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MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Leaders and Traditional Leaders (COGTA) in Mpumalanga, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni has called on the newly elected Executive members of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in Mpumalanga to help steer municipalities towards the improvement of their Local Economic Development (LED). The new Executive members, including the Chairperson, Cllr Muzi Chirwa  were elected recently during a provincial conference in Secunda.

Ms Mtshweni says the fight against the triple effects of unemployment, poverty and inequality must be intensified and the leadership of SALGA is key towards this goal. “As we mark the beginning of the new term of Local Government after the elections in August, municipalities must contribute to the solutions that will address the economic challenges facing our people. We pin our hopes on the leadership of SALGA to ensure that municipalities make a meaningful contribution in the eradication of poverty,” MEC Mtshweni said.

Municipalities in Mpumalanga recorded a milestone achievement in the delivery of basic services by improving access to water by 88%, access to electricity by 91%, access to sanitation by 49% and refuse removal by 48%. This achievement, as stated  in the 2011 STATSSA report, made Mpumalanga a leading province in the country in the delivery of basic services. Ms Mtshweni says SALGA, as the voice of municipalities, is well positioned to help steer municipalities to replicate a similar achievement in the next phase of Local Government.

Issued by Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Mpumalanga Province