The Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs is tasked with supporting municipalities in carrying out service delivery. To this end, it is working to ensure that municipalities become sustainable and are able to deliver services that are responsive to the needs of communities.
Municipal governance and administration
To enhance internal governance of municipalities, the department launched a Governance Toolkit in July 2008 at a symposium attended by over 1 000 municipal officials and councillors. The toolkit included documents with guidelines on issues relating to, among others, councillor oversight and community participation. The department also deployed 12 municipal-governance experts in a number of municipalities that require hands-on support on a range of governance and administration matters.
In line with the spirit of deepening local democracy, the process of developing and capacitating ward committees has been initiated. By the middle of 2009, 65% of ward committees in KwaZulu-Natal had received induction training. The department has also initiated the process of designing a ward committee website.
Development planning
In the 2008/09 financial year, the department prepared for implementation of the new KwaZulu- Natal Planning and Development Act. This new dispensation requires all municipalities to have access to a qualified, registered planner for submission of statutory planning applications for consideration by a municipal council.
Towards this end, the department has established district-wide, shared development-planning services to allow municipalities to share the limited planning facilities. The concept was successfully piloted in Ugu District Municipality, and will subsequently be extended to the uMgungundlovu, uMkhanyakude, uThungulu, Zululand and iLembe Districts. Substantial progress has also been made in the preparation and assessment of Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) at municipal level.
Municipal infrastructure
The department offers hands-on support to overall municipal infrastructure-investment planning, project scoping and business planning, and financial management through appropriate stakeholder institutional arrangements.
In cooperation with Eskom, the process of finalising the electricity bulk master plan is at an advanced stage. Further to the finalisation of a provincial infrastructure programme, 49 municipalities have been assisted with completing their draft Comprehensive Infrastructure Plans and all 61 municipalities produced their three-year MIG Capital Development Plans.
The department continues to facilitate the deployment of technical personnel to needy municipalities in partnership with the Development Bank of Southern Africa. It also partnered with the national Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in assisting municipalities with drafting their Indigent Policies for the provision of free basic services.
Municipal finance
Financial viability is one of the cornerstones of a sustainable municipality. To support municipalities in achieving positive financial records, the focus of the department has been the implementation of the Municipal Property Rates Act (MPRA) to increase revenue and manage debt reduction. A total of 20 municipalities rolled out the MPRA programme successfully. Generally, municipalities have improved their ability to comply with the provisions of the MFMA.
The department finalised the implementation of the only electronic monitoring system that measures financial viability in the country. Four other provinces and the national department will now be rolling out the system countrywide.
In respect of the submission of the annual financial statements for the period 2007/08, 90% compliance was reported in KwaZulu-Natal, an improvement of 10% from the reported 80% of the previous year. In respect of the submission of annual reports, 31 of 61 municipalities submitted their reports despite capacity constraints.
Urban and rural development
The department has developed a draft strategy that clarifies its role in supporting municipalities with their local economic development (LED). In future, the department will focus on ensuring the participation of rural women in the mainstream economy by assisting with the establishment of co-ops in rural areas.
Seven rural LED partnerships have been established between the private sector and priority municipalities, and a further seven established co-operatives were supported with business planning and finance.
Rural connectivity
To provide all citizens with access to information and services, the department has constructed 18 Thusong Service Centres (TSCs). Five additional TSCs are currently under construction. The department has also committed resources to the refurbishment of 29 Traditional Administrative Centres.
2010 Fifa World Cup
The department provides hands-on support to five priority municipal areas (eThekwini, Amajuba, Ugu, uMgungundlovu and uThungulu) in the construction and upgrade of sports facilities for use as training grounds and base camps for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. All the targeted municipalities have confirmed that their structures will be ready in time for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Due to the increase in prices for construction material, particularly for steel, all the stadia municipalities have indicated shortfalls in their budgets for 2010. An extra R149.9-million allocation has been made to cover escalating costs. The private sector is called upon to also invest in the world-class stadia infrastructure to ensure the sustainability of the stadiums post-2010.
There is strong focus on addressing disastermanagement issues in these 2010 stadia. An allocation of R2.5-million has been made available for these preparations, which will culminate in an integrated 2010 Fifa World Cup Disaster and Risk Management Plan.
Mission
The Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs will promote people-centred, accountable and viable local governance that accelerates service delivery and ensures sustainable communities.
Vision
People-centred, sustainable local governance that focuses on effective service delivery responsive to the needs of communities.
Contact details
Key personnel
• Nomusa Dube, MEC
• CG Gumbi-Masilela, Head of Department, Office of the MEC
Physical
address:
1st Floor, FNB House,
Redlands Estate, Wembley 3201
Postal address:
Private Bag X9155,
Pietermaritzburg 3200
Tel: +27 33 264 5500
Fax: +27 33 392 0027
Email: sidima.siganga@kznlgta.gov.za
Website: www.kznlgta.gov.za
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