liphimbo labo maspala … · 2 mpumalanga quarterly newsletter in this issue: editorial team the...

1

Liphimbo Labo Maspalawww.salga.org.za

Liphimbo Labo MaspalaMpumalanga Quarterly Newsletter | Quarter 1

National Executive Committee elects Cllr Thembisile Nkadimeng as new SALGA President

Disaster Management Centre in Dr. Pixley Ka Isaka Seme officially opened

SALGA warmly welcomes COGTA MEC

2

Mpumalanga Quarterly Newsletter

In this issue:

Editorial Team

The Chairperson Speaks 04

A Word from the Provincial Director of Operations 05

New President of SALGA 06

SALGA welcomes COGTA MEC 07

AG meets with municipalities 07

Municipal Audits 2017-18 09

Salgan nominated as Water Ambassador 11

Action Plan on HIV, TB, and STI 13

Training Workshop on Cemeteries and Crematoria 13

Engagement on District Roads and Transport functions 14

Case Studies, Best Practices, and Innovations in the sector: 17

Municipal Focus: 19

EditorNokwanda Ndashe, Communication & Marketing Officer. Mandy Mthethwa, Strategic Support Manager

ContributorsDecia Matumba, Senior Advisor: Trading Services. Sibusisiwe Goba-Sigawuke, Senior Advisor: Inclusive Communities. Bongi ka Dube, Communications Manager: Gert Sibande District Municipality. George Mthethwa, Communications Director: Department of Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs. Mandla Zwane, Communications: Msukaligwa Local Municipality

SALGA reserves the right to publish, shorten, edit or omit any input submitted.

3

Liphimbo Labo Maspala

Geology of the Barberton Greenstone Belt:Mpumalanga

4


Mpumalanga Provincial Chairperson

Cllr . Muzi Chirwa

n the 8th of May 2019 South Africans exercised their right to vote, as the National and Provincial Elections took place on that day. We have reached a milestone and great heights as a democratic country and we should celebrate because of that.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the new members that have been elected nationally and provincially. As SALGA we are fortunate to have met and engaged with newly elected MEC Mandla Msibi for the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs on the 20th of June, welcoming him as the new political principal of the Local Government sphere. I’d also like to congratulate and welcome back the Premier of Mpumalanga Mrs. Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane. I have much faith that all the new members will continue leading us to greater heights. I’d also like to congratulate the new President of SALGA Clr. Thembisile Nkadimeng and as a province, we support her appointment and will continue to work with her for the upliftment of local government.

In the month of June, we celebrated Youth month and participated in various youth month activities across the province. We are all encouraged to change the lives of young people in our communities daily. With the increased crime and violence that we are experiencing in our schools, we encourage caregivers, parents, teachers, peers, to be actively involved in positively grooming

4

The Chairperson Speaks the young individual. We want to see pilots, scientists, mathematicians, entrepreneurs, executives, presidents and the likes of the youth in our society and not prisons and cemeteries that are filled with young lives.

I also encourage municipalities and work together with Traditional Leaders wherever and if necessary to prevent fatalities in the practice of ingoma, which takes place between June and July. Ingoma is a rite of passage of young boys into adulthood that has been previously enveloped by loss of lives. I’d like to appreciate the House of Traditional Leaders for their effort in appointing a team that is monitoring the operation of initiation schools.

As from the 1st of July, municipalities are encouraged to implement the approved budgets according to the timelines. Mechanisms should be strengthened and in place to monitor these budgets so that performance is effective. We are working towards Local Government elections in 2021 and this is a way for the government to motivate and increase voter turnout.

It’s that time of the year once again when we will be celebrating International Mandela Day on the 18th of July. I encourage all of us to make a difference in at least one person’s life and fulfilling the vision of uTata Nelson Mandela. Image a world where we all build and assist each other, we aspire to be that world and it starts with each of us.

O

5


Provincial Director of Operations

Mrs Gugu Langa

A Word from the Provincial Director of Operations

or the year 2018/19, SALGA as an organization registered its performance at 98% overall achievement of the fifty-five targets that were set for the year. The 98% constitute 54 targets achieved out of the 55 targets. Only 2% of the targets were not fully completed by the end of the financial year under review and have therefore been rolled over to the 2019/20 financial year. The provincial office, however, achieved 100% in its implementation of the Annual Performance Plan and we strive to lead as an exemplary team which is for the benefit of the organization.

The 2019/20 financial year began on the 1st of April and in striving to inspire service delivery we ‘hit the ground running’. During the quarter we saw changes in the national and provincial sphere of government, following the National and Provincial Elections which took place on the 8th of May. On behalf of my administration team, I would like to welcome the newly elected members within the province and nationally as well, trusting that the good working relations that we have formed as SALGA with some of our key departments will continue growing stronger.

Various activities took place during the quarter and I would like to congratulate Ms. Decia Matumba on being nominated as a Water Ambassador at the 5th International River and Environmental Management Cooperation Conference which was held from the 12th to the 15th of May 2019 in Mozambique. On the 20th of June, we also had the opportunity to engage with the new MEC for the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Mr. Mandla Msibi, at a meeting that took place with the Provincial Executive Committee of SALGA in the province.

SALGA as an organization has adopted a new structure which came into place on the 1st of April as we began our new financial year. The structure is in line with the SALGA strategy and vision, which aims to ‘Inspire Service Delivery’ in each municipal and local government space.

We indeed look forward to the next quarter where we will be celebrating Mandela Day and recognizing women on Women’s Day. Let us all continue to recognize our strengths and be willing to lend a hand to those in need, especially within our communities.

F

6


Cllr Thembisile Nkadimeng

SALGA National Executive Committee elects Cllr Thembisile Nkadimeng as new SALGA President

ollowing the 2019 Provincial and National elections, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) President Parks Tau was elected as a Deputy Minister for Cooperative Governance resulting in a vacancy of the SALGA President.

Duly authorized by the SALGA Constitution, the SALGA National Executive Committee (NEC) exercised its constitutional prerogative to fill the vacancy, having considered several factors including continuity, gender, and generational mix, provincial representation, and categories of municipalities represented in the SALGA NEC.

In filling the vacancy of SALGA President, the SALGA NEC gave due consideration to the current Deputy Presidents and unanimously elected Cllr Thembisile Nkadimeng as its new President.

Cllr Nkadimeng, who hails from the Limpopo province previously held the position of SALGA Limpopo Provincial Chairperson. A product of the University of the North, Cllr Nkadimeng holds a Higher Education Diploma, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree as well as a BPhil (Political Studies) which she obtained from the University of Stellenbosch. In preparation for her numerous leadership roles, she also completed the Advanced Program in Management at Wits Business School.

Cllr Nkadimeng joined the City of Polokwane as Executive Mayor in July 2014, where she is currently serving as the first woman Executive Mayor under the democratic dispensation. She holds similar records at SALGA, having been elected the first female SALGA Limpopo Chairperson and now only the second female to lead SALGA nationally, following in the footsteps of former Minister of Human Settlement, Hon Nomaindia Mfeketo, who was the first female SALGA leader.

The appointment of Cllr Nkadimeng, as a representative from a local municipality, also the first SALGA President that does not come from a metropolitan municipality, will immensely contribute to advancing the vision of the Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF). The IUDF aims to create ‘liveable, safe, resource-efficient cities and towns that are socially integrated, economically inclusive and globally competitive, where residents actively participate in urban life’.

The SALGA PEC wishes to congratulate and extend well wishes to President Nkadimeng in her new responsibilities and further wishes to congratulate Deputy Minister Parks Tau, who as a result of his dedication and commitment towards influencing the international agenda, has placed the local government on the global map.

F

7


SALGA warmly welcomes COGTA MEC n the 20th of June, SALGA Mpumalanga Provincial

Office Bearers (Chairperson Clr. Muzi Chirwa and Deputy Chairpersons – Clr. Sylvia Nxumalo and Clr. Tiny Mthimunye) met with the newly appointed MEC for the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Mr. Mandla Msibi. The primary purpose of the meeting was for SALGA to warmly welcome the MEC and to formally have a briefing on key developments

within the local government space. SALGA welcomes MEC Msibi as the new political principal of the Local Government sphere in the province, based on his prior capacity as Speaker of the City of Mbombela Local Municipality. SALGA anticipates a cordial and mutually rewarding working relationship with the MEC personally and the Department in general in a quest to inspire service delivery.

AG meets with municipalities SALGA and the Auditor-General met with municipalities in Mpumalanga, to deal with issues of the Public Audit Amendment Act 5 of 2018, to discuss the implications and the intentions of the amendments specifically highlighting consequences to the municipality.

The Act aims to:

1. Amend the Public Audit Act, 2004, so as:

• To delete certain definitions and to insert new definitions;

• To provide for certainty regarding the discretion of the Auditor-General with regards to certain audits;

• To authorize the Auditor-General to undertake

performance audits and to provide audit or audit-related services to an international association, body, institution or organization;

• An audit performed under this Act, to a relevant public body for investigation;

• To empower the Auditor-General to take appropriate remedial action;

• To provide for the Auditor-General to issue a certificate of debt where an accounting officer or accounting authority failed to recover losses from a responsible person and to instruct the relevant executive authority to collect the debt;

• To provide for the establishment, powers, and

O

Chairperson Clr. Chirwa, COGTA MEC Mandla Msibi and Provincial Director of Operations Mrs. Gugu Langa

8


functions of a remuneration committee;

• To provide for consultation between the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-bearers and the remuneration committee;

• To provide for the defraying of certain excess audit fees as a direct charge against the National Revenue Fund;

• To revise the provisions relating to the appointment of an audit committee for the Auditor-General;

• To provide that the Auditor-General makes regulations on specific issues;

• To substitute certain expressions; and

2. To provide for matters connected in addition to that.

The meeting covered parts of the existing legislative instruments for public finance management, history of audit outcomes, expansion of the government mandate through the Public Audit Amendment Act, and the implementation process on the expected amendments.

According to Ms. Sibongile Lubambo, from the Auditor-General, the areas of greatest vulnerability in public service include:

• Inadequate record keeping, control disciplines, and supervision and monitoring.

• Material non-compliance with key legislation on financial and performance management.

• Material non-compliance with supply chain management legislation is widespread contributing to the continuing trends of high irregular expenditure. Conflict of interest is creating opportunities for supply chain management to be abused thus financial health declines.

• Unauthorized expenditure remains high.

• Fruitless and wasteful expenditure continues to increase.

• Consequence management is not done thoroughly.

Through these engagements, audit issues will be addressed and thus lead to viable municipalities.

9


The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) has noted that the Auditor General South Africa (AGSA)’s 2017/18 Audit Outcomes released on Tuesday, 26 June 2019, indicate a regression from the previous year audit results. This is indeed a call for concern and a setback towards the vision to achieve a developmental local government that is built on the pillars of clean governance and financial accountability.

SALGA in Mpumalanga appreciates the two (2) audit improvements namely; Gert Sibande District Municipality from unqualified audit opinion with findings to unqualified audit opinion with no findings and Thaba Chweu from disclaimed audit opinion to qualified audit opinion, Thaba Chweu was part of the two (2) adopted municipalities in 2017/2018 financial year.

As much as Thaba Chweu has moved from disclaimer to qualified, there is still more work that needs to be done for the municipality to move to a unqualified audit opinion

It was also unfortunate that there was a regression of eight (8) municipalities which include; Ehlanzeni and Nkangala District municipalities from unqualified audit opinion with no findings to unqualified audit opinion with findings, Bushbuckridge, Dipaleseng, Lekwa and Thembisile Hani local municipalities from unqualified audit opinion with findings to qualified audit opinion and Msukaligwa and Dr JS Moroka local municipalities from qualified audit opinion to adverse audit opinion. Challenges that resulted in poor audit outcomes include; non-compliance with legislation and policies, unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful (UIFW) expenditure.

Since the launch of the Municipal Audit Support Programme in 2014, SALGA has provided hands-on support to selected municipalities in the form of assisting with financial accounting assistance, preparation of annual financial statements and providing technical reviews and guidance. In addition, transversal support has been provided to all red zone municipalities through training in Councilor Capacity Building, Annual Financial

Statements, Asset Management, Revenue Management, Revenue Enhancement, Debt Management as well as Internal Audit and Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) Workshops.

SALGA has over the past year embarked on a number of capacity building initiatives for the council including assisting municipalities with the establishment of Disciplinary Boards and training of Municipal Public Accounts Committees. The amendments to the act now place an onus on municipalities to address gaps in the implementation of consequence management expeditiously.

The results confirm that the Municipal Audit Support Program (MASP) for municipalities requires a much more rigorous and intensified approach, especially for most struggling municipalities. Furthermore, the Auditor General report illuminates the lack of accountability, failure to implement AGSA recommendations, and in some instances even disregarded. SALGA commends Thaba Chweu Local Municipality who with the support of SALGA improved in their audit opinion. Gert Sibande District Municipality moved from unqualified with findings to unqualified with no findings, this shows that despite the challenging environment improvement is possible when the commitment is there.

SALGA remains committed to working with all key stakeholders, such as the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, National and Provincial Treasuries, as well as municipalities to intensify audit support interventions for troubled municipalities in Leadership, Governance, Financial Management and Institutional Capacity, which are the four pillars of MASP.

SALGA also congratulates all the municipalities in the country that performed well in the latest audits and continue to consistently achieve a clean audit status. Furthermore, SALGA commends the AG for its continuing efforts in strengthening accountability and highlighting the state of local government in managing the public purse as prescribed by the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).

Municipal Audits 2017-18

10


Municipality Audit opinion evaluation 2017-18 audit outcomes 2016-17 audit outcomes

Ehlanzeni District Regressed Unqualified with findings Unqualified with no findings

Gert Sibande District Improved Unqualified with no findings Unqualified with findings

Nkangala District Regressed Unqualified with findings Unqualified with no findings

Bushbuckridge Regressed Qualified Unqualified with findings

Chief Albert Luthuli Unchanged Unqualified with findings Unqualified with findings

City of Mbombela Unchanged Unqualified with findings Unqualified with findings

Dipaleseng Regressed Qualified Unqualified with findings

Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Unchanged Unqualified with findings Unqualified with findings

Dr. JS Moroka Regressed Adverse Qualified

Emakhazeni Unchanged Qualified Qualified

Emalahleni Unchanged Qualified Qualified

Govan Mbeki Regressed Disclaimer Unqualified with findings

Lekwa Regressed Qualified Unqualified with findings

Mkhondo Unchanged Qualified Qualified

Msukaligwa Regressed Adverse Qualified

Nkomazi Unchanged Unqualified with findings Unqualified with findings

Steve Tshwete Unchanged Unqualified with findings Unqualified with findings

Thaba Chweu Improved Qualified Disclaimer

Thembisile Hani Regressed Qualified Unqualified with findings

Victor Khanye Unchanged Qualified Qualified

11


Salgan nominated as Water Ambassador at 5Th International REMCO Conference

ALGA participated at the 5th International River and Environmental Management Cooperation Conference which was held from the 12th – 15th of May 2019, at the Republic of Mozambique.

The River and Environmental Management Cooperation (REMCO) initiative is a collaborative framework between the water management institutions in the three countries viz. South Africa, eSwatini and Mozambique, with a primary focus in the Incomati and Maputo river basins. REMCO was initiated and developed to endorse the Transboundary Water Resources Management Conference held in Germany in 2009. The aim was to enhance the management of the Incomati (South Africa, Mozambique, and eSwatini) and the Vecht (Germany and The Netherlands) transboundary river basins. REMCO seeks to strengthen the capacity of the already existing governance structures for the Incomati-Maputo basin

through the established Tripartite Permanent Technical Committee (TPTC).

The REMCO initiative is a dialogue enabler to harmonize management actions in the Incomati and Maputo River Basins. The dialogue facilitated the implementation of the IncoMaputo Agreement enhancing cooperation in the management of the river systems, given the shared resource and requirement for institutions operating local, while acknowledging the national interest and sovereignty of the riparian countries.

Ms. Decia Matumba (Senior Advisor: Trading Services within the Mpumalanga provincial office) was nominated as a Water Ambassador by REMCO. Water Ambassadors are entrusted with sharing best practices and knowledge on the importance of water conservation with relevant stakeholders.

S

12


The Inkomati – Usuthu Catchment Management Agency is representing South Africa as they operate the Inkomati - Usuthu river basins within the following areas:

• City of Mbombela Local Municipality;

• Bushbuckridge Local Municipality;

• Nkomazi Local Municipality;

• Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (excluding Mashishing);

• Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality;

• Mkhondo Local Municipality; and

• Emakhazeni Local Municipality (excluding the Highveld).

The River and Environmental Management Cooperation’s main objective is to create an effective platform for the River Basin Institutions to exchange knowledge about operational methods and practices, to foster co-learning and to enhance cooperation between the River Basin Institutions and other water management institutions or stakeholders through informed and consensus-driven comments and recommendations including the following:

• Cooperation on the operational management of the Incomati and Maputo River Basins;

• Coordinate and align the implementation of the products and projects generated by the TPTC through the Progressive Realisation of the Inco-Maputo Agreement (PRIMA) Programme;

• Develop a decision/discussion/consensus seeking approach;

• Coordinate other relevant operational transboundary water resources management activities;

• Identify and develop projects that are beneficial for the catchment or projects seeking to improve existing projects; and

• Facilitate stakeholder involvement in vulnerable groups, water user associations, farmers and communities.

The 2019 REMCO Conference theme was: Dealing with water scarcity and other risks in a Transboundary Context. The following five sub-themes under the main theme were discussed:

• Drought and flood management;

• Stakeholder participation in transboundary water resources management;

• IT in water resource management in a transboundary context;

• Monitoring techniques under extreme weather conditions; and

• Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement (CME) in South Africa, eSwatini and Mozambique.

The conference included a working session on the role of REMCO within the Inco-Maputo basin. The conference consisted of presentations, technical sessions and group discussions to enable engagement. The main objectives of the technical sessions and group discussions were to:

• Identify common challenges and recommend solutions;

• Strengthen cooperation amongst countries with the shared basins;

• Build stronger linkages through networking and sharing of experiences; and

• Increase awareness of the roles and responsibilities of the REMCO and make stakeholders aware of the current cooperation actions with the supporting countries.

The conference hosted five countries (Mozambique, ESwatini, South Africa, The Nether Lands, and Germany). The event provided a good platform for networking, sharing of best and bad practices including innovative solutions that could benefit our Municipalities.

SALGA was represented by Cllr. Mavis Charles (NCOP representative), Clr. Peter Mokoena (Working Group Chairperson and PEC member), Mrs. Gugu Langa (Provincial Director of Operations) and Ms. Decia Matumba (Senior Advisor: Trading Services).

13


Action plan on HIV, TB, and STI developed SALGA in Mpumalanga hosted a workshop with all municipalities within the province to develop a provincial action plan that will support municipalities in the coordination and implementation of HIV, TB, and STI.

The fourth National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2017 - 2022 that South Africa has adopted to guide its response to HIV, Tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted Infections has been developed and focuses on the “impact” using detailed information and available insights. This National Strategic Plan aims to reduce new infections, elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission, a reduction in new infections among adolescent girls and young women, to cut TB incidents and to reduce new gonorrhea and syphilis infections.

According to a study by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), recently published in the journal Nature, a total of 5.3

million South Africans under the age of 50 are HIV-positive. Almost one in five (17%) of South African adults aged between 15 and 49 have HIV – a five percentage point increase from 2000. The provinces with the highest prevalence rates in SA are Mpumalanga (20.9%), Free State (21.3%), and KwaZulu-Natal (24%). The Western Cape (10%), Northern Cape (11.5%) and Limpopo (13.2%) have the lowest rates. - Katharine Child, Timeslive.

Through this action plan, SALGA will be able to support its member municipalities to reduce new infections, elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission, a reduction in new infections among adolescent girls and young women, to cut TB incidents and to reduce new gonorrhoea and syphilis infections as per what is set out in the National Strategic Plan.

Training on Cemeteries and Crematoria

On the 21st to the 23rd of May 2019 SALGA hosted a training on Cemeteries and Crematoria that was presented by the South African Cemeteries Association. This is part of a series of trainings workshops that have been rolled out in provinces including KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Limpopo, Northern Cape, and Western Cape. The main aim of the workshop is to provide standardized, uniform practices to ensure the sustainability of Cemetery and Crematoria services in municipalities. Facilitators of the workshop were Mr. Denis Ing from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Mr. Reggie Moloi from the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. They are both executive team members of the South African Cemeteries Association.

The workshop was attended by officials and councilors from Steve Tshwete, Nkomazi, and Emalahleni local municipalities, as well as a candidate from Ray Nkonyeni Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.

The three-day Training Workshop covered the following modules:

a) Legislative frameworks

This session covered provisions of the constitution and the Bill of Rights, National Environmental Management Act, National Health Act and the Regulations relating to the management of human remains, the Air Quality Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Births and Death Registration Act, the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act as well as the National Heritage Resources Act.

b) Occupational Safety

This session covered Hazards in Cemeteries and Crematoria, Risk Assessment, Risk Control, Emergency procedures, Personal Protective Equipment, Infection and Transmission control, Manual Handling injuries as well as the Basic Conditions of employment.

c) Administration of Cemeteries and Crematoria

This session covered Burial and Creation record management, Grave mapping and location, Social responsibility (dealing with bereaved clients, cultural

14


Joint engagement session on District Roads and Transport functions

and religious diversity), information sharing and communicating with funeral undertakers.

d) Practical Aspects of Burials

This session discussed practical methods for measuring grave plots, Gravedigging and grave probing, Soil types, Equipment use and maintenance, different grave types, shoring techniques, signs of grave collapse, collapsed grave consolidation, re-opening of graves and exhumations.

Delegates were assessed by writing a short exam on the second day of the workshop.

The final session was a visit to a cemetery and crematorium for practical observations. The delegates visited the City of Mbombela Cemetery and Crematorium in Sonheuwel where they interacted with the cemetery manager and staff and observed different aspects of the theory that had been discussed in the workshop.

The workshop was concluded with the workshop evaluation and issuing of Certificates by the South African Cemeteries Association.

joint engagement session was facilitated on the 06th of June 2019 between the Mpumalanga and Gauteng at SALGA National Offices, targeting district municipalities to discuss their roles and functions within roads and transport. All three (3) districts - Ehlanzeni, Gert Sibande and Nkangala from Mpumalanga, West Rand and Sedibeng District Municipalities from Gauteng attended.

The Gauteng Provincial Working Group Chairperson: Cllr Eunice Mgcina facilitated the session with the Mpumalanga Provincial Working Group Chairperson: Cllr Peter Mokoena doing the opening and closing remarks.

Background on Joint Session:

Gert Sibande District Municipality engaged SALGA Mpumalanga on the 23rd of January 2019 during the Human Settlements and Municipal Planning Working Group Session with regards to the Roads and Transport functions for District Municipalities and recommended the following:

1. SALGA investigates the resources requirements or resources required for the implementation of transport functions for local government (District and Local municipalities);

A

15


2. SALGA to identify revenue sources (grants and levies) associated with the functions discussed.

The Human Settlements and Municipal Planning Working Group recommended that SALGA arranges a session with District Municipalities to determine the challenges that Districts are experiencing with implementing their Roads and Transport Functions; and

SALGA to determine areas that require intervention for the successful implementation of the District Roads and Transport functions.

The Gauteng District Session on roads and transport took place on 26 October 2018, at the West Rand District Municipality in Randfontein. The areas of focus for discussion at the Gauteng District Session included:

• Capacity to perform the function

• Funding

• Challenges with projects

• Relationship with the Department

SALGA to assist in terms of advice and lobbying for the Districts in terms of programs, capacity, and funding.

Challenges experienced by District Municipalities:

District Municipalities are experiencing challenges with implementing the Roads and Transport roles and functions due to some of the following factors:

• Funding for the Roads and Transport function;

• Adequate management and maintenance of existing public transport facilities due to financial constraints

• Capacity constraints / Institutional arrangements;

• Law enforcement;

• Taxis impounded because of operating licenses;

• Slow issuing of operating licenses;

• Allege bribery in releasing impounded vehicles;

• Law enforcement act outside the Transport Department;

Project implementation:

• Relationship with DRT should be on joint planning and execution of tasks;

• All activities happening in the region/district must be known by the Municipality before Community;

• District Municipality not always informed of the project being implemented by the DRT, especially road improvement, maintenance projects;

• Appropriate facilities to be provided at public transport hubs and schools;

Planning and Implementation

• Spatial Planning & Transport Planning Integration (SPLUMA);

• PRASA rail reserves (Municipalities vs PRASA);

• Development applications: Long period to obtain comments/approval from GDRT;

• Lack of subsidized bus services & linkages with other public transport systems of surrounding municipalities

• Lack of appropriate forecasting and modeling tooling to project and evaluate developmental growth within the West Rand

The session had discussions from these topics:

1. Outlining the Purpose and Objectives of the Engagement Session - To enable Municipalities to identify areas for support and clarity on the Districts Roads and Transport Function (Lead by the Senior Advisors)

2. Roads and Transport roles and functions for Local and District Municipalities / What does Transport Authority mean for Municipalities (Lead by Principal Advisor: Roads & Transport)

3. Roads and Transport funding models for District Municipalities (Lead by James Matsie)

4. COGTA shared a presentation on the Guidelines on District Coordination Roles for Regional and Urban Development Planning.

The engagement session aimed to achieve the following:

16


• Identify challenges that Districts have in implementing their roles and functions within the Roads and Transport sector;

• Establish areas of support for the Districts in implementing their roles and functions; and

• Determine areas for SALGA to lobby relevant structures and sectors on the Roads and Transport functions.

A comprehensive report will be presented to the Working Group during July / August 2019.

Provincial Workshop on Community Safety Forums

On the 19th of June, SALGA Mpumalanga hosted a workshop on Community Safety Forums (CSF). This workshop is a continuation of work that was begun during the 2018/19 Financial Year where SALGA had conducted an assessment of the functionality of Community Safety Forums in the province. The assessment had indicated that Ehlanzeni and Gert Sibande Districts did not have functional District Community Safety Forums. Therefore the purpose of this workshop was mainly to support the two districts to ensure the establishment and functionality of their Community Safety Forums and for them to get an opportunity to deal with challenges that they are currently experiencing in coordinating Community Safety in their areas.

The workshop was attended by officials and councilors from the (Ehlanzeni and Gert Sibande) municipalities as well as all local municipalities from Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni Districts except Thaba Chweu, Msukaligwa, and Chief Albert Luthuli. The workshop was supported by the Provincial Department of Community Safety Security and Liaison, Nkangala District Municipality and Thembisile Hani Local Municipality. The Workshop covered four presentations that are outlined below:

White Paper on Safety and security

This presentation was made by the Provincial Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL). The White Paper on Safety and Security, approved by Cabinet in April 2016, seeks to promote an integrated approach to community safety, crime and violence prevention, and to facilitate the objective of building safer communities in South Africa, as set out in the National Development Plan (NDP).

In 2018 an Implementation Framework for the White Paper was approved for roll-out and this provides a context for implementation. The Implementation

Framework for the White Paper addresses all relevant stakeholders within the three spheres of government, the community, and civil society, to promote a collective and collaborative approach between state and non-state actors in advancing community safety.

The Implementation Framework gives effect to the policy intents of the White Paper by setting out:

• The roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders;

• The system-level requirements and mechanism needed to create an enabling environment for effective implementation; and

• The required thematic interventions that will contribute to the promotion of community safety, crime prevention and violence prevention (thematic areas).

Community Safety Forum Guidelines

The DCSSL presented the Guidelines for CSF as follows:

The CSF is a broad-based structure for integrated local Crime Prevention, planning, and implementation. CSF’s must be established and aligned to the District and Local Municipal boundaries and stakeholder representation in the CSF must be at a strategic and decision-making level.

The CSF must involve participants from all three spheres of Governmental, as well as Community-based organizations and formulations. Their objective is to coordinate, facilitate and monitor the implementation of projects that promote safety by different Departments and role players. At the beginning of each financial year, each relevant sector department must provide and register all relevant Community Safety projects with the CSF and be formally captured in the respective Municipality’s IDP. Municipalities together with the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison must ensure that the CSF remains functional. The Municipalities will remain responsible for the administrative functions of the CSFs.

Nkangala District Case Study

Nkangala District Municipality made a presentation that outlined the process that they followed to establish, launch and ensure the functionality of the CSFs in their district. A series of meetings were held with the DCSSL which led to the launching of all local CSFs before the District forum was launched. All forums were trained through the support of the department. After the launch, the District Community Safety Strategy was developed.

17


The strategy has been completed and adopted by the council in the 2018/19 financial year.

SALGA – GIZ Municipal Support on Public Safety and Security

This program was presented by Mr. Favourite Khanye, the Community Development Specialist from SALGA National. In his presentation, he indicated that SALGA is partnering with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GmbH (German: German Society for International Cooperation, Ltd.) (GIZ) Inclusive Violence and Crime Prevention Programme (VCP) to provide much-needed support to municipalities on this subject matter. VCP is a joint development partnership program between the governments of Germany and South Africa commissioned under the Department of Cooperative Government and the Civilian Secretariat for the Police Service. It focused on the integrated & inclusive violence and crime prevention to make communities safer and aligned to chapter 12 of the NDP “All people in South Africa are and feel safe” and the White Paper on Safety & Security.

The objectives of the program are to ensure that the conditions for building safer communities with a specific focus on violence and crime prevention are improved at a local level with support from the national & provincial levels. SALGA in partnership with GIZ is implementing a delivery support program to twenty-seven (27) municipalities on crime prevention, safety and security during the period of April 2019 to March 2020. This project will be rolled out in three (3) municipalities per province. The support will include training of municipal facilitators on safety planning, supporting the selected municipalities to develop safety plans and providing hands-on support to the identified municipalities. Further details on this project will be communicated through the District Municipalities.

Way Forward

The workshop was concluded with the agreement on the way forward which included the following:

• Gert Sibande District Municipality will establish the district Community Safety Forum with the support of the DCSSL and SALGA by end August 2019

• Ehlanzeni District Municipality will establish the district Community Safety Forum with the support of the DCSSL and SALGA by end of December 2019

• COGTA to be invited to form part of the Community Safety engagements in the future.

• Stakeholders will be encouraged to send relevant decision-making officials to the Community Safety Forum meetings. Formal delegations with decision-making powers will be requested by the municipalities

• SALGA will document the good practices of different municipalities on Community Safety and share them with all municipalities.

• SALGA to engage Executive Mayors and Political Leadership on Community Safety Programmes to clarify roles and responsibilities and discuss challenges faced by municipalities (DCSSL to be invited to the engagements).

• DCSSL to make use of the PCF to engage the municipal leadership.

• Explore the involvement of the business community in the CSFs

Case Studies, Best Practices, and Innovations in the sector:

On the 19th of June, SALGA Mpumalanga hosted a workshop on Community Safety Forums (CSF) where-in Nkangala District Municipality made a presentation that outlined the process that they followed to establish, launch and ensure the functionality of the CSFs in their district. A series of meetings were held with the DCSSL which led to the launching of all local CSFs before the

District forum was launched. All forums were trained through the support of the department. After the launch, the District Community Safety Strategy was developed. The strategy has been completed and adopted by the council in the 2018/19 financial year.

18


Nkangala District Municipality Process of Launching Community Safety Forums

A series of meetings were held between the district municipality and the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison where it was resolved that:

• Community Safety Forums must be launched in all LMs before the launch of the district structure.

• All CSF structures to be launched in the municipal second quarter of the 2017/18 financial year.

• Training will be conducted before the launch of a structure.

• DCSSL will organize a facilitator for the training while NDM will provide all logistical support including lunch and facilitate establishment date with LMs

• That a district community safety strategy be developed and a community safety summit is held.

Local municipal structures were after that launched as follows:

• Victor Khanye at Library Botleng Ext. 3 09/10/2017

• Steve Tshwete at Municipal council chamber at 10/10/2017

• Emakhazeni at council chamber on the 11/10/2017

• Dr. JS Moroka and Thembisile at Dr. JS Moroka Council Chamber on the 12/10/2017

• Emalahleni at municipal council chamber on the 13/10/2017

• The district Community safety forum was launched in March 2018.

Municipal Focus:

Member municipalities are encouraged to share their good news stories in the SALGA Mpumalanga Liphimbo Labo Maspala quarterly newsletter. Stories and feedback can be sent to [email protected]

19


Disaster Management Centre in Dr. Pixley Ka Isaka Seme officially opened

ert Sibande District Executive Mayor Cllr Muzi Chirwa officially opened the Disaster Management Centre located in Dr. Pixley Ka Isaka Seme on the 30th of April 2019.

The Disaster center will be equipped with high standard technology systems that will provide efficient response to any situations of disaster and high risk in the area and surroundings. It will also serve as a one-stop center to manage and respond to all Disasters and Risks such as fire, road accidents and floods in this rural area of Dr. Pixley Ka Isaka Seme.

This is the fourth sub- Disaster Centre to be constructed by the District. The same was constructed in Mkhondo, Dipaleseng, and Chief Albert Luthuli local municipalities.

The official opening was also attended by the Executive

Mayor of Dr. Pixley Ka Isaka Seme, Cllr PV Malatsi. In his remarks, Cllr Malatsi appreciated the work done by Gert Sibande District Municipality and indicated that this was by far the most performing administration that had delivered services at a high rate and in a manner that was aligned to the needs of the communities. Other attendees included GSDM Councillors, DPKIS councilors, the District Municipal Manager and his team including Mr. Ephraim Thabethe the General Manager of Infrastructure and Technical Services responsible for the project, the contractor and consultants of the project and other community members.

By: Bongi Ka Dube, Communication Manager: Gert Sibande District Municipality

G

Municipal Focus

20


Gert Sibande State of the District Address

he 2019 State of the District Address (SODA) held at the Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM) on the 30th of May proved to be the highlight of the month for the municipality. At the SODA, the Executive Mayor, Clr. Muzi Chirwa highlighted the service delivery achievements of the 2018/19 financial year and provided direction for the upcoming financial year (2019/20).

To ensure that the current administration achieves its mandate, it was critical that the community needs to form the foundation of service delivery undertakings of the District, that the District was able to perform within its powers of functions. “We are a real District operating within its powers and functions, mainly the coordination and support to local municipalities in the District”, said Chirwa.

The leadership was deliberate in building a resilient and competent administration free from maladministration, fraud, and corruption. In this regard, the Executive Mayor appreciated Whip of Council for the overall monitoring of the political leadership performance, the Speaker for wise leadership and coordination of Council and the Municipal Manager and his administrative team for their strive for excellence in performance.

Gert Sibande District continues to contribute significantly towards the fight against the high rate of unemployment, particularly amongst the youth in Gert Sibande. In this regard, the District received national recognition when the National Department of Public Works reported during the November 2018 EPWP Summit that GSDM obtained position one (01) of all Districts Municipalities in the country on the combination of Jobs Created and Full-Time Equivalents.

Other success stories of the 2018/19 financial year include obtaining a Clean Audit for the 2017/18 financial year; maintenance of the only SANAS accredited Water Quality Testing Laboratory in Mpumalanga Province and the advancement to GSDM water bottling; the GSDM Jetpatcher which is a pothole patching truck purchased by the District to assist local municipalities and is also the only one in the Mpumalanga Province; completion and handover of various projects such as the R157m Lusushwane Bulk Water Supply Scheme funded mainly by the Department of Water and Sanitation aimed at addressing challenges of water supply in the rural areas of Bettysgoed, Smithfield, Aankanst, Pampoen, Hartbeeskop, Oshoek and Lochiel, as well as the handover of the Disaster Management Centre in Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Municipality which is the fourth Disaster Centre constructed by Gert Sibande District and many other achievements.

Guided by the Integrated Development Plan, various activities will be undertaken in 2019/20 aimed at accelerated service delivery ensuring increased access to basic services overall. Such programs include but not limited to the implementation of municipal support programs aimed at assisting local municipalities to improve in their financial management, acquiring a fleet to better intervene in challenges faced by municipalities in terms of waste management, provision of municipal health services including the implementation of climate change mitigation plans. The Executive Mayor tabled the 2019/2020 Medium term expenditure and revenue framework and the IDP and is adamant that Gert Sibande District is on the right path.

By: Bongi Ka Dube, Communication Manager: Gert Sibande District Municipality

T

Executive Mayor Cllr Muzi Chirwa delivers the 2019 State of the District Address

21


MEC Msibi and the House discuss common interests

stakeholder engagement meeting between the MEC of the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr. Mandla Msibi and members of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders ended with both parties sharing common interests.

Fatalities in the initiation schools, land invasion, resources for traditional leaders and maintaining the lines of communication between the MEC and the house, formed part of the discussions. While the Department is commended for the payment of grants to Traditional Councils for payment of staff, however, its inadequacy was highlighted as a source of concern for traditional leaders. “The grant is so helpful. It provides for the salaries of officials in the offices of Traditional Councils. But MEC, the grant is not sufficient. Sometimes it is delayed. We will appreciate it if you can increase it,” Inkhosi Mnisi, a member of the Executive said.

Land invasion is a sore point for traditional leaders and this was evident during the meeting. Areas previously demarcated for grazing are now occupied illegally and are being used for settlements. MEC Msibi reassured the members that these matters will receive urgent attention

to prevent further cases of invasion. “I am aware that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by various parties including the Department and the police, was signed to deal decisively with land invasion. I will certainly follow it up to bring the land invasion to an end,” MEC Msibi said.

The meeting was concluded with a commitment between the Department and members of the house to prevent fatalities in the practice of ingoma, which takes place between June and July. Ingoma, a rite of passage of young boys into adulthood was previously enveloped by loss of lives. The House appointed Inkhosi Majaji Mbuyane as head of a team that monitors the operation of initiation schools. MEC Msibi expressed support for the team in pursuit of zero death. The Chairperson of the House, Inkhosi Sandile Ngomane, the Deputy Chairperson, Ikosi Cecil Mahlangu, the National Chairperson of the House, Ikosi Sipho Mahlangu and the top management of the Department were some of those who attended the meeting.

A

By: George Mthethwa, Communications Director: Department of Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs

22


Msukaligwa Executive Mayor Delivers State of the Municipal Address

The Executive Mayor of Msukaligwa Local Municipality, Cllr B.J Mkhaliphi delivered the State of the Municipal Address (SOMA) and budget speech in Ermelo on Friday the 31st of May 2019.

The Executive Mayor began his speech by congratulating all voters, particularly Msukaligwa residents, for participating in the recent National and Provincial government elections. “On the 8th of May 2019 South Africa held a free & fair democratic election and I wish to appreciate all voters for participating in these Elections to constitute the Sixth Democratic Parliament and Provincial Legislatures”, said Clr. Mkhaliphi.

Let me also to join the millions of people across the length and breadth of our country and congratulate President Cyril Ramaphosa on his election as the President of the Republic of South Africa and to further congratulate the Ministers he appointed to serve in his Cabinet.” He said

The Executive Mayor also congratulated the Hon Premier of Mpumalanga Province Mrs. Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane on her being the First Female Premier for Mpumalanga Province, as well as all the men and women appointed to serve in her Executive.

Clr Mkhaliphi gave a detailed description of the expectations, challenges, and achievements of the financial year ending on 30th June 2019 and acknowledged that there are still challenges that remain, sharply mentioning poverty, unemployment, and inequality as the main challenges that characterize the municipality and impacts negatively on its Developmental Agenda.

Clr Mkhaliphi further highlighted the following institutional challenges encountered during the 2018/2019 financial year:

• A slow process on the appointment of a Municipal Manager;

• Slow response to service delivery issues due to the lack of Tools of Trade;

• The Municipality has regressed in terms of the Auditor-General Outcomes due to no establishment of Governance Structures/Committees such as Audit Committee etc.

• High vacancy rate particularly on critical positions;

• The non-existence of an LED Forum as a formal structure for engagement between the Municipality and Business;

• Mushrooming illegal dumping sites on open public spaces which cannot always be responded to due lack of resources;

• Some community members that do not adhere to the schedule of refuse removal.

Despite all the challenges the following progress was made:

• Appointment of the Municipal Manager, who happens to be the first female Municipal Manager of the municipality, and subsequent appointment of the Director of Planning and Economic Development (PED);

• Purchase of Tools of Trade such as Fleet to enhance the delivery of Services to the community for a prompt response to service delivery issues;

• The Recruitment Process that is currently in progress, with advertisements placed in media platforms.

• Some of the highlights that the municipality has delivered on include the following:

Employment

The municipality has appointed 247 EPWP participants and about 1000 CWP participants at an average of 50 per Ward in the 2018/19 financial year. The Executive Mayor said, “We continue to create employment opportunities for the youth and women through interventions such as the Expanded Public Works Programme and Community Works Programme as part of poverty reduction and employment creation initiatives”.

Water is life and sanitation is dignity

The provision of portable clean water by the Municipality to households has risen from 89% to 98%. The Department of Technical Services has implemented several water and sanitation projects in 2018/ 2019 the projects which include:

23


• Drilling and equipping about 76 boreholes in farms and rural areas, installation of standby generator at Ithafa reservoir pump station; refurbishment of the Lothair/Impuluzi river raw water pump station. The Sheepmoore water project which was delayed by water license requirements. Internal Water reticulation Ext 3 Ermelo at 95% completion. Internal sewer reticulation completed at Ext 4, Installation of internal Water reticulation at Ext.6 the progress to date is 59% construction; Installation of internal Sewer reticulation at Ext.6, The project is at the detailed design stage.

• Water reticulation in Wesselton Ext 5, the project is at 98% construction. Sewer reticulation in Wesselton Ext 5 which will be implemented in two financial years (2017/18- 2018/19 FY)The progress to date is at 30% construction Water reticulation in Wesselton Ext 2 completed Sewer reticulation in Wesselton Ext 2 currently underway.

• Upgrade of the Sewer pump station in Davel, the project has been completed but currently, there is a challenge that the electricity cables were stolen after practical completion was done. Water and Sewer reticulation in KwaZanele Ext 5, the progress to date is 15% construction. The waterborne toilets in the farm areas, covering Damersfontein and Clifton, the progress to date is 85% construction, Water reticulation and internal sewer reticulation in KwaChibikhulu and Isidingo have been completed with 355 HH, no toilet top structures because there were housing top structures already existing.

Roads and Stormwater

Working together with Gert Sibande District Municipality and the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, the municipality has resurfaced Ennis and Naude Streets and patches portholes in Msukaligwa. The municipality has upgraded 1.8km Khayelitsha Road and Upgraded of Road in Nganga, Warburton (2, 4 Km) the construction is nearing completion.

Electricity

The Municipality has completed the construction of 20MVA, 88/11kV substation at Ermelo Ext 34, Installation of 24 high mast lighting across all Wards. The Executive Mayor added that an additional 1800 households will be electrified during the 2019/20 financial year.

Refuse removal

The Municipality has collected refuse from 33231 households and has purchased a new compactor truck to extend the service to 1000 additional households. The Executive Mayor urged the communities to keep the environment clean “We have progressed in cleaning illegal dumps through our program operation clean my ward, we urge our communities to keep clean and stay clean.” The municipality was recognized by the Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs as the most improved Municipality in the Environmental Management sector. As part of an awareness campaign, the Greenest School Competition was won by Siyacathula School at Breyten. There’s an improvement in waste recycling by communities and the municipality encourages such initiatives.

The Executive Mayor concluded by thanking the community - “Special thanks go to the community for their patience as they eagerly awaited for the provision of basic and other services by the Municipality. We also acknowledge and understand the limitations of the municipal budget and thank you for making valuable contributions when we consulted you on the IDP and Budget.” he concluded.

The SOMA was graced by Mr. Mpumalanga 2019 Ambassador - Mr. Innocent Xolani Khumalo; Ms Mpumalanga Second Princess – Ms Princess Mdaka; Collen Maseko is a South African Champion in Rope Skipping; Zamantungwa a renowned poetry and Thembelihle Dludlu nominated to represent South Africa the World Championship which will be held in France on the 30th of June 2019 and Austine Dube player for TS Galaxy the champion of Nedbank Cup. All are from Msukaligwa

By: Mandla Zwane, Communications: Msukaligwa Local Municipality

24


25


SALGA Mpumalanga Office

Telephone: (013) 752 1200Fax: (013) 752 5595

Physical AddressSALGA House11 van Rensburg StreetNelspruit1200

SALGA DETAILS: website: www.salga.org.za Facebook: South African Local Government Association (SALGA)

Twitter: @SALGA_Gov

YouTube: SALGA TV

liphimbo labo maspala … · 2 mpumalanga quarterly newsletter in this issue: editorial team the...

Documents