With the start of a new local government term, ward committee elections are on the cards, in terms of Section 152 of the Constitution that places the participation of communities at the centre of service delivery and other matters of local government.
The Municipal Structures Act of 1998 and the Municipal Systems Act of 2000 provide the legislative framework for the establishment of ward committees.
The Act stipulates that a metro or local council must make rules regulating the procedure to elect members of a ward committee, taking into account the need for women to be equitably represented in a ward committee and for a diversity of interests in the ward to be represented.
“On Monday 3 October, Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Obed Bapela, in a keynote address at the ICC in Durban, admitted they failed to achieve these objectives in the previous term – locally, provincially and nationally – as the ward committee structures were hijacked and used as political platforms instead of being community-orientated,” said ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge.
“Where it concerns eThekwini specifically, one of the shortfalls in the previous term was indeed the municipality’s failure to identify portfolios prior to the election.
This in turn deprived residents with the necessary skills or academic background (ex-town planners, engineers, nurses, teachers, architects, lawyers or accountants) the opportunity to avail themselves for election and in turn head up sub-committees to engage with the community and to make informed recommendations to the elected ward councillor or through the ward councillor to council.
While the office of the Speaker has tentatively identified Sunday, 6 November as the date to conduct elections across all 119 ward simultaneously, there has again been no directive regarding envisaged portfolios.
This in effect leaves the elected in a predicament of later having to choose a portfolio that does not necessarily align with their personal skills or expectations.”
The following portfolios that aligned with the municipality’s committees were adopted during the previous term: Job creations and skills development, solid waste, roads and stormwater, land reform and food security, safety and security, water and sanitation, safety and security, sport and recreation, health, housing, youth and vulnerable groups.
“In furthering the process, one would also have to consider the demographics of the ward to ensure that residents with not only the necessary skills are elected but that they are representative of all areas of the ward,” said Cllr Beetge.
In the case of ward 97, these areas are:
1. Illovo Beach and Panorama Park
2. Winklespruit
3. Warner Beach
4. St Winifreds and Astra Park
5. Illovo Glen
6. Doonheights and Shulton Park
7. Doonside
8. Amanzimtoti central (Isundu Road west)
9. Amanzimtoti Berea and Ezimangweni
10. Amanzimtoti lower highway.
Every elected ward committee member would be expected to identify an individual from each of these areas to align with their specific portfolio, thereby enlarging the ward committee component to 110 people with the elected ward committee member as chairman.
The respective committees are expected to meet on a monthly basis to collate portfolio specific information from across the ward that should in turn be presented with recommendations for debate at the monthly meeting under chairmanship of the ward councillor.
Only residents who appear on the ward 97 voters roll are eligible for nomination and/or participation in the ward committee elections process.
For more information, call Cllr Beetge on 082-718-8137.
