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Date :05/08/2005
Source: Ministry of Provincial and Local Government
Title: Hangana: SALGA National Members Assembly


  Speech delivered by the Deputy Minister for Provincial and Local Government Nomatyala Hangana at the South African Local Government Associations (SALGA) National Members Assembly, Cape Town Programme Director;
The Chairperson of SALGA, Councillor Amos Masondo;
Councillors and Members of the Assembly; Municipal Managers;
Ladies and Gentlemen

I am delighted to be here for the SALGA National Members Assembly, convened at a very crucial time in the history of our young democracy. It is in the interest of the people of South Africa, of our 284 municipalities and of government in general to see SALGA succeed in achieving its strategic objectives. A strong SALGA means strong and viable municipalities. Strong municipalities are a catalyst to economic growth, development and sustainable service delivery.

It is indeed an honour to address the representatives of our people at local level – the coalface of service delivery – just before we go to the local government elections. The municipal elections are scheduled to take place anytime between December 2005 and March 2006. This must also be the last of such meetings before our people evaluate our performance, as a sphere of government, through the ballot box.

Chairperson, next week Tuesday we will be celebrating the women of our country and recognising their contribution to the struggle for a free, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa. This is an important day in our calendar as it coincides with the 16 days of Activism against Women and Child Abuse. Naturally, women would support this campaign, but we should not make a mistake of thinking that this is a campaign directed and is for women and children only.

It is a campaign for us as a society, particularly men who in most cases are the perpetrators of women and child abuse. I can actually hear some men whispering that “not all of us”. It is actually true, but good men are so few in so much that they are overshadowed by the abusers who most of the time are men. That is why it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to make sure that society becomes aware of the effects of women and child abuse. If we can achieve this goal, we would be very much close to the ideal society that respects the dignity and the rights of women and children.

I would like to congratulate SALGA on its ability to persistently espouse this spirit. You have demonstrated unwavering commitment towards transforming local government and thereby responding to the call to rid out society of poverty and create conditions for development and sustainable growth. SALGA is also one of the first institutions that responded promptly to a call for equal representation of women in structures of local government. However, when one looks at reality on the ground, we realise that there is still more that needs to be done. An opportunity is presented to us in the form of the up coming local government elections to correct this imbalance.

Having said that, we must recognise that significant challenges continue to threaten the gains made in the first decade of our democracy. These challenges are well documented and known to each and every one of us. Generations hence may well look back at how we were able to deal with these challenges. They may well ask whether we have designed the right solutions, and whether we were able to implement the right interventions at the right time. They will undoubtedly assess our strategies and analyse them for appropriateness and efficacy.

As it does from time-to-time, Cabinet reflected on the implementation of government's Programme of Action during its mid-year Lekgotla held in July. A critical element in the discussions was the issue of the organisation and capacity of the state and its preparedness to implement this programme. In this regard, the Lekgotla noted specific challenges faced by the local sphere of government. Diagnostic assessments undertaken through Project Consolidate are pointing at institutional development, financial viability, service delivery, local economic development and good governance as areas of weakness in our armoury.

Chairperson, we have noted with concern, considerable administrative and political instability at local government level. Our municipalities are severely weakened by high staff turnovers, suspension of key personnel and high incidences of acting officials. The problem is compounded by our institutions' inability to retain staff in the key areas of management, finance, engineering and information and communications technology.

In addressing this situation, our municipalities are required to review their recruitment and retention practices to ensure that we deploy the right person for the right job at the right time. In addition to this, we must continuously strengthen the relationship between the administrative and political components of our institutions as a measure to enhance communication and to clarify accountability.

Our constitution compels our municipalities to provide services to communities in a sustainable manner. It is their core business – the reason for their existence. So when we notice a lack in the delivery of basic services in some of our municipalities, we get concerned. When we read reports about huge amounts of money owed to municipalities and in some cases huge amounts owed by municipalities, we raise the alarm. We do so because we are duty-bound to ensure that our municipalities are on a sound financial footing.

Our analysis of the situation shows that municipalities face particular challenges in the areas of budgeting and revenue and debt management. We cannot be bystanders while our institutions slide further and further towards bankruptcy. What is required is a government-wide collective action – one that involves all three spheres of government. It is our collective responsibility to do so. The dplg is at the forefront of our drive to ensure effective vertical integration through a number of inter-governmental interventions and strategies.

Participation is widely recognised as both a necessary and strategic prerequisite for good governance at local level. Realising this, government has introduce a number instruments to facilitate the participation of citizens in the running of their municipalities and in the improvement of their own conditions. One such instrument is the Integrated Development Plan (IDP).

Initial analysis of recent IDP Hearings conducted in all 9 provinces show that great strides have been made in deepening democracy and participation at local level. It however also shows that much still needs to be done to make Ward Committees more effective. During imbizo's, ward committee members often tell us about very practical problems they experience. These might relate to vast distances that they have to travel or personal financial expenses that they incur when trying to carry out the work. These are real-world problems, which require real-world solutions.

We cannot afford to loose the connectivity with communities; neither can we allow these problems to undermine the accountability and consultative processes embedded in good governance at this level. It is for this reason that the Lekgotla decided on an intensive programme of interaction with the public, built on the current Presidential municipal imbizo programme and involving Ministers, Premiers, MECs and Mayors.

Chairperson, in and of itself, the upcoming local government election does not provide a comprehensive answer to all the challenges facing us. It does, however, provide us with a window of opportunity to reinvigorate the local sphere of government. We must be alert to ways of leveraging the heightened awareness about the sector during this time for the common good of our communities.

SALGA, as the representative organised local government body, can play a vital role to enhance delivery at local government level. It can do so by continuing to transform local government to enable it to fulfil its developmental mandate. This role requires SALGA to provide strong leadership for its membership in the areas of:

* Administrative stability; * Sound financial practices to increase viability; * Visible service delivery; and * Participation for good governance.

Chairperson, collectively, we create a legacy for the next generation – a legacy that is built on an interdependence, which compels us to work together. We cannot, each on our own, address these challenges. And when the one stumbles and falls, the other should be there to support. I wish you success with all proceedings at this Members Assembly.

Thank you.

Issued by: Ministry of Provincial and Local Government
5 August 2005
   

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