SALGA Northern Cape Provincial Members Assembly reflects on key municipal issues

Posted: 01 March 2020

On 26 February 2020, the SALGA Northern Cape held its annual Provincial Members Assembly (PMA) to reflect on measures that improve good governance, oversight, accountability and consequence management in a quest to cultivate socio-economic development at the Horseshoe Inn Conference Centre, in Kimberley.

As a constitutionally mandated meeting of all 31 provincial municipalities, in terms of Article 23.1 of the SALGA constitution, the gathering occurs at least once a year to:

• Act under the directions of the Provincial Conference;

• Adopt the provincial members’ programme of action, business plan and budget in respect of ensuing the year;

• Consider reports from the provincial working groups and oversight bodies; as well as

• Deal with any other issues emanating from the provisions applicable to provincial members in this Constitution.

During his welcome address, Sol Plaatje Municipality Executive Mayor, Patrick Mabilo stated that “as public representatives we should always remain conscious of our realities.” For instance, when assessing the local government mandate municipalities must always honour their role to review and adopt the SALGA business plan.

The lack of service delivery and the increasing number underperforming municipalities in the province was raised as a major concern.

The Northern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) MEC, Bentley Vass amplified the mayor’s sentiments stating that “as we head towards the local government elections, we will continue to experience incidents that hamper service delivery."  

However, members should continuously consult and engage with the various sector stakeholders to improve service delivery. Issues that local government needs to attend to are that of community involvement; oversight by councils; audit committees, and municipal bylaws.

SALGA Provincial Chairperson, Cllr Sofia Mosikatsi highlighted that “it is evident that local government is under pressure from all viewpoints,” for instance, for the past seven years the Audit Outcomes have been regressing. Out of 31 municipalities only one received a clean audit.

In efforts to curb these challenges SALGA has engaged with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) on proposals for the amendment of the Structures Act of 1998 and the progress that has been made in this regard.

To keep members abreast on key policy advances SALGA NEC Member, Cllr Flora Maboa-Boltman highlighted the Municipal Cost Containment Regulations informing delegates that “all municipalities and municipal entities are to develop or revise, adopt and implement cost containment policies.”