Members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the South African Local Government Association (Salga) representing the Salga structures in all nine provinces gathered at Fusion Boutique Hotel in the city for the organisation’s annual two-days’ NEC lekgotla starting last Thursday.
President of Salga, Thembi Nkadimeng rendered the opening remarks and said that the NEC lekgotla is a critical part of Salga’s corporate calendar and provides an important platform for strategic reflection and political direction. It also provides an opportunity to engage with key stakeholders that play a pivotal role in the local government space.
“Government is about the well-being and service to the people and local government, as the sphere closest to the people, has a specific responsibility to ensure that it delivers democratic local government and ensure that the quality of life of people continuously improve. This can only become a reality if we work together and build strong partnerships, not only amongst the different spheres of government but also with civil society organisations and communities,” Nkadimeng said.
According to Nkadimeng, 40 municipalities in the country are currently subjected to provincial government intervention in terms of Section 139 of the Constitution, with a few others threatened with similar interventions. “We are of the strong view that this high number of interventions in the affairs of local government is indicative of the failure of the current system of provincial and national government to support and strengthen the capacity of municipalities, as required by Section 154 of the Constitution and to provide for the monitoring and support of municipalities in order to promote the development of capacity to enable municipalities to perform their functions and manage their own affairs,” Nkadimeng reckoned and added that it is Salga’s position that higher intervention should only be, as a last resort, be invoked when such support does not bear the necessary results.
officiates at the NEC lekgotla.
Later in the day, a presentation by the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements, Thamsanqa Dodovu, invited a lively discussion from a panel members Thembi Nkadimeng, local government practitioner Kam Chetty and political analysts Dumisani Hlophe and Mpumelelo Mkhabela. Energy expert Silas Zimu, President of the Institute of Waste Management, Leon Grobbelaar, representative of the CSIR, Mathetha Mokonyama and Group Executive of the Water Research Institute, Stanley Liphadzi participated in a panel discussion on exploring alternative and innovative solutions to water reticulation, sanitation, energy, building, rural gravel roads upgrades and waste management. Zimu also presented a paper on Energy transition and its impact on local government and Budget Reforms Senior Advisor, Kgomotso Pitso interrogated the topic of municipal own revenue and the local government equitable share.
On Thursday evening, deserving municipalities were recognised for excellence.
Salga Provincial Chairperson Pule Shayi congratulated the achieving municipalities and encouraged them to even improve in the future.
Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) was the only municipality to achieve a clean audit finding (Unqualified without findings) for the 2018/19 financial year, while Makhuduthamaga Municipality and Waterberg District Municipality achieved unqualified audit opinions. Greater Letaba, Molemole, Maruleng and Thulamela municipalities were recognised for sustained unqualified audit opinions.
CDM and Bela-Bela, Blouberg, Collins Chabane, Ephraim Mogale, Greater Letaba, Modimolle-Mookgophong, Makhado, Makhuduthamaga, Maruleng and Thulamela municipalities all spent 100% of their Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funds.
MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Basikopo Makamu delivered the key note address at the event and said that the last financial year recorded a decrease in qualified audit opinions and that at this stage, Modimolle-Mookgophong was the only municipality that has received a disclaimer. “We are still awaiting the outcomes for Polokwane and Mogalakwena,” Makamu explained and added that the 2018/19 financial year had 50% lesser disclaimers and adverse audit opinions than the previous financial years.
The lekgotla ended with a number of important outcomes and resolutions, being that Makhado Municipality be included in the list of those municipalities that are doing well and will be used as case studies especially when presenting in Parliament and to set up a team from Salga, also consisting of Coghsta and the Provincial Treasury to provide support to Fetakgomo Tubatse Municipality, while Salga will provide support to Sekhukhune District Municipality on areas relating to budgets, the research on UIF expenditure as well as the water license.
Story/photos: BARRY VILJOEN
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of welcome.
acknowledgement
of guests.
Basikopo Makamu delivers the key note address at the gala dinner.
Mayor John Mpe after
receiving two coveted
awards.
Privincial Director of Operations
Ledile Sebati officiates
at the awards ceremony.
of Department, Gavin Pratt delivers a word of thanks
at the awards ceremony.
