Nuutste Artikels
Vertoon
Provincial Local Government Summit
Gepubliseer op: 10 March 2010
DECLARATION ON THE PROVINCIAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUMMIT,
GRACELAND, SECUNDA, 26 FEBRUARY 2010
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. The Mpumalanga Provincial Government, National and Provincial Departments, Local Government, Institution of Traditional Leadership, Organised Labour, State owned enterprises, private institutions, civic organisations and non-governmental organisation gathered at the Mpumalanga Provincial Local Government Indaba, at Graceland, in Secunda, Govan Mbeki Local Municipality.
1.2. The Indaba takes place in the midst of global financial meltdown, as a result of about 1 million jobs has been lost and also the province has been engulfed by service delivery protests.
1.3. The focus of the Mpumalanga Provincial Local Government Indaba was to assess the state of local government, review the implementation of the Local government strategic agenda, challenges faced by our 21 municipalities and building and consolidating the strides we have made.
1.4. The Provincial Local Government Indaba has reconfirmed the outcomes of the President’s engagement meeting with all Premiers, Mayors and MECs for Local Government. The Indaba has produced a Provincial Local Government Turnaround strategy on what kind of local government system we envisage in dealing with the challenges at hand. The strategy has found resonance and is adequately aligned to the broader national local government turnaround strategy but with a differentiated approach to the provincial context.
2. CENTRALITY OF LOCAL GOVERMENT
2.1. The Provincial Local Government indaba reconfirms that municipalities are a vital cog in the developmental state machinery.
2.2. Further noted that local government is where most of our people have direct and frequent contact with government. Municipalities are the frontline institutions that enable citizen interaction with government and access government services.
2.3. Further noted that Local government provides the necessary platform for deepening democracy through public participation and engagement with communities on matters affecting development and service delivery.
3. INDABA RESOLUTIONS
STATE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE PROVINCE
3.1. The Provincial Local Government Indaba noted with concern that the province has been marred by service delivery protests that were characterized by violence, intimidation, destruction of properties and in some instances loss of lives.
3.2. Further noted the social distance between public representatives and the communities they represent. Reconfirms the centrality of involving citizens on issues that affect them including ensuring their participation of their developmental path. Resolved that the social distance between citizens and the public representatives especially at local level requires an immediate attention.
3.3. Further resolved to intensify the public participation process.
3.4. The Indaba reconfirms its commitment to respect the rights of individuals to engage to raise their concerns and engage in peaceful protests. Further condemned the destruction of property, intimidation and killings, and directed law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with those on the wrong side of the law.
3.5. Further resolved and urged the MEC for COGTA to engage the Presidential Coordinating Council through National Ministry of COGTA for the policy development to address councilor’s properties destroyed during service delivery protests. Further resolved to encourage councilors to join SASRIA to ameliorate their plight in the absence of a policy.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND VIABILITY
3.7. The Indaba further noted that more than 50% of the municipalities are in financial distress and are grant dependent. Resolved that all departments, state owned enterprises and government employees to pay all their outstanding municipal accounts immediately. Further resolved to engage National Government with respect to the review of grants funding including review the funding regime. Further resolved to craft and implement a programme of debt and revenue management.
3.8. Further noted that the audit outcomes in most municipalities are not satisfactory but noted the strides made in 2009/10 by the three district municipalities in achieving unqualified audit opinions. Resolved to replicate the good practices and expand the shared services model across the province and strengthen the Municipal Public Accounts Committees. Resolved to review the provincial implementation plan on Operation Clean audit 2014 to achieve clean audit before the target date.
3.8. Further resolved to implement a support programme to improve the finance systems (billing, assets management etc.), review the supply chain management regime, filling of the all critical vacant posts in finance management unit by 2011 and strengthening the internal and external audit structures. The Indaba directed COGTA and PT to lead the process of financial turnaround strategy for local government supported by National COGTA and Treasury
SERVICE DELIVERY PROVISION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
3.9. The Indaba further noted that the province has missed our target of the 2006 election manifesto: “by 2010 when South Africa hosts the SWC all households will have access to clean running water and decent sanitation”. Resolved and reconfirmed the Executive Council decision for the establishment of a dedicated provincial support unit (Rapid Response Support Unit) to be placed in the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to facilitate, coordinate, monitor, evaluate and streamline all support initiatives aimed at local government.
3.10. Further resolved to strengthen the Intergovernmental Relations Forums to effectively make government work better. Resolved to prioritise the provision of basic services to the neglected areas like villages, rural communities and farm dwellers in the revised IDPs and SDBIPs.
3.11. The Indaba noted with concern the state of infrastructure in areas of water, roads, disaster management, clinics, schools, information communication. Resolved to provide adequate support in finalisation of assets register and asset management plans.
3.12. The indaba support the significant shift by the Provincial Government on its bold decisions in the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and construction of new ones in areas of education, health, public roads and basic service like energy provision, integrated human settlement and water resource infrastructure. Resolved a decisive break with apartheid spatial planning and ensure deliberate targeted budget set aside for infrastructure.
MUNICIPAL TRANSFORMATION AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY
3.13. Further noted that all municipalities have varying capabilities and capacities, are faced with varying socio-economic challenges. The indaba conceded that the notion of giving municipalities functions that they have no capacity and capability to discharge, is suicidal and we have that conceded that our one size fits all configurations have created unintended consequences.
3.14. The Provincial Local Government Indaba supports and commits to fully participates in the Ministerial proposed policy review with regard to local government configuration.
BUILDING A NEW PUBLIC SERVICE CADRE FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY
3.15. The Indaba further noted the assertion by the President, His Excellency JG Zuma when he said: “There are some individuals placed in positions of responsibility, who do very little or nothing, either through incapacity or unwillingness, to address the concerns of the people they are meant to serve. We have a duty therefore to work with speed to either capacitate all those who are incapable, needing such assistance or replace them with more capable people.”
3.16. The Indaba resolved to enforce the Performance Management and Development System in all municipalities in 2010/11. Further resolved to implement a more aggressive skills revolution through training and development. Further to accelerate the implementation a reward system that recognized those who are excelling in their duties and enforce consequence management for poor performance. Further resolved to engage organized labour on how to roll-out the system including looking at means to enhance performance and ensure that all labour forums are functional.
3.17. The Indaba resolved to speed up the implementation of professionalization framework and ensure that local government practitioners belong to recognized professional bodies. The indaba further urged the MEC of COGTA to explore the establishment of Local Government Education and Development Academy/faculty as part of the Mpumalanga University announced by the Hon. Premier DD Mabuza during the SOPA, 19 February 2010.
3.18. The indaba noted with concern the high vacancy rate in critical and scarce skills areas. Resolved to fill all critical vacant positions and immediately conduct a skills audit for top four and ensure suitable qualified individuals are attracted and retained.
3.19. The Indaba has noted that there are good politicians and administrators at the local government level, but agreed that we need to increase our efforts in instilling a new culture, value and ethos in those working for the provincial administration, local government and state owned enterprises. The indaba resolved that all municipalities to roll-out a Batho Pele Programme supported by COGTA.
3.20. The indaba resolved to move with speed in conducting an institutional audit to assess the local governments’ capacity to delivery on its mandate and produce a capability statement for service delivery.
LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
3.21. Further noted that most of our people are still trapped in poverty, unemployment remains high and the inequality has increased.
3.22. Resolved as parties to speed up the implementation of the Local Economic Development strategies focusing on regional integration, increase the roll-out sites of a comprehensive rural development programme, implementation of all summits resolutions on Water Indaba, Provincial Economic Summits and Local Government Indaba.
3.23. Further resolved to engage business immediately, with respect to their contribution to local economic development and explore expanding the CSI and Social Labour plans.
INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
3.24. The Indaba noted with concern that most service delivery challenges they have encountered fall outside the mandate of municipalities but are a responsibility of the provincial and national departments. Resolved and appreciated the commitment of sector departments to ensure that all their sector plans are fully integrated and aligned to municipal integrated development plans.
3.25. Further noted the commitments made by sector departments and other partners in honouring the agreed commitments, resolved in finalisation of all Service Level Agreements and sign-off delivery agreements with 30 days of the beginning of the municipal financial year.
3.26. Further resolved that in 2011 all municipalities Integrated Development Plans will be credible, improved involvement of sector departments and deployment of officials at the appropriate levels and ensure targeted support. The Indaba, further commits to genuine public participation of all the partners during the IDP process.
DEEPENING LOCAL PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY
3.27. The Provincial Local Government indaba noted with concern the deepening social distance between the councillors and the communities they represent. Further noted the perceptions by citizens, indicating that: Local Government is unaccountable to the citizens.
3.28. Further noted that this paralysis has led to disengagement on the part of citizens and some citizens to withhold the payment for services and in some instances led to community frustration and some has resorted to take to the streets to express their grievances and sense of alienation, sometimes in violent and destructive ways.
3.29. Further reconfirmed theneed to ensure that the challenges of service delivery are addressed in a systematic, determined and transparent manner; at all times working with communities in resolving problems and overcoming whatever obstacles that may exist.
3.30 Resolved to immediately attend to the functionality of the ward committees and other local fora, able supported by capacitated and resourced CDWs, traditional councils and ward committees.
3.31. The indaba resolved to intensify councilors’ training programme aimed at empowering and strengthening the oversight capability of those deployed in Council over the Executive.
3.32. The Indaba adopted and agreed on a set of non-negotiables as outlined by the Hon. Premier during the Address to the Provincial Local Government Indaba, 25 February 2010. The indaba reconfirms and commits to honour the set of non-negotiables: Councilors to call meetings at each ward, without failure; Councilors to provide continuous feedback on service delivery; Councilors ensure community participation in all matters affecting them and Councilors to have empathy and listen to community needs.
3.33. The indaba admittedly conceded the inadequate involvement of traditional leaders in matters of development and planning at local government. The Indaba acknowledges the contribution of the institution of traditional leadership in the struggle for development, community development and custodianship of our culture, heritage and values. Resolved to involve the institution of traditional leadership as a strategic partner in government work and community development
3.34. Resolved and urged the MEC for COGTA to engage the institution of traditional leadership in crafting a clear guidelines and approach for the full integration into government work and activities.
IMPLEMENTATION OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND COMBATING CORRUPTION
3.36. The indaba noted that where corruption and patronage are endemic, money meant for the poor leaks out of the municipality into private hands has a direct cost to the poor resulting in the legitimacy of local government being undermined, and thereby a social chasm opens up between the state and communities.
3.37. The indaba reconfirmed its commitment to good governance and directed full and expeditious implementation of the section 106 findings and recommendations without delays.
3.38. Reaffirmed our call for zero tolerance to any form of corruption and those involved irrespective of their positions and status, needs to be brought to book through a due process.
CONCLUSION
3.35. As we conclude this Provincial Local Government indaba, we call upon partners and the citizens of the province to respond to our clarion call: “Working together we can do more to make local government, every body’s business”.
3.36 Echoing the Premier’s closing remarks siya vuma sithi (we accede): “We have a duty and capability in this gathering to restore public confidence in our system of local government”.
3.37. We commit to: “Less s’chamtho, action, action and action.”
Navraag oor hierdie artikel
Verwante Artikels
Voorsittersverslag 2010
AHI-Mpumalanga Provinsiale Kongres 2010
Voorsittersverslag
AHI Mpumalanga
Lees meer...
Provincial LED
Local Economic Development is one of the main objectives within various government ministries and institutions of South Africa.
AHI Mpumalanga
Lees meer...
Ekonomiese Oorsig deur Ulrich Joubert
Die plaaslike politieke toneel het op ‘n baie energieke noot begin met ‘n jolige
verdere huwelikseremonie. Of dit die res van die jaar so jolig sal gaan, en of
die huwelik van die alliansievennote so standvastig sal wees, sal ons maar
moet sien.
Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut
Lees meer...
Toespraak: Deon Huysamer
Toespraak gelewer op 21 Januarie deur die AHI President, mnr Deon Huysamer
Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut
Lees meer...
Ekonomiese Soeklig / Spotlight
South Africa's gross domestic product performed unexpectedly well in the
third quarter of last year, rising by 0,9% at a seasonally adjusted annualised
rate (saar).
Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut
Lees meer...
