The National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) held joint sittings to debate the State of the Nation Address earlier this year.
SALGA’S SUBMISSIONS TO THE NCOP SALGA is lobbying for equitable budget distribution and the development of a consequence and accountability framework during the lead-up to the local government elections
A
large part of South Africa’s transformation from an apartheid regime to a democratic government has been centred around the transformation of municipalities. Of the three tiers of government, municipalities are the closest to the communities and are relied upon to provide the services and infrastructure that uplift and empower the residents. The transformation process is ongoing, with municipalities focusing on improving service delivery and good governance. Of course, such a transformation is not without its challenges, which is why the South African Local Government Association’s (SALGA)
44
VOICE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
SALGA35Word from Parliament.indd 44
representations to parliament remain critically important. Taking a look at some of the most critical issues SALGA has commented on in recent months, we begin with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation (SoNA) Address.
WHAT ISSUES ARE SALGA CHAMPIONING? Commenting on the president’s SoNA speech, SALGA president, Councillor Thembi Nkadimeng said that the organisation fully supports President Ramaphosa’s for clarity view on the appointment of properly qualified municipal officials to ensure effective management and provision of services.
SALGA feels that a similar focus should be placed on the political arm in a municipality, suggesting that despite numerous interventions to increase the capacity of councillors in the first four years of the current term of office, the gaps remain glaring. Furthermore, the recent developments around COVID-19 have further exposed serious weaknesses in the leadership of many councillors. As the country gears up for the 2021 Local Government Elections, SALGA calls upon all political parties to prioritise their selection of skilled and knowledgeable political candidates. This should include minimum criteria set for councillors coupled with the introduction of a remuneration package based on performance management and accountability. To address corruption and advance ethical conduct, which is a huge impediment to the country’s growth and development, SALGA advocates for the introduction of local government service commissioners, who will be able to swiftly investigate allegations levelled against councillors and enforce the Code of Conduct for Councillors.
ISSUE 35
2021/07/01 4:59 PM
