The 2016/2017 financial year will see implementation of the second phase of the back-to-basics programme, focusing on building effective system and resilient institutions of local government. The first phase of B2B strategy was launched in 2014 with the sole intention of improving the functioning of municipalities to better serve communities by getting the basics right.
Acting MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Fenny Gaolaolwe stated in the 2016/2017 Budget Speech that the Department will mobilise multi-departmental teams to support dysfunctional municipalities, strengthening community engagement and local government accountability to citizens through Setsokotsane (provincial government service delivery programme) and Bua le Puso programme, accelerating the hands-on approach, prioritising programmes and projects that have high visibility and impactful on delivery of core B2B objectives through the implementation of the provincial infrastructure programme, strengthening communication and feedback on good stories and good progress on B2B.
“We remain committed to ensure transformation of local government to improve the living conditions of the people in our Province, working in partnership with communities. This partnership remains critical to the provision of the basket of services which include water, electricity, waste and refuse collection, street lighting, recreational facilities, stands on which to build houses, rezoning of land business purposes and town planning for integrated developments. We are continuing with our interventions to support municipalities, particularly around issues of capacity development, financial management, infrastructure development, revenue collection and debt management, billing, clean audits and scare skills’’, she said.
Meanwhile, the Department has registered 60% of improvement in the monthly community meetings convened by councillors and while ensure that as from this month, municipal councils across the province take a resolution on schedules of monthly community meetings to become items for audit purposes in future. ‘The Member of the Executive Council responsible for Local Government and Human Settlements will monitor progress and report to this august house regularly. The Department will not only ensure that meetings take place but issues raised in those meetings receive necessary attention’’, she said
Enquiries:
Ben Bole
Cell: 071 566 1399
Email: msbole@nwpg.gov.za
