AT a conference last week, KwaZulu-Natal’s mayors and municipal managers came together to discuss how better to serve their respective constituents.
The COGTA (Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs) MUNIMEC conference, co-hosted by uThungulu District Municipality, focused on COGTA’s Back to Basics programme which primarily concerns service delivery.
District mayors had to report on the state of each local municipality under their control, including items like senior management vacancies and updates on water and sanitation issues.
COGTA Spokesperson, Lennox Mabaso, outlined the department’s Back to Basics communication strategy, highlighting the need for competent communication officers within every local and district municipality.
‘When dealing with media wanting only to report on negative issues, municipalities need to distribute regular, well written press releases showing the good things municipalities do,’ said Mabaso.
Dr Kim Charles, a South Korean national who is the bridge between various projects across Africa and the South Korean Government, spoke in detail on what it takes to build a healthy nation and economy.
Charles, who works with the KZN Provincial Government on its policy for integrated infrastructure planning and rural development, was primarily concerned with the intergovernmental approach between the various government entities.
‘There is a lack of co-ordination and communication between all government departments, which has a negative impact on the region’s people,’ said Charles.
The gist of his message, however, is that good things come from hard work.
‘You can’t eat if you don’t work hard.’
Charles warned that central government’s funding for grants is not a never-ending money pit, neither is the country’s finances gained from natural resources including gold, diamonds and platinum.
Charles’ message to the people of KZN at this quarter’s MUNIMEC conference was that hard work is the only thing that pays dividends and has a lasting legacy. He concluded by saying it is up to the government, at a local, provincial and national level, to ensure rural communities are afforded the tools with which to set up businesses and grow the economy, rather than cash injections in the form of welfare.
@TamlynJolly
