City of Johannesburg councillors equipped through induction programme
Councillor Celstina Nzimande was one councillor who displayed good qualities of leadership, putting people first before her party.
The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Integrated Councillor Induction Programme (ICIP) was rolled out after CoJ Legislature completed three phases of Councillor Orientation Programme, which was rolled out during November and December 2021.
The ICIP is a national programme rolled out in all of the municipalities as part of SALGA’s supportive role in ensuring municipalities are responsive to community needs, and councillors are effective and efficient in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities.
In the training sessions, councillors were urged to transform local government by effectively playing their oversight role within the parameters of legislation and to exercise their power and responsibilities to work together for peace, order and good governance.
Among others, councillors are expected to deliver excellent service delivery to communities, alleviate poverty, create employment and realise growth of SA economy.
The issues of ward councillor vs PR councillor duties drew a lot of interest, as many councillors often step on each other’s toes, resulting in hostile working relationships.
Councillor Celstina Nzimande was one councillor who displayed good qualities of leadership, putting people first before her party.
“In my ward, I always invite my PR councillor to work with me, though we have different roles and irrespective of different political parties. Our focus has to be the people we serve, people who voted us. Not only does this bring peace and cohesion but it helps in delivering smooth service delivery,” she said.
Many councillors found the sessions informative, giving a clear direction in terms of the objectives of the councillor, namely ethical leadership, good governance, sound financial management, holding executive to account among others.
“If our councillors are empowered, our citizens get empowered too, through better services facilitated by their councillors,” said the speaker of council, Vasco da Gama, in closing remarks at the end of a five-day induction.
