Local Government getting back to basics, says Minister

In his Budget Vote address yesterday, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan, told MPs “the test of change is when citizens themselves attest that they have a decent living environment, they enjoy safety for themselves and their children, they can easily access educational and health facilities, they are part of a vibrant economy creating jobs and inclusiveness and they leave behind poverty.”

Gordhan said he wanted all 278 municipalities in South Africa to “get back to basics… the cutting of grass, the patching of potholes, ensuring working robots, street lights, regular refuse removal must be provided.”

He stressed the importance of good governance and transparency, adding that oversight committees must not be interfered with, and that senior managers must sign performance agreements “and be held to them”.

“All ward councillors must report regularly to citizens in their wards… and ensure their communities are fully informed about what is going on and what they can expect,” Gordhan said.

The Minister announced that his Department would be working with the Department of Higher Education and Training to establish a Local Government Training and Development Institute to enhance the capacity and technical skills of municipal managers and others. Additionally, the Department would establish an advisory panel, including members of civil society and the corporate sector, to improve municipalities’ supply chain management and procurement systems to inspire greater public trust in the financial management of municipalities.

The Minister then spoke of the challenge of responding to rapid urbanisation, which was contributing to the spread of poverty and unemployment and a strain on services.

In his speech, the DA’s Shadow Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Kevin Mileham, said that violent service delivery protests required urgent attention. He referred to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s 2009 report into the reasons fueling these protests that included "perceptions of corruption and maladministration” that have led to “a lack of confidence in the government’s ability to deliver”.

He added that, “Among the factors identified by the Public Protector were community dissatisfaction with poor service delivery, financial mismanagement and allegations of fraud and corruption, coupled with complaints of poor communication with communities. Nothing has changed. If anything, it has gotten worse.”

Mileham went on to say that municipalities in South Africa have difficulties collecting their revenue as a result of improperly implemented financial policies, inadequate billing systems and the deployment of unqualified senior managers.

"We must ensure that our local authorities are properly resourced, adequately financed and fully capacitated. We must ensure that the right people are in the right positions and that political interference in operational management is minimised,” said Mileham.

He concluded by directly addressing Gordhan, saying, "Minister, it’s time to step up to the plate…. Are you prepared to get rid of nonperforming mayors, councillors and municipal managers? Or are we going to have five more years of looting at the hands of the ANC?"