“Your commitment and hard work to ensure the delivery of services to communities across the country in an effort to improve their lives of the people is commendable and I urge you to continue to support the affected communities”, this were the sentiments expressed by honourable Minister Des van Rooyen opening the MINMEC.
The meeting of Minister and Members of the Executive Councils (MINMEC) responsible for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), was held today (17 Feb 2017) in Pretoria.
Today’s meeting took place at the time at the time when some parts of our country are experiencing an unusual weather phenomenon, a Tropical Cyclone Dineo. The Minister thanked the MECs for ensuring a coordinated and coherent response to disastrous Cyclone accompanied by heavy rains and strong winds.
We should continue supporting the affected communities in his period and post the winds and rains, added Minister.
The meeting received a number of presentations which were discussed by the meeting:
Tropical Cyclone Dineo - The meeting received a report on the country’s preparedness for Tropical Cyclone Dineo which is due to affect 3 provinces in South Africa - Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.
The Minister urged Provinces to assist in raising awareness about the dangers posed by this phenomenon. The meeting was briefed that the plans are in place to deal with any eventualities that might arise.
Minimum competency for Senior Managers – the meeting resolved to establish a Task Team consisting of officials from COGTA and National Treasury be established to develop a plan to guide municipalities on the implementation of the Regulations on the Minimum Competency outlining how the Regulations should be implemented.
This Technical Committee was instructed to fast track the finalisation of their discussion since these Regulations have an impact on the performance of municipalities. The process for should be completed before end of March 2017.
Community Development Workers (CDWs) – The meeting was informed that discussions are still ongoing the Departments of Cooperative Governance and Public Service and Administration on the policy imperatives relating to the CDWs Programme. The policy issues should include, amongst other things, the location of the Programme, its impact and the tools of trade.
ESKOM Debts – the meeting noted that out of 64 municipalities that owed Eskom, 50 municipalities made payment agreements, whilst 14 were in discussion to enter into agreements with the electricity provider.
Government interventions through the Minister for Public Enterprises made a pronouncement for Eskom to suspend disconnections until the end of January 2017 to allow municipalities to reach agreements.
COGTA advised that Provinces need to devise mechanisms to closely monitor the adherence to payment plans that will reduce the municipal debt as Eskom proposal to suppress interest should municipalities pay current accounts and honour agreements. It was also indicated that municipalities need to prioritise a review of their tariff models and the ring-fencing of the electricity function.
Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) - The meeting was briefed on the objectives of the MIG and the progress it made thus far in its implementation. Even though there were successes achieved, challenges were experienced with the implementation of this programme in Provinces.
This also included the roles and responsibilities of sector departments and provinces on the MIG Programme as well as the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) on the implementation of the Programme.
Teams were established to support municipalities on specific challenges. MISA has assigned engineers to provide technical support to provinces, as well as establishing a Programme Management Office (PMO) to coordinate the management of programmes and projects implemented in the 27 priority district municipalities.
Appointment of Senior Managers in Municipalities - the meeting resolved that the Regulations and the provisions of the Local Government - Municipal System Act should be enforced and adhered to. It was agreed that an assessment should be conducted to identify the provisions of the Local Government Municipal System Act and its Regulations that are presenting implementation challenges.
The Technical Committee working on the Upper Limits of Salaries, Allowances and Benefits of Senior Managers in Municipalities should address gaps identified in the current notice.
Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) – the meeting noted that proposals on the improvement of integrated planning looked at the transferring of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) functions to the Department of PME and COGTA.
The Directors-General of the departments of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Cooperative Governance and Rural Development will discuss this matter further. The discussion document on integrated planning should be shared with the MINMEC once developed.
Gratuity - On the issue of payment of the gratuity to non-returning councillors, the meeting resolved that the National Department of Cooperative Governance should communicate with provinces on the process.
Provinces do not have information about the payments of councillors and which ones are not paid. It was also resolved that the Remuneration Commission should be asked to explain on how they will want to take the payment of gratuity forward;
Legislations - The meeting was also briefed on the pieces of legislation that provide for determination of municipal outer-boundaries, categorisation of municipalities, delimitation of wards and assessment of municipal capacity by the Municipal Demarcation Board.
Some of the observations, lessons learnt and matters emerging from the demarcation processes that need to be reconsidered were also outlined. The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) also presented maps indicating boundaries that are not aligned properly.
Drought – the meeting was briefed on government’s Response to Drought and Water Shortages across the country. It was also indicated that areas where water restrictions have been introduced, objectives of these restrictions were explained. The meeting urged provinces to continue with water restrictions as the country is not yet out of the woods.
In conclusion, the MINMEC committed to work with and support all the municipalities to provide services to communities across the country.
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