Newly elected Salga boss speaks

WHITE RIVER – Sidell, also the executive mayor of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality, was elected unopposed into the driver’s seat of this association of municipalities in the province during a three-day marathon provincial conference held in White River last week.

Sidell said she intends to inculcate a new work ethic in all councillors by ensuring that service delivery is intensified across the length and breadth of Mpumalanga.

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“First and foremost, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to all councillors in the province for displaying their confidence in my leadership. It is my considered view that the challenges our municipalities are currently grappling with can be resolved if we work together as a collective. Local government is a highly specialised field and therefore I call upon all role players, councillors, municipal officials, business and communities to come together and make positive and meaningful contributions,” she said.

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“We will strictly monitor the implementation of the service delivery charters of all municipalities in the province. In order for the municipal managers to achieve positive results, there should be clear terms of reference as to what must be done and timelines clearly set. For instance, there is general disregard for reporting and knocking-off time. This deviant behaviour must be dealt with as immediately as possible,” she continued.

“As a matter of fact, I have extensive experience in this field, which I will definitely utilise in enhancing quality service delivery to our people. One of the immediate tasks that I intend executing with speed is the revival and strict implementation of the Batho Pele Principles. All government officials should ensure that these principles are pragmatically implemented and effectively monitored.

All municipal offices are actually supposed to be service delivery points, because they are situated next to the communities they are supposed to service. This means that their effectiveness and efficiency should be 100% functional and operational in order to maximise and accelerate service delivery to the people.” Sidell made a call on all councillors to take their responsibilities very seriously.

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“In fact, I will be introducing an assessment system through which the performance of councillors will be measured. This assessment system will assist councillors in the effective execution of their duties as elected public representatives.

“In the same vein, I am calling on councillors to attend all workshops aimed at capacitating them with skills in political management, financial management and other soft skills relevant in their field of operation. They should play their oversight role in the enhancement of service delivery to our communities.”