Department of Local Government provides crucial support to municipalities.
Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning presented the Annual Report for the Department of Local Government (DLG) for 2021/22 in the Provincial Parliament today.
“The DLG performed exemplary during the year under review. This is evident in the fact that most of the councils in the Western Cape are stable, with critical positions, such as Municipal Managers, filled with competent staff, and basic services being delivered to residents throughout the Province,” Bredell said.
Bredell said the DLG was instrumental in making government accessible to citizens with its Thusong Centres. “1.3 million people accessed government through Thusong Centres throughout the province during the past year. Given our large rural areas, this service has proven to be invaluable in our efforts to bring government closer to the people.”
Progress was also made with the Joint District and Metro Approach (JDMA) initiative, which provides a framework for different spheres of government to plan and work together in a collaborative manner. Projects successfully developed include:
- High mast lighting installed in Grabouw, with a reduction in the crime rate by 15 % within the 3 months after installation, according to crime statistics from the South African Police Service.
- In the Cape Winelands District Municipality, a new Thusong Satellite Centre was built and equipped, creating a hub for the youth to have a safe place to gather and develop skills within the De Doorns area. This was done with the financial support from private sector partners Santam and Sasria of R4.5million.
- In the Overberg District Municipality, a network of safe houses and soup kitchens are being established to provide safe spaces for woman, children, and vulnerable people.
Bredell said that all indications point to continuous population growth in the Western Cape. “These new citizens will reside in municipalities, and it is the responsibility of local authorities to plan and invest in infrastructure to meet the demand for basic services to all its residents. If managed well and planned for, more people will result in more opportunities for economic development and job creation.”
Bredell said the local government elections from 2021 resulted in several coalition councils, and this presented new challenges in terms of municipal oversight and governance responsibilities. “It is crucial that councillors understand the difference between being an elected councillor, in contrast to an appointed official working in the administration of a municipality. When these roles are blurred, we encounter problems with accountability, financial management and weak service delivery,” Bredell said.
Bredell thanked the Disaster Risk Management unit for the work it did during the floods in KwaZulu Natal (KZN). “Thank you for your unselfish, brave, and professional conduct in KZN. It not only me saying this. MEC Hlomuka, the KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs came to visit us personally earlier this year to thank the whole team.”
Source: Government of South Africa