COGTA MEC Fikile Xasa announced that he will visit all Eastern Cape Kingdoms in the near future to communicate Operation Masiphathisane and the establishment of War Rooms. Speaking at a one day session of the political MuniMEC meeting in East London today, MEC Xasa said the first visit with focus at Nqadu to meet with King Mpendulo Sigcawu and communities in his area of jurisdiction. Operation Masiphathisane is a government programme meant to enhance integrated service delivery by the Eastern Cape government.
“We have agreed with Premier Phumulo Masualle of the need to visit Nqadu Kingdom first as part of our broader outreach programme to all Kingdoms in our Province. We expect our government to interact with communities through War Rooms to enhance communication and the delivery of services,” said MEC Xasa.
The Premier will indicate a date for the visit which will be attended by MECs to deal with issues of development in the area amongst other things. Thereafter, he will visit all Kingdoms, said MEC Xasa.
He added that the political MuniMEC meeting which is hosted by COGTA, must become a Provincial War Room that discusses serious challenges affecting municipalities and service delivery in general. For that reason, he said, it is important for political (MECs, Executive Mayors and Mayors) and administrative leadership in the Province to attend the session.
Today’s meeting is attended by Provincial MECs, Executive Mayors and Mayors, Heads of Department, Municipal Managers and the SA Local Government Association (SALGA).
MEC Xasa said political leadership in municipalities must exercise their responsibilities to lead and govern without fail to create a better life in communities through sustainable development.
“I suspect that there are some political leaders amongst us who do not rise to the occasion hence we are pulling towards different directions. We are starting a new term in municipalities, with a new approach and new demands from our communities.”
In this regard, said MEC Xasa, our constituencies demand to be involved in the process of development in their areas. For that reason, there is a need to strengthen Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) structures at all levels through the War Rooms to come closer to community challenges and resolve them.
MEC Xasa said his department will also extend its support to the newly amalgamated municipalities through strategic interventions to sustain development in that space.
The areas of support include the filling of vacant posts, development of organograms, development of Human Resource policies and job evaluation. An amount of R10m was transferred to the amalgamated municipalities during 2016/2017 financial year namely Dr Beyers Naude (R3m), Enoch Mgijima (R3m), Raymond Mhlaba (R2m) and Walter Sisulu (R2m). In the new financial year R15 million will be transferred to all amalgamated municipalities.
Meanwhile, in the same meeting MEC Xasa said the implementation of the Customary Male Initiation Practice Act should be prioritised throughout the Province before the start of the winter initiation season.
“The establishment of initiation structures guided by the Act should be established by end of May 2017,” he said.
The Act was approved by Premier Masualle last year for implementation in the new financial year. The main objectives of the Act amongst other things are as follows;
- provide for the protection of life, the prevention of injuries and all forms of abuse experienced by initiates before, during and after the customary practice of male initiation,
- provide for traditional leadership to take primary responsibility for the practice of male initiation within their areas of jurisdiction, in partnership with the Provincial government and all the other stakeholders,
- ensure that initiation practice is not exploited as a commercial enterprise used purely for personal enrichment, and
- ensure that the teachings and rituals that are part of male initiation are aimed at character building to prepare the young for adulthood.
Enquires:
Mr Mamnkeli Ngam
Cell: 071 685 7981
