SALGA convenes a successful 13th Municipal Managers Forum

Posted: 20 November 2018

SALGA successfully held its 13th National Municipal Managers Forum at the Ekurhuleni Council Chambers in Germiston Civic Centre, Gauteng.

The two-day forum which was held from 12-13 November, saw over 150 municipal managers from local, district and metropolitan municipalities from across the country convene and discuss issues affecting their work.

The Municipal Managers Forum is a network and a platform for sharing good practices and showcasing municipal achievements and most importantly, addresses vulnerabilities and difficulties that constantly challenge the sector.

When reflecting on emerging issues affecting Local Government, SALGA CEO Mr Xolile George said Municipal Managers are responsible for ensure the successful implementation of their municipal IDPs.
SALGA CEO said despite sterling progress made by municipalities in providing access to basic services to those who were previously unserved, South Africa has not benefited from the “urban divide” as there is extreme inequality; poverty and spatial injustice; poor spatial quality; no spatial resilience; spatial ineffectiveness; and weak state capabilities.

He said to restore the promise, SALGA through its mandate has established the Cities Support Programme, Intermediate City Municipalities Support Programme as well as the Small Town Regeneration Programme. He said SALGA offers several capacity building programmes to ensure resilient municipal institutions, as a result, through the SALGA Centre for Leadership and Governance (SCLG), 4743 councilors and senior municipal officials have benefited from the training programmes.

‘’Despite these effects from local government, there are major risks facing this sector such as the municipal debt; Section 139 interventions; energy dynamics, financial viability; amalgamated municipalities; as well as funding of District municipalities’ functions. In that regard, as Municipal Managers we need to ask ourselves “what is our response to the President’s clarion of ‘’Thuma Mina?” concluded SALGA CEO Xolile George.
During day two of the forum, Mr Tebogo Motlashuping from CoGTA presented updates on key Local Government Policy and Programmes. Another key presentation was on the condonement of irregular expenditure and the MPAC Toolkit which was presented by Wayne McComans, Director MFMA Regulatory Oversights from the National Treasury.

McComans lamented the failure of municipalities in following SCM processes when procuring goods and services. He said municipalities are failing to comply with SCM Regulations 32 requirements when piggybacking on contracts secured by another organ of state. "Irregular expenditure has increased by 75% in 2016/17, R16.8 billion was incurred in previous years.

‘’It is shocking to see how accounting officers have embraced irregular expenditure in our municipalities," said Wayne McComans.

He also spoke about the remuneration of political office-bearers saying in accordance with the Public Office Bearers Act, there is also lack of consequence management for non-compliance with the MFMA, it is the same findings over and over again he said.