Coghsta MEC briefs newly elected mayors

The reality of dissatisfaction with service delivery is real and mayors must hit the ground running not to be caught off guard as citizens are beginning to lose patience at grassroots level.
This was the message from Makoma Makhurupetje, MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) when she addressed mayors of Limpopo municipalities at a meeting in the city last Thursday.
Makhurupetje said that central to the meeting was to inform mayors about the issues they will be inheriting and confronting, so that they are better prepared to respond to the issues accordingly.
Makhurupetje reminded mayors that the objects of local government are to provide democratic and accountable government for local communities, to ensure the provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner, to promote social and economic development, to promote a safe and healthy environment and to encourage the involvement of communities and community organisations in the matters of local government.

The MEC made it clear that mayors will have to lead from the front in implementing the local government turnaround plan to change the situation in municipalities for the better. “Our turnaround plan that is called the Back to Basics Approach to Local Government is based on five pillars which seek to put people and their concerns first through effective consultation and public participation and create conditions for decent living by consistently delivering municipal services of the right quality and standard. The other pillars are good governance which entails cutting down on wastage, spending money prudently, hiring competent officials and ensuring transparency and accountability, sound financial management and accounting which include recovery of debts owed to municipalities, the improvement of Municipal Audit Performance and implementation of Audit Action Plans and lastly the building and maintenance of sound institutional and administrative capabilities at all levels,” Makhurupetje said.
The meeting unanimously agreed to fast track implementation of the Back to Basics Programme and committed itself to reviving the MEC/Mayors Quarterly Meetings to provide oversight in the implementation of the Operation Clean Audit Action Plan and the Back to Basic Programme of Action. It was also agreed to convene the Premier’s Intergovernmental Forum as well as the District Intergovernmental Forums on a regular basis.
“We have committed ourselves to continuously give support to all municipalities through our various partners such as the South African Local Government Association (Salga), the Office of the Auditor-General, Provincial Treasury, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and sector departments.
In closing, Makhurupetje extended her gratitude to the media fraternity for the sterling work done in covering the elections. “You did your utmost to ensure that coverage of elections happened without bias and discharged with integrity and highest levels of professionalism. For this we want to thank you and hope that you will continue to assist us in further deepening our democracy,” Makhurupetje said.

Story and photos: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com

Featured photo: Executive Mayors John Mpe of Capricorn District, Thembi Nkadimeng of Polokwane and Stan Ramaila of Sekhukhune District, Makoma Makhurupetje, MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), Morris Mataboge of Waterberg District, Florence Radzilani of Vhembe District and Nkakareng Rakgoale of Mopani District at the briefing.