The Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Lechesa Tsenoli has condemned the violent acts that have resurfaced on the eve of the 7th May general elections. “We call on communities to do everything in their power to avoid any violence in pursuing their civic concerns.

It is grossly inappropriate to disrupt services that do exist and elections for any reason. We all have the responsibility to help the IEC conduct a free and fair elections. We call on all voters to go out in our numbers to vote also in appreciation of our country being run democratically and not by self-imposed rulers,” said Minister Tsenoli.

“Even as we go through these national and provincial elections, municipalities are finalising the integrated development plans and their budgets to address many of the concerns people are raising. These will be announced during June and July this year,” added Tsenoli.

Minister also said that National and provincial programs including through the presidential coordination commission (PICC), extent-ended public works programs, and community works program are continuing to do just that. He says that rapid growth of informal settlements and the decaying infrastructure of the old areas are not easily matched by municipal planning and budgeting requirements.

Minister Tsenoli said the Intergovernmental fiscal flows are under severe pressure because of global economic impact on employment and availability of resources. “We are however also targeting a series of interventions to improve the management of available resources, root out corrupt practices and maladministration where these exist, increase community engagement by three spheres of government, to effectively respond to these concerns by communities,” concluded Minister Tsenoli.