Issued by: Department of Constitutional Development
MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES (NCOP) AGREEMENT ON THE INTERVENTION OF THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THE EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF SERVICES IN BUTTERWORTH
The Department of Constitutional Development welcomes the agreement reached at the National Council of Provinces on the intervention of the Eastern Province Government to ensure the effective delivery of services to the community of Butterworth.
The agreement underscores the desire and ability of the local, provincial and national spheres of government to give effect tot the constitutional commitment to cooperative government to ensure that all citizens enjoy the benefits of municipal services.
The Butterworth Transitional Local Authority has, over a period, of time been unable to ensure the effective delivery of essential services. The situation deteriorated to the extent that all role players, including the TLC, the National Department of Constitutional Development, the Eastern Cape Provincial Government and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) agreed on the need for the Provincial intervene to restore service delivery to Butterworth.
The agreement allows the Premier of the Eastern Cape Province to appoint a team of administrators, in terms of section 139(2)(c) of the Constitution, to ensure that national standards of service provision, financial management and administrative procedures are ensured and sustained in Butterworth.
The agreement also ensures that there is regular communication between the administrators and the members of the Butterworth Municipality.
It should be noted that this agreement is of historic significance because it is the first time that section 139(2)(c) of the Constitution is being applied.
The NCOP agreement underscores the need for regular consultation and cooperation between all spheres of government to ensure that elected structures such as municipalities are supported to ensure their political and administrative viability.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
DATE: 21 APRIL 1998 ENQUIRIES: FRED BARRON DIRECTOR: COMMUNICATION TEL: 082 456 7545