gauteng are well underway, with some projects continuing to yield houses, infrastructure and economic opportunities for the people of Gauteng. These urban renewal programmes are spread across Gauteng in the following areas Alexandra, Evaton, Winterfeld and Bekkersdal.
Alexandra Urban Renewal Programme - we are finalising the development of the Alexandra Urban Design Framework and Implementation Framework. We hope to complete the Cluster Home and Emergency Accommodation facility in this financial year. We will also continue with the construction of the second phase of M2 Hostel. Other projects underway in Alexandra include Moposho bridge, upgrading of road intersections and Jukskei River Rehabilitation, completion of houses in Ext 10, construction of Riverpark project, mental clinic, construction of Botlhabela extension, just but a few to mention. R91 million has been committed to Alexandra Renewal Programme in this financial year.
Winterveldt Urban Renewal – the implementation of this renewal programme will see the servicing of 1 300 stands and the construction of 250 houses in this financial year.
Evaton Urban Renewal Programme – the development of the eastern precinct is underway. We are currently procuring land from private owners. Once these stands have been released, we hope to start construction of houses by the end of this financial year. R75 million has been committed to Evaton Renewal Programme this financial year.
- This urban renewal project has also seen the completion of the Mafatsane Thusong Centre, which will be ready for occupation in this financial year. This facility will be home to various government departments (e.g. Home affairs, Social Development, South African Social Security Agency), in line with bringing government services closer to the people. The department has spend R66 million for the construction of this centre. Lot of permanent jobs will be created through this centre.
- In partnership with the Department of Roads and Transport a number of roads will also be upgraded in the next financial year within Evaton. The upgrading of these roads is to encourage the future growth of this area. Additional solar powered street lighting will also be done in Evaton.
Bekkersdal Urban Renewal Programme – R75 million has been allocated to Bekkersdal to continue with the implementation and finalisation of projects in Bekkersdal. Completed projects will then be handed over to the municipality. Bekkersdal suffered infrastructural losses in the destruction and violence leading to 2011 local government elections. The budget allocation will also cover for the repairs and refurbishment of vandalised public facilities.
Madam Speaker once more we wish to reiterate our strongest condemnation of vandalism, burning and destruction of public assets whenever people are protesting. These barbaric and acts of hooliganism must be a provisional government focus number one. You can’t destroy what is already delivered whilst you claim to be protesting for the same delivery.
The strategy for inner city regeneration of Krugersdorp and Germiston was submitted and approved by Executive Council (EXCO) in November 2010.
The Krugersdorp plan has been developed and is focusing on Central Business District (CBD) which has eleven precincts with 23 projects that warrant revitalisation and regeneration, falling under housing, infrastructure, commercial and retail.
There are however special areas for consideration:
- The existing taxi rank
- Dilapidated streetscape of physical environment
- Street trading area
- Housing design and policy
- Formulation of heritage tourism initiatives.
The Germiston Inner-City Strategy has been developed and approved by Ekurhuleni Council. The plan intends to transform the total Germiston Inner city in a coordinated and integrated fashion, to align multiple projects into modern city that will have good quality life, housing; transport; employment; arts and culture and good governance.
The process of developing strategy for Vereeniging is underway and so far the analysis made has highlighted a number of areas that must be addressed.
We are appealing to all businesses to bring their financial muscle to invest in these renewed cities. It will remain the responsibility of all citizens from these cities to ensure that they remain clean, tidy and attractive at all times.
There are currently 16 project areas in the Tembisa Renewal Plan that have been identified and are at various stages of planning and implementation. The residential yield of these projects are estimated at 12, 422 Residential 1 (RDP) type erven and approximately 4,426 medium to high density residential units.
- Esselen Park x 3 there is a development in ward 14 of Tembisa Township. The project size is 1,428 and the department sub divided the stands in order to accommodate the overflow of beneficiaries.
- Contractor for the construction of top structures is on site and 200 houses will be built by the end 2010/11 financial year and remainder in next financial year.
- Beneficiaries from Madelakufa 1(Isekelo) will be moved to Esselen Park ext 3.
- Olifantsfontein (Strydom land) there is a development in ward 1 of Tembisa Township.
- The project size is 1,416 stands for the installation of water, sewer and roads through MIG funding.
- A contractor has been appointed by Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and the Department of Local Government and Housing for installation of bulk water and sewer and will start with the construction this financial year.
Honourable Speaker, in November 2010, EXCO approved the implementation of a revised strategy which is aimed at redirecting and refocusing the 20 Prioritised Township Programme (PTP) and 50 Poorest wards as revised.
In order to focus investment and ensure that interventions have a high impact, it is necessary to reprioritise the townships to which funding is directed as well as the projects within the townships. This does not mean that only some townships will benefit, but rather that some townships should receive attention in the short term, others in the medium term and still others over the long term.
The re-prioritisation will be centred on two areas, namely: prioritising townships and identified poorest wards and thereafter subsequently projects will be categorised into short, medium and long-term projects and intervention areas and within townships certain localities/nodes will also be categorised into short, medium and long-term projects and intervention areas.
Work continues to ameliorate the situation in these townships. R52 million will go towards this project in 2011/12.
For all these programmes we appoint many contractors to undertake constructions for projects in my department. I am particularly concerned and extremely unhappy with the poor workmanship and sub-standard delivery by some contractors in the past. We are going to blacklist all of you who are doing such disservice and steal taxpayers’ money through shoddy work. Be warned.
Access to basic services
Our department remains the champion of ensuring access to basic services. We are working together with the municipalities to provide water and sanitation to all our citizens. We are particularly concerned about the lack of access to ablution facilities in the informal settlements. In May this year my department had to intervene urgently in Sicelo Shiceka informal settlement in Midvaal and provided mobile toilets for the residents there at the tune of R5 million.
Honourable Speaker, our province is currently experiencing major infrastructure capacity constraints as much of the current supplies reached maximum capacity or exhausted the supply of services to new developments. Infrastructure development has not kept up with the pace of new developments and has thus outstripped the available capacity.
In this regard the department has developed a Bulk Infrastructure Plan and this has been approved by EXCO and we are now busy with further consultations with respective municipalities so that they can set aside required budget for building new and maintain existing infrastructure. We are also having discussions with the Department of Water Affairs so that they can assist with the required budget especially for areas that require immediate attention. This plan will therefore assist Local Municipalities in terms of which areas require significant investment in bulk infrastructure.
Gauteng Province is also a leader in the efficient use of energy. Our Gauteng Integrated Energy Strategy is ensuring that we implement alternative energy projects across all municipalities. Our projection is that municipalities will install around 38 000 solar geysers this financial year.
More efficient/effective use of land
As mentioned earlier, land is a scarce resource in Gauteng. Compounding the problem further is the fact that we are the smallest province geographically. However, through careful planning and effective land management we are able to house more and more people. Our team is hard at work acquiring, managing and developing suitable land for the creation of sustainable human settlements. A total of four land parcels, 3,360 hectares in extent, were procured in Olievenhoutbocsh and Sweetwaters for human settlement development.
In this financial year we have set aside R252 million to purchase 15 land parcels that are well located. The driving consideration when we acquire such parcels of land is that they must be closer to economic opportunities where people can easily have access to jobs.
We spend a lot of money in acquiring these pockets of land for the construction of houses. Over and above that we have been forced to spend more money again on these pockets of land to evict land invaders. We will not allow this situation to go on, and to you land invaders, be careful, your days are numbered.
May I also make a special appeal to our people to resist the temptation of illegally occupying RDP houses. The truth is that, we are going to evict you from that house. Instead wait for your turn. “Nobakanjani” akekho ongazuthola uma isikathi sakhe sesifikile, ungafohli, linda lemini iyeza nakuwe.
Improved Property Market
My department plans to have the Sustainable Human Settlements Strategy and Plan on integrated approach to human settlements approved by the end of this financial year. We are also working on guidelines to ensure that we provide adequate housing for the “Gap” market. These are our sons and daughters who earn between R4 000 and R15 000 per month.
6. Outcomes nine – Responsive, accountable and efficient local government system
When we engage and reflect on the state of municipalities in Gauteng, it is always an opportunity to reflect back on the road we have travelled in transforming our system of local government both as a country and as the province. This platform affords us an opportunity to illustrate the difficult role travelled to make municipalities more democratic and accountable, how municipalities have transformed and enabled to provide services to their local communities on a sustainable basis.
The political differences that exist between political parties in Council have not crippled the functionality of Councils but enhanced accountability and healthy debates.
This can be attributed to the established Codes of Ethics and Conduct for Councillors which appear to have a positive impact as instruments for mitigating and providing guidance for mediating and managing conflicts.
There is still a growing perception from community members about municipalities being corrupt and ineffective. Central to this perception has also been allegations of corruption and nepotism against Councillors and officials.
There have been also attempts to make sure that good governance practices are restored in municipalities. We have seen development of policies and plans to fight fraud and corruption, development of risk management policies and plans coupled with complains and petitions systems.
Our municipalities in Gauteng continue to engage on programmes for provision of basic services and infrastructure. The emphasis is on eradication of existing service delivery backlogs. Their programmes are mainly focusing on housing, water, sanitation, formalisation of informal settlements, refuse removal, transport and roads infrastructure, electricity and waste management.
After the development and implementation of Municipal Turn Around Strategies the general sense is that municipalities continue to make positive strides to address service delivery problems at local level.
Local government is everybody’s business. Local government touches the lives of all ordinary citizens. Water, electricity, waste and refuse collection, street lighting, recreational facilities, stands on which to build houses, rezoning of land for business purposes, town planning for integrated development, and many more services are the critical work of the local government sphere.
Administrative and financial capability
Our department is gradually succeeding in improving financial management and ensuring the viability and implementation of Operation Clean Audit (OPCA). Sound and effective management of finances is one of the key cornerstones of running a highly efficient local government system.
Since the implementation of the OPCA project, we have seen drastic improvement with 71 % (10) of Gauteng municipalities receiving unqualified audit reports, 21% (3) receiving qualified and 8% (only one) disclaimer for the 2008/09 financial year.
We are supporting disclaimed and qualified municipalities to address issues raised by the Auditor-General through the OPCA support project.
We have also developed and implemented the Revenue Enhancement and Debt Collection Model. This model is instrumental in ensuring that municipalities are capacitated to collect all monies that are due to them. Our local government can only succeed when all citizens pay their dues to their respective municipalities. Residents please prioritise paying municipal services accounts before nice to haves, please.
In our efforts to be proactive, the department will undertake a study to conduct an assessment of the billing systems in all municipalities in Gauteng, so that we can deal with potential problems head-on, before they become a cause for concern.
We recognise that customer billing is a critical component in a municipality’s customer care strategy and a significant interface in the collection of revenue. Once this work is completed, we will engage with the relevant stakeholders in order to provide the necessary support to local government in Gauteng.
The department together with other key stakeholders including South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and Department of Finance will render support to municipalities in the following ways, amongst others:
- Support to the newly established Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality that now consists of areas of Metsweding
- Support to municipalities in the development and implementation of their Municipal Turn Around Strategies
- Support to Ekurhuleni Metro, aimed at providing assistance with the various challenges the municipality faced. Challenges were mainly in the three areas of Finance, Human Resources and Organisational Development, as well as Infrastructure
- Provision of training to a number of human resource practitioners across municipalities
- Project Management training for local government officials
- Training of officials on Local Government Accounting Certificate (LGAC).
Single window of coordination
- The success of government in implementing its programmes can only succeed if the three tiers of government (national, provincial, local) work together closely.
- Inter-Governmental Relations (IGR) has become an all important concept in mainstreaming the work we do as government. We have established the IGR municipal practitioners’ forum and hosted the annual IGR conference. Quarterly meetings are held by this forum.
- Other such IGR forums include the Premier's Coordinating Forum, MinMEC, MECMMC. All these forums allow for integrated planning across all levels of government.
I must note here that the success of government programmes must not be sole responsibility of government only. All governments exist within societies, and these societies are made up of different role players.
Businesses, as corporate citizens, have a major role to play. For an example banks must ensure that they work together with government in housing South Africans who are in need of homes. Access to home finance remains a key challenge, the financial sector must please come to the party.
The quest for humanity to be free must be reflected in banks, developers and bonded beneficiaries working together ethically. There have been complaints of exploitation where, for example, banks trick customers to sign documents which only add to their frustrations. Sometimes banks sell a property that is still being occupied by tenants and it becomes difficult for one to evict those tenants. The relationship between developers, banks and customers must be mutually beneficial, and Ubuntu must underline all transactions that are entered into.
Deepening democracy through a refined Ward Committee Model
We have developed and implemented the ward committee support plan. This plan aims to ensure that we capacitate the ward committees so that they can strengthen a people centred approach to governance. Support to our ward Councillors is a must.
We also looking at the possibility of ward-based planning in order to bring planning closer to the people. We also wish to enforce that ward committee issues must be factored in the council committee’s agendas.
We are also encouraging a funding model for ward committees whereby all ward committee members should at least be given an out of pocket expenses or stipend based on evidence of work done and or proven activities by each ward committee member.
Our Community Development Workers (CDW) programme will go a long way in deepening participatory democracy in the local municipal space. The ward committees, CDWs and elected representative will form a triangle of leadership led by the ward Councillor that will enhance the resolution of community issues.
Actions supportive of Human Settlements outcomes
We have initiated actions to support municipalities to release well-located public land and to increase densities. 10 000 land parcels will be devolved to municipalities in line with the Housing Act.
Honourable Speaker, indeed the work that lies ahead is challenging. However, the past successes are a positive motivator to continue doing our work, and do it even better.
It was a year that also saw the eruption of service delivery protests. We had violence in Diepsloot, Bekkersdal, Sebokeng, Zandspruit, and other areas. We have learnt that despite what government has done and achieved, there will always be those criminal elements that will stop at nothing to spoil the good name of government. The might of government must deal with these criminals head on.
Madam Speaker please allow me the opportunity to send a strong message of condemnation to those who instigate violence in our communities. Last week we saw violence and destruction of valuable public assets in Zandspruit and Dube Hostel. I and my department had been meeting and consulting with these communities regularly and explained what government was doing to help.
Unfortunately some elements choose to ignore all the good work we have done and go and destroy what government has built and delivered. Such acts of criminality, vandalism and destruction to public property will not be tolerated. You can’t say you want service delivery when in practice you are busy destroying already achieved services.
Honourable Speaker, this year we also managed to successfully merge Metsweding District with the City of Tshwane, making this metro the third biggest in the world after New York City and Tokyo. My department is committed to mega cities which will accelerate the provision of services to our people. The Tshwane success has surely provided a blueprint for this.
We also witnessed the accreditation of all our three metros in Gauteng province. This accreditation will devolve more powers to the metros to plan and build houses for their citizens. We are fully behind the metros and we will give them all the support they need.
Our system of local government is evolving very well, and we will continue to support municipalities in realising their mandates. Last Thursday and even yesterday I had the pleasure of launching the Councillor Induction Programme, one of our progressive and innovative interventions to empower and capacitate our Councillors.
Overall, the budget allocation for my department is as follows:
- Total budget R4.5 billion
- Capital budget allocation - R3.8 billion (the Human Settlements Grant from the Department of Human Settlements)
- Administration budget – R764 million from Provincial Earmarked allocation.
Honourable speaker, each time I get an opportunity to speak to the public, I never miss an opportunity to thank all the men and women who work as our officials. All the successes I talked about could never be possible without their hard work and dedication. They are the true proponents of Ubuntu and Batho Pele philosophies. I take off my hat to them.
I also thank the municipalities for their cooperation. SALGA has been very instrumental in ensuring smooth working relationships between the provincial and local governments.
Also a word of gratitude to all our partners, construction companies, banking sector, stakeholders in housing and local government, and everyone who has made it possible for making our people to sleep under the roofs.
To every citizen in Gauteng, to every family, to every community, to every municipality, to all unsung heroes and heroines, you are all testimony of the quest for humanity to be free.
Ndiyabulela.
Source: Gauteng Local Government and Housing
