Chairperson and hon members, at the extended Cabinet lekgotla in January 2006, the national government together with the Premiers and the SA Local Government Association, Salga, adopted the Five-Year Local Government Strategic Agenda from 2006-2011.
Three strategic priorities were adopted to define the nature of our work in strengthening our overall system of local government. These priorities were: firstly, mainstreaming hands-on support to local government to improve municipal governance, performance and accountability; secondly, addressing the structure and governance arrangements of the state in order to better strengthen, support and monitor local government; and lastly, refining and strengthening the policy, regulatory and fiscal environment for local government and giving greater attention to the enforcement measures.
Today, the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill before this House must be seen as part of our implementation of the third strategic priority, which is about refining and strengthening the policy, regulatory and fiscal environment for local government. Refining the policy environment for local government is an intrinsic part of the commitment on the part of the Department of Provincial and Local Government to ensure that local government delivers services to the people. The Local Government Laws Amendment Bill of 2007 is one important step in this direction. As you may be aware, other processes will also follow. For example, the House will be aware that a significant policy review of provincial and local government is currently underway under the stewardship of the Department of Provincial and Local Government.
In general, the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill effects amendments that refine, adjust and align core local government legislation, such as the Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act of 1998, the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act of 1998, the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act of 2000 and the Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Act of 2003. It also repeals legislation that has become redundant.
The policy intentions of the amendments contained in the Bill serve to, among others, specifically improve fiscal alignment, planning and budgeting; promote the uniform interpretation and application of the law; enhance performance management in local government; further refine and remove impediments in the implementation of municipal property rates; promote practices in good governance; and ensure alignment of legislation pertaining to local government.
The Department of Provincial and Local Government welcomes the additional amendment adopted by the Select Committee on Local Government and Administration that strengthens the role of ward committees in public participation. The Bill that was presented to the select committee provided for a significant improvement of the role of the ward committee to further deepen democracy, and community involvement in local development projects.
The select committee has added to this improvement by now making it possible for the members of the ward committee to elect their own chairperson of the committee, instead of the previous dispensation where the ward councillor was the chair by law.
The select committee has also aligned the term of office of the ward committee with that of the council, i.e. five years, making for greater stability in the administration and life cycle of the ward committee. Other matters deliberated on by the select committee ensured greater alignment of the participation of staff members in elections with the Public Service Amendment Act of 2007. Furthermore, the Bill defines the meaning of "close family member" when providing for the involvement of municipal staff and political office bearers in procurement matters, and strengthening the role and involvement of the National Council of Provinces in matters relating to nonperformance and maladministration in municipalities, and providing for flexibility in dealing with matters relating to intergovernmental planning and the demarcation of boundaries and the adjustments of the division of powers and functions between districts and local municipalities.
I appreciate the important role that the NCOP continues to play as an integral part of the democratic process and as envisaged by our Constitution. In this regard, I would like to thank the members of the Select Committee on Local Government and Administration, under the able leadership of Mr Sicelo Shiceka, for the lively discussions and for managing a consensus on key matters amongst affected stakeholders on some matters of the Bill. I would also like to thank all stakeholders who provided useful comments and insights on various clauses of this Bill. I urge all the members of the NCOP to vote for the adoption of the Bill so that we can now follow the process for its final deliberation by the Portfolio Committee on Provincial and Local Government of the National Assembly. I thank you. [Applause.]