Bright Ntuli & Buhle Mbhele
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced major reforms aimed at fixing failing municipalities and improving service delivery.
Speaking at the launch of the revised White Paper on Local Government in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, Ramaphosa proposed matching municipal responsibilities to their capacity, strengthening accountability and ensuring water and electricity revenue is used to maintain infrastructure.
He says the reforms are intended to restore public trust and ensure communities receive reliable basic services.
“This revised white paper lays the foundation for far reaching legislative institutional financial reform of the entire local government system we inherited prevailed under apartheid,” said Ramaphosa.
Click below to listen to Ramaphosa’s sentiments…
The South African Local Government Association has welcomed the launch of the revised White Paper on Local Government by President Ramaphosa.
SALGA has described this as a defining moment and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild and reinvent local government so that it works better for every South African.
Speaking at the launch on Thursday, Xola Pakati, SALGA Deputy President expressed that fiscal sustainability must, however, be judged by whether it enables municipalities to maintain infrastructure, deliver sustainable basic services and support local economic activity.
He adds that the needs of citizens should remain priority beyond election season.
“The challenge must be met by all of us, adequate funding, policies and political will is required from national, provincial and local government to support these reforms,” said Pakati.
Click below to listen to Pakati’s sentiments…
