Programme Director,
It gives me immense pleasure to address this august house this morning on behalf of the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Honourable Minister Lechesa Tsenoli, as the National Members Assembly takes stock of progress of where local government is at in executing its constitutional mandate by ensuring that services are delivered to the South African citizens.
Honourable Minister could not be with us today due to competing responsibilities on this day. However, the Honourable Minister had requested that I send his apology and wish SALGA’s National Members Assembly well as you embark on the review of where we are at as local government in preparation of adopting SALGA programme of action.
It is the view of the Minister that robust discussions of the members assembly will change inaccurate perception that local government is the worst spheres of government due to its inefficiency and ineffectiveness in delivering services to our people.
Programme Director, I have come to know that as a single voice of our member municipalities, SALGA is guided by its own constitution that the National Members Assembly must be convened not later than 30 days after the last conference to do the following:
- adopt SALGA’s programme of action, business plan and the budget as approved by the National Executive Committee
- adopt positions on key policy and legislative matters impacting on local government, for implementation by the National Executive Committee
- review SALGA’s financial performance
- consider reports from the working groups and oversight bodies
- consider audited financial statements in respect of the previous year.
Having regard to the above, Programme Director, SALGA is a critical strategic partner of the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to capacitate and support municipalities to deliver on its mandate. As government, the delivery of services relies on strong efficient and effective municipalities.
SALGA’s National Members Assembly takes place at a very critical time when politicians are preparing for the 5th term of National and Provincial electoral cycle, mindful also of the fact that we are almost at the half of the 3rd term for the Local Government electoral cycle.
As we mark these important milestones in our electoral cycles, it becomes important that strong partnerships are created between the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Organised Local Government to ensure that the commitments that are contained in our election manifestos translate into improved service delivery to the electorate.
During the strategic plan of Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs held on the 6 to the 9 September 2013 in Birchwood, Boksburg, SALGA made a call to the Department to put all “hands on deck” to address the following:
- A local government policy and fiscal framework that requires review in light of challenges experienced by the sector.
- Leadership and governance challenges including responsiveness and accountability to communities.
- Financial and fiscal management.
- Varied performance across municipalities in delivering basic services.
- Varied performance across municipalities in relation to growing local economies.
- The continuation of apartheid spatial development patterns and inequity.
- A lack of human resource capital to ensure professional administrations, and positive relations between labour, management and councils.
- The absence of a differentiated approach to municipalities.
These areas are captured in the 2012 to 2017 SALGA’s Strategic Performance Plan and also have influenced the outcome of the Departmental strategic planning session, in mapping out its programme of action for 2014 to 2019.
In addition to the above, as it is also jointly upon Departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and SALGA to strengthen municipalities as sites of service delivery. Several areas of possible collaboration have been identified including amongst others the following:
- Institute relevant training and prioritise capacity building in critical areas to deal with the challenge of scarce skill.
- Formation of critical partnerships - e.g. partnerships with professional bodies and institutions.
- Improve the quality of management and administration in municipalities.
- Address the challenge of leadership – political interference.
- Strengthen the capacity of district municipalities especially in rural areas through the adoption of a shared service model.
- Collaboration in the development of Local Government performance indicators (impact indicators, streamline reporting requirements); and
- The review of MSA municipal planning and performance regulations in order to clarify the reporting timeframes and
- Dedicated support to be provided to municipalities experiencing service deliver backlogs.
Programme Director, we are mindful that local government is still experiencing serious challenges in delivering sustainable services to the communities. Despite these challenges, the Department of Cooperative Governance in partnership with SALGA have agreed on proffessionalisation of local government administration.
The Municipal Systems Act was amended in 2011 in order to harmonise norms and standards in human resource practices in municipalities to ensure that proper experienced and knowledgeable people with correct skills are employed at our municipalities.
This will also go a long way in ensuring that we make local government an “employer of choice” by developing a well-oiled engine room for service delivery in a form of sound municipal administration. The Regulations to the Municipal Systems Act are expected to be rolled out for implementation in January 2014. This is also in line with the imperatives of the National Development Plan aiming at building a capable state.
The Department of Cooperative Governance is also in the process of finalising the appointment of members of the Municipal Demarcation Board, to resume office by February 2014 and amendments to the Municipal Demarcation Act are being considered by the Department to address issues of public participation on demarcations processes which has been one of the thorny and contested areas by affected communities.
Public participation has been one of the key pillars of the revolution in our fight against apartheid. The masses were mobilised, disciplined and committed to make the country ungovernable and the freedom we are enjoying today are the result of public participation through mass mobilisation.
As government this is one of the areas we have to invest much of our resources to bridge the gap between government and communities. This has become important because of recent service delivery protest in municipalities.
The department recognises and respects the right of every individual citizen to engage in peaceful protest and demonstration. We, however, condemn any acts of vandalism, criminality and savagery allegedly pursued under the guise of service delivery concerns.
The department is equally disturbed by the burning of municipal buildings, the destruction of property and the disruption of day-to-day normal life of residents and citizens.
In our view, there is absolutely no justification for these actions, given the fact that our democracy provides for legitimate forms of protest. Those who intend to register their dissatisfaction should do so within the parameters of the law. Any action outside the legitimate means opens the whole society to acts of anarchy and barbarism.
Programme Director, recently, I had an opportunity to participate jointly with SALGA at the 4th United Cities of Local Government- Africa (UCLGA) World Congress first hosted in Africa. This global platform served as a rich learning exchange and networking opportunity for South Africa in partnership with SALGA to represent the South African perspective on local governance.
Ladies and gentlemen, honoured guests, I have no doubt that SALGA and CoGTA together with all other partners are able to build a capable developmental state, as this is our responsibility towards the ordinary citizens of this beautiful country.
Those of us who occupy positions of leadership within SALGA, CoGTA and most importantly municipalities, should at all times appreciate the fact that we are indeed privileged and history will judge us for the quality of leadership we discharge. Ours is not an easy job and for that we shall always need each other remembering that no candle loses any of its light by lighting another but together, they give even more light.
I have no doubt that for the next coming two days, SALGA will continue to make meaningful contributions to the success of local government.
I thank you!
