Councillors are inducted and trained
This was done in an effort to improve the effectiveness and impact of oversight and accountability in local government
MBOMBELA – Following the vigorous campaigning and voting for municipal elections, the South African Local Government Association (Salga) has embarked on the exercise of preparing and equipping new and returning councillors for the term.
Stats show that about 62 per cent of councillors in South Africa’s 280 municipalities are in those positions for the first time, hence, the need to prepare them through the Integrated Councillor Induction Programme. This was rolled-out nationwide on September 5.
In Mpumalanga, Salga held its two-day inducting seminar on the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), which took place in the Ehlanzeni District on October 13 and 14.
This was done in an effort to improve the effectiveness and impact of oversight and accountability in local government.
“Representatives for the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, in the provincial legislature gave a political overview and elaborated on how MPAC members are expected to conduct themselves.
“The functionality of the internal governance arrangements in a municipality is to a large extent, determined by the effectiveness of its committee systems, which should play a role in terms of enhancing oversight and holding the administration and executive to account,” explained Salga’s communication officer in the province, Ms Nokwanda Ndashe.
Induction for councillors from Nkangala District Municipality was held from October 25 to 26.
Councillors from Nkangala and Gert Sibande districts held their between November 3 and November 4.
The Salga Mpumalanga programme manager for governance and intergovernmental relations, Mr Michael Chauke, also presented on the mandate and functions of the MPAC.
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