Mpumalanga Provincial Members’ Assembly

Posted: 17 October 2019

On the 10th and the 11th of October 2019, SALGA in Mpumalanga hosted its Provincial Members’ Assembly at the Forever Resorts Badplaas in eManzana, in order to:

• Adopt the provincial members’ programme of action, business plan and budget in respect of the ensuing year;
• Consider reports from the working groups and oversight bodies; and
• Deal with any other issues emanating from the provisions applicable to provincial members in this Constitution.

The SALGA Constitution (as amended) provides that “SALGA shall atleast annually hold a meeting of members to be known and described in the notice calling such a meeting as the Provincial Members’ Assembly. The Members’ Assembly is charged with the responsibility of exercising SALGA’s authority between Conferences which take place every five (5) years”.

On the first day of the PMA, the Keynote Address was delivered by the MEC for the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Mandla Msibi, who spoke about the newly approved District-based Model which requires much capacity and budget, streamlined from National Government. He mentioned that the profiling of districts will assist government to determine the requirements of municipalities within the districts. The MEC further spoke about the 2021 Local Government Elections, which we are walking to, indicating the importance of retaining skills.

Various presentations were presented on critical local government matters. These were on the following:

• The Current legislative Review Process in the Health Sector presented by the National Department of Health;
• Norms and Standards for Financing Specialized Waste Management Equipment/Vehicles SALGA;
• Integrated National Electrification Programme implementation in Mpumalanga and challenges experienced presented by the Department of Energy;
• NERSA Geographical Information System (GIS) Confirmation Project Update for Mpumalanga presented by NERSA;
• Progress on Ward Delimitation Process towards the Local Government Elections presented by the Municipal Demarcation Board.
• The Inter-Ministerial Task Team Progress Update and Response to ESKOM Unbundling presented by SALGA;
• The State of Local Government in the Province presented the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs;
• LGSETA Strategic Agenda in realizing a highly skilled and capable Local Government presented by LGSETA;
• Promotion of Access to Information Act presented the South African Human Rights Commission.
•  The District-Based Service Delivery Model was presented by SALGA. As you are aware, Cabinet adopted a district-based service delivery model that aims to integrate national, provincial and local government projects and overcome the current silo approach to service delivery. Implementation forums representing all three spheres of the government will be responsible for project implementation, which would enhance the delivery of services.
•  SALGA also gave an Update on the Cost Containment issue. The Gazette on Cost Containment was published on the 7th of June 2019.

A panel discussion on Stimulating Rural Economies and Enhancing Spatial Efficiencies through Targeted Densification took place with SALGA and the University of Mpumalanga as panellists. Thereafter, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality and SALGA shared a best practice on Stimulating Rural Economies and Enhancing Spatial Efficiencies through Targeted Densification. In an endeavour to provide high value specialised services, SALGA undertook the design of a new settlement for Bushbuckridge Local Municipality. All the work was done internally by SALGA, translating into a direct cost saving by the municipality. 

SALGA is an association of municipalities that strives to inspire service delivery. The awards ceremony is merely a recognition and appreciation of excellent work done by the municipalities, in the various categories. The ceremony also encourages and motivates the municipalities who might not win to continue striving to be the best and to perhaps also learn from those municipalities who are doing well in that aspect.

The following municipalities were recognized:

• Recognition of attendance in SALGA Programmes went to Ehlanzeni District Municipality
• Clean Audit Outcomes for 2017/18 went to Gert Sibande District Municipality
• Recognition of Payment of full membership levies 2018/19 went to Nkangala District Municipality
• Disaster Management went to Ehlanzeni District Municipality
• Community Safety went to Lekwa Local Municipality
• Fire Services went to Msukaligwa Local Municipality
• Improved Municipal Health Service went to Ehlanzeni District Municipality
• Best performing District Municipality on the coordination of HIV,STI’s and TB programs went to Ehlanzeni District Municipality
• Best performing Local Municipality on the coordination of HIV,STI’s and TB programs went to Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality
•  Successful and Sustainable Local Economic Development (LED) Forum went to Nkomazi Local Municipality
•  Successful support and implementation of the Rural Densification Programme went to Bushbuckridge Local Municipality
•  Functional Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) went to Ehlanzeni District Municipality
•  Functional Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) went to Thembisile Hani Local Municipality
•  Best Performing Local Job Evaluation Unit went to Nkomazi Local Municipality
•  Best Performing District Job Evaluation unit went to Ehlanzeni District Municipality
•  Implementation of Performance Management System (district municipality) went to Nkangala District Municipality
•  Implementation of Performance Management System (local municipality) went to Bushbuckridge Local Municipality

•  The Chairperson’s Special Award, recognized a municipality that has consistently performed throughout the 2018/19 financial year. This municipality has developed a Cluster Model that regulates its approach to Intergovernmental Relations Forums within its district, the model will be incorporated into the Provincial Intergovernmental Framework. As part of improving the oversight and accountability, this municipality has constantly provided learning networks in the form of MPAC Lekgotla’s and various workshops to strengthen the effectiveness of the MPACs. The Office of the Speaker in this municipality has provided great support to the MPAC. This municipality has also conducted benchmark visits to other municipalities in the province as well as outside the province. In terms of financial administration; the municipality has functional structures in place to ensure that the financial affairs of the municipality are in order. The municipality has functional structures in place to assist in improving the financial affairs of its local municipalities, these include GRAP training programs and technical hands-on-support. The municipality also performs very well in terms of financial performance and management.

The award went to Ehlanzeni District Municipality.

The Provincial Members’ Assembly resolved that:

• SALGA leadership represent and lobby for the interest of the Councillors especially on Councillor Welfare issues (Medical Aid, Pension Fund, Remuneration Increases, Insurance for Councillors) and the Upper Limits be finalized and  implemented by 1 July and all councillors should be paid equally without using the grades of municipalities.
• District meetings be convened by the MCPF to give an update on the state of MCPF.
• The SALGA Provincial Office Bearers together with three representatives from District Municipalities be mandated to convene a meeting with the NEC and raise the concerns on the cost containments and possibly propose an interdiction on the cost containment regulations by end of October 2019.
• SALGA facilitates a session for inputs on the legislative reviews and drafting processes of the health legislation especially the NHI to meet the submission deadline of 29 November 2019.
• District Engagements be facilitated to further share the District Based Model with all the municipalities in the Province.
• An engagement with Traditional Authorities be conducted to discuss implementation of SPLUMA and the Benoni Declaration.
• SALGA to engage National/Provincial Treasury on government budget for municipal accounts to be aligned with the number of properties that sector departments own within the municipality.
• SALGA to support municipalities on the development of environmental health and the regulation of sand mining by-laws.
• SALGA to support municipalities to review SCM policies to be supportive to SMMEs.
• SALGA to support municipalities with the strengthening of LED Forum, Business Forums and Transport Forums and the establishment of LED agencies as municipal entities.
• The conclusion of the Service Delivery Agreement between ESKOM and municipalities be fast-tracked.
• SALGA to lobby National Treasury and COGTA that a certain percentage of MIG be allocated towards funding of Disaster Management Fleet including the purchase of Fire Engines.
• SALGA to prioritise role clarification for Local and District municipalities with regards to roads and transport as well as the devolution strategy.
• SALGA convenes a provincial and national platform to discuss all challenges on the Roads and Transport with the relevant stakeholders and sectors from all spheres of government by 2020/21.
• SALGA to roll out capacity building on mSCOA and GRAP.

The members recognized and appreciated the 100% achievement by SALGA Mpumalanga for the 2018/19 APP financial year and the Clean Audit received by SALGA.