MEC for Department of Developmental Local Government and Housing, Mr Howard Yawa, MPL, at the Southern District Municipality Awards ceremony for the Best Performing Ward Committee held on Thursday, City of Matolsana banquet hall

Programme Director
The Honourable Executive Mayor of the Southern District Municipality, Councillor Boitumelo Moloi
The Honourable Executive Mayor of the City of Matlosana, Councillor China Dodovu Honourable Executive Mayors and Mayors present
Honourable Speakers, Chief Whips and Councillors
Municipal Managers and other senior government officials
Ward committee members
Community Development Workers
Distinguished guests
Members of the Media
Comrades
Ladies and gentlemen

Programme Director, Section 152 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa as adopted in 1996 defines the objectives of local government as to:

* provide democratic and accountable local government for local communities
* encourage the involvement of communities and community organisations in matters of local government.

The White Paper on Local Government also defines Developmental Local Government as local government that is committed to working with citizens and groups within the community.

What both the constitution and the White Paper on Local Government stress is that involvement of our people in the affairs of our municipalities is not optional, it is not something that we can choose not to do. We are compelled to give expression to the clause in the Freedom Charter that asserts that: "The People shall govern."

In the same breath, the Constitution commands all municipalities to involve their communities in the affairs of local government. Ward committees are therefore critical in ensuring that our communities are able to participate in the affairs of their respective municipalities.

Our province has been able to record a remarkable progress in establishing fully complemented ward committees. As to date, all 365 ward committees have been re-established following the inauguration of new councils in April last year. It is now up to municipalities to make sure that these ward committees remain operational and are utilised optimally to perform their developmental duties.

Programme Director, we are aware of the challenges that our ward committees are still grappling with and these include:

* lack of sufficient budget
* lack of proper office as well as office equipments etc.

The reality is that if these challenges are not addressed in good time, they can negatively affect the performance of these structures. I have been informed about instances where meetings are held at councillors' houses. This inconvenience cannot be allowed to continue.

I wish to assure you that we will continue to work closely with municipalities to find ways to address some of these challenges. Let me mention that my department has in the interim donated old but usable furniture to be used by ward committees to some of our municipalities.

Together with municipalities, the department will have to explore other avenues to ensure that proper and accessible office accommodation is provided.

Our support to municipalities does not only end with the establishment and monitoring of these structures. Soon after the election last year, we conducted a series of induction training for councillors and ward committees. The induction programme for councillors exposed our elected public representatives to legislations that govern local government. The programme also empowered them as to their roles and responsibilities.

The department has also compiled an information booklet on ward committees � this booklet seeks to inform and educate the community about the establishment, composition and functions of the ward committees.

Let me also take this opportunity to announce that there will be another follow-up training facilitated by the Department of Provincial and Local Government through Local Government Water and related Services Education and Training Authority (LGWSETA).

Local government is one sphere of government that is closest to the people, public participation at this level is therefore critical. We therefore need to maximise public participation efforts and strengthen communication to ensure that our communities are well informed about developments in their wards and our plan to make the system of local government work.

I am confident that these awards should be able to take community participation in our various wards and municipalities to the next level. I therefore wish to commend the Southern District Municipality for initiating this programme and hope that other District Municipalities will follow suit.

In conclusion, I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate all the participating ward committees for being part of the national partnership to build a better life for all. We appreciate your commitment and collective contribution to improving service delivery in your wards and your municipalities and for being the critical link with communities. As you discharge your patriotic duty, you can count on our continued support.

Together we have a responsibility to create a conducive atmosphere for constructive engagement and development in our communities. We have a responsibility to regularly engage our communities in consultative meetings and regular feedback sessions as regards their needs and expectations. This will enhance service delivery, understanding of municipal processes and ultimately restore the integrity and confidence of our communities in our evolving system of local government.

By being closer with our communities, councillors and ward committees would be able to defeat elements that seek to undermine democratically elected structures that are meant to serve our people. All of us collectively have a responsibility to defeat greed, opportunism, and self interest in order to roll-out the plan to make local government work better for all our people and accelerate service delivery.

While all the ward committees are winners by virtue of being part of the national partnership to build a better life for all, we wish to in advance congratulate those who will be receiving recognition for going the extra mile.

Ke a leboga.

Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Head of MEC Support-Office of the MEC for Public Works North West Provincial Government
Tel: 018 387 2447
Fax: 018 387 2868
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail:LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Developmental Local Government and Housing, North West Provincial Government
28 June 2007