behalf of Premier Mbhazima Shilowa at the third South African Local Government
Association (SALGA) National conference, Gallagher Estate
22 April 2007
Programme director
President Thabo Mbeki
SALGA chairperson, Mayor Amos Masondo
Minister of Local and Provincial Government, Sydney Mufamadi
Mayors
Councillors
Municipal Managers
Members of Executives
Members of Parliament
Municipal officials
It is an honour to have this opportunity to welcome all of you to our
province. Mr President, the Minister of Provincial and Local Government, all
ministers present and the chairperson of SALGA, you are welcome in Gauteng.
Members of the diplomatic core, invited guests, SALGA members, ladies and
gentlemen, welcome to the province of opportunities.
We are pleased to be your hosts as you reflect on realities of service
delivery, poverty alleviation and how to intensify delivery towards 2010 and
beyond.
It is appropriate that you should be meeting now to reflect on these
critical issues because next year will mark the mid-point of the five year term
of office of local government. But because next year is an election year for
provincial and national government, it would not have been possible to have a
proper reflection on the work you are doing in the communities without being
hindered by election issues.
While the elections will be contested on national and provincial issues, it
inevitable that issues relating to local government will be brought up
opportunistically by some to gain public attention, sympathy and win votes.
This therefore is an opportune time to undertake a thorough reflection on
what you have done so far, how you are performing and what specific steps you
are going to take to realise the objectives of your five year programme of
action.
It is encouraging to note that apart from one place, there are no major
service delivery upheavals in all our municipalities. But that should not cause
us to relax. We have to find ways to redouble our efforts and accelerate
delivery to meet the reasonable expectations of our people.
Your conference should help us as different spheres of government to work
together in an integrated manner to deliver services seamlessly to communities.
It is your challenge as well to reflect on the capacity constraints that hamper
our ability to deliver services appropriately and to the standards expected by
our people.
A clean government is what the people expect and they are entitled to it.
The challenge for us in government is therefore to promote good ethical
conduct, fight corruption, nepotism and entrench a culture of work and service
to the people. We have promised that we will work together with our communities
in a people's contract to fight poverty and unemployment. As an expression of
that contract and to promote public participation, we established ward
committees. We however need to evaluate how these committees are working and
whether they are succeeding in deepening democracy at ward level and in
ensuring a free flow of information from government to the citizens.
Once again you are welcome in Gauteng. I wish you a successful conference
and look forward to your resolutions. I also look forward to continuing a
healthy relationship with the leadership that will be elected by this
conference.
Thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
22 April 2007
