Nuwe Departement met 'n eie begroting
Dit is vandag met trots dat ek die begroting van die Departement van Plaaslike Regering kan voorlê. Vir die eerste keer funksioneer hierdie Departement onafhanklik binne die provinsie en is die begroting gekoppel aan die visie en strategiese doelwitte van die Departement vir die jaar 2003 en 2004.
A more focussed reorganised Ministry and Department now allows for the emergence of a new strategic emphasis on empowerment and capacitating municipalities within a co-operative governance milieu.
Vision of successful municipalities
Our vision is of a future in which all municipalities are successful. There is a duty to ensure sustainable municipalities not only in delivering basic services to their communities, but also in developing the social and economic foundations of the communities they serve.
We must promote municipalities as the front-line agents in our common fight against poverty and the emphasis of my department is therefore on finding the best ways to capacitate and empower local government. That is why I want to address you today within the framework of "Developmental Local Government by Means of Partnerships and Co-responsibility."
As provincial government we need to be a equal partner and to accept co-responsibility with our municipalities to ensure that all communities in the Western Cape have access to basic services, to ensure that everyone can and do participate in decision-making and planning, to ensure that the capacity is there for the local economy to grow and to ensure that local resources are used wisely to improve the quality of life for everyone. This is in line with the strategic vision of this province with iKapa elihlumayo: Hope, Delivery & Dignity for the Next Decade.
The key to success with this vision for the province will be successful developmental local government. This in turn will depend on:
- financially sound and sustainable municipalities
- a clear integrated Provincial strategic framework which can guide municipal planning for development and service delivery
- capacity to ensure developmental local government
- healthy intergovernmental relations.
Transformation of local government
The long-term sustainability of municipalities must be addressed within the context of a new frame of mind which must be adopted. Generally speaking, municipalities must still make the mindshift away from a constrained legal perspective on duties and functions and that they should rather search for powers and functions to achieve their objectives -as determined by the Constitution. Tunnel vision with regards to functions as listed in Schedules 4B and 5B will bring us nowhere. Lack of capacity must not become an excuse for non-performance. Capacity problems must be addressed jointly between the national, provincial and local spheres of government.
I am pleased to confirm that the most recent data retrieved from the quarterly "Transition Grant progress and expenditure reports" showed that only four of the municipalities outside the metropole, in the Western Cape, experience progress below 70% with the finalisation of key transitional activities. Of these we provide assistance to three municipalities in the finalisation of their key transitional activities. This means that more than 70% of the prescribed actions that were required by the new legislation in terms of transition or establishment after amalgamation, has been finalized. The most common outstanding issues are the finalization of organigrams and the placement of staff.
Strategic goals
Within the parameters of the above, my Department has accepted 10 strategic goals which fall within two categories. In terms of our internal organisational performance we will be led by three strategic goals, namely:
- providing sound administration,
- building appropriate organisational skills and capabilities
- creating effective human resources and financial management capacity for the department.
In terms of the delivery of our strategic mandate we have accepted the following strategic goals;
- shaping Provincial strategy in respect of local government
- providing leadership in building developmental local government
- ensuring local government sustainability
- facilitating excellent intergovernmental relations
- enabling legislative clarity
- facilitating constructive management of the political dynamics
- facilitating and support the creation of an effective Disaster Management system.
The Department of Local Government's strategy is therefore more skills driven than finance dependent. It is for this reason that some of our goals are inwardly focussed - on the creation of a Department able to serve in a dramatically changed environment.
Intergovernmental relations
In order to facilitate and support municipalities during their process of transformation, various structures were established such as the Provincial Advisory Forum, (PAF) Provincial Advisory Forum Technical Committee (PAFTECH) and District Advisory Forums. These forums provide a platform for discussions between the provincial Minister of Local Government, Provincial Department, WECLOGO, municipalities and other stakeholders. The Establishment notice of the Provincial Advisory Forum expires on 30 June 2003.
'n Plaasvervangende instrument sal daargestel word om inligting uit te ruil of oor te dra en inter-aksie te verseker Die liggaam sal bekend staan as die Wes Kaap Plaaslike Regering Forum. Daar word huidiglik 'n protokol in samewerking met Wekpro opgestel om die werking en funksionering tussen provinsie en plaaslike regering verder te verstewig.
Die grondslag vir goeie inter-regeringsverhoudinge is reeds gelê maar ons strategiese doelwitte sal bepaald verder voortgaan om die vennootskap te verstewig tussen ons en: Die Stad Kaapstad;
- distriks en plaaslike munisipaliteite deur die Provinsiale Adviesforum en sy vervangingsliggaam;
- georganiseerde plaaslike regering deur Wekpro en SALGA,
- provinsiale lyn departemente
- Nasionale Departement van Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering.
Legal framework
Municipalities as well as provinces are currently operating in circumstances where constitutional powers, legislative powers, inter-governmental relations etc are not always well-defined. Mainly two acts currently governs local government but there are still a legal clutter of old laws, provincial acts and ordinances which may create confusion and uncertainty.
These circumstances, coupled with the day-to-day need for guidance on a range of operational and functional matters, have led my Department to conclude that we need a provincial act for local government which should aim to achieve the following:
Establish a clear and practical workable definition of the role, powers, functions and responsibilities of local government in the Western Cape.
Establish a well-defined inter-governmental dispensation aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of local government.
Establish a framework for giving optimal effect to the constitutional role and obligations of the provincial government.
To constructively address shortcomings in respect of implementation guidelines.
The process for the drafting of such an act is well advanced.
Executive Mayor system
Speaker - op 10 Junie het ons 'n nuwe stelsel in plaaslike regering geimplementeer. Die uitvoerende komiteestelsels by munisipaliteite is vervang met 'n Uitvoerende Burgemeesterstelsel. Om suksesvolle munisipaliteite te verseker was dit nodig dat die aanspreeklikheid en verantwoordelikheid van raadsbesluite by een persoon gevestig word omdat die uitvoerende komiteestelsel die verantwoordelikheid versprei het en soms moes die burgemeester kollektief verantwoordelikheid neem.
I do not have any doubt that with the Executive Mayor system in place at all municipalities in the Western Cape this will further entrench local government equal to the other two spheres of government where there is a final accountability and responsibility.
Full-time councillors
The Establishment Notices of municipalities in the Western Cape were amended at the end of last year to allow municipalities to appoint full-time councillors. The new local government dispensation introduced far greater responsibilities for councillors than was the case in the past. This includes new legal and larger geographical areas of responsibility.
Skuld van staatsdepartemente
My departement het onlangs 'n oorhoofse ondersoek geloods na die hoeveelheid agterstallige dienstegelde wat Staatdepartemente aan munisipaliteite in die Wes-Kaap verskuldig is. Die bevindinge het aan die lig gebring dat vele sustersdepartmente, nasionale departmente, en ander staatsinstellings agterstallige gelde aan munisipaliteite verskuldig is. Die konserwatiewe beraming van die totale bedrag uitstaande skuld, ouer as dertig dae, uitgesluit die Stad Kaapstad beloop sowat R31 miljoen.
Na my mening is daar werklik geen rede vir 'n staatdepartement om nie te betaal vir sy munisipale dienste nie. Ek wil daarom 'n beroep doen op ons sustersdepartemente en nasionale departemente om daadwerklik 'n poging aan te wend om te verseker dat die instansies onder hulle beheer hulle nie hieraan skuldig maak nie.
Plaaslike Regering en die uitwissing van armoedeEk het die dag wat ek as Minister van Plaaslike Regering ingesweer is gesê dat ek deurgaans die saak van die armes voorop sal stel. Plaaslike Regering is, na my mening, die ideale voertuig om ons ontwikkelingsdrome en ideale aan te spreek binne die provinsiale visie van iKapa elihlumayo.
Each and every municipal councillor and official must accept the challenges of developmental local government and must therefore investigate possible avenues for development and must expand their horizons in search of the applicable strengths and opportunities within their municipal boundaries. To this effect my department is developing a policy and framework for developmental local government which can serve as a guideline for municipalities.
To give practical effect to developmental local government a mindshift is necessary to move away from only the delivery of "hard services," to economic and social development. With regards to poverty alleviation my department plays a crucial role in capacitating municipalities to achieve this and there are various programmes in place:
The Urban Renewal Programme
The Department coordinates provincial involvement in the Urban Renewal Programme in the Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain nodal points. Due to several obstacles in the past this programme has had a slow start. However, the last three months have seen vigorous intervention from national and provincial government to re-direct and stimulate the programme and to enhance the involvement of the nodal communities.
Our latest audit of provincial commitment has revealed that the provincial government of the Western Cape has committed a share of approximately R1,4 billion of its total budget for service delivery in these two nodes. The R1,4 billion is divided into R710 million for Khayelitsha and R687 million for Mitchell's Plain. In this regard CMIP as coordinated by my Department has committed approximately R30 million.
A process to optimally focus the provincial expenditure on the specific needs and objectives of the areas as articulated by the local development forums is in progress in co-operation with the City of Cape Town and after consultation with the City more details with regard to specific projects will be made available.
We shall need a more focussed strategic plan which can guide the commitment of funds for the achievement of optimal results and this Department will continue to co-ordinate all efforts from the province.
Die Geintegreerde Volhoubare Landelike Ontwikkelingsprogram
Die ISRDP word deur die Departement van Plaaslike Regering gebruik as proeflopie ten opsigte van geïntegreerde beplanning en lewering. Die Departement van Plaaslike Regering het sedert Maart 2003 'n proses onderneem om die investering wat provinsiale departemente in die landelike node maak, te kwantifiseer deur middel van 'n oudit van projekte vir hierdie finansiële jaar; voorgestelde projekte en inisiatiewe wat direk of indirek die node sal bevoordeel; asook ander planne wat die node sal ondersteun. Hierdié opname het aangedui dat die Provinsiale Regering 'n totale bedrag van R100,8 miljoen aan die Sentraal Karoo streek toegeken het vir hierdie finansiële jaar.
Die feit dat die Sentraal Karoo nodale punt so suksesvol is, kan hoofsaaklik toegeskryf word aan die feit dat daar goeie samewerking bestaan tussen die Departement van Plaaslike Regering, die Sentraal Karoo nodale punt, IDT en die Department van Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering, asook tussen die munisipaliteite onderling.
Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling
Plaaslike regering beskik oor 'n konstitusionele mandaat om plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling te bevorder en te implementeer. Daar word 40 projekte vanaf 1999 tot 2004 befonds deur die Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkelingsfonds. Die volgende drie sukses stories kan uitgelig word:
- In die Stad Kaapstad: is die "Khayelitsha Look Out Hill" toerisme Projek wat met R2 miljoen befonds word.
- By die Stellenbosch Munisipaliteit word 'n Meerdoelige Jeug Ontwikkelingsentrum in Pniel met R1 miljoen befonds.
- By die Weskus Distrikmunisipaliteit word die Griekwa Ratelgat Ontwikkeling, 'n toerismesentrum 35km Noord van Vanrhynsdorp met R 1,5 miljoen befonds.
In this regard, the coordinating and facilitating role of provinces to ensure proper integrated planning and development, must be taken into account. The value which can pro-actively be added by optimal involvement of provinces in National funding programs, combining it with the oversight role, must not be underestimated.
Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme
The Department of Local Government is coordinating the Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme (CMIP) - a programme developed to support municipalities to provide for new infrastructure as well as the rehabilitation and upgrading of existing infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on disadvantaged areas.
The allocation for Infrastructure for this financial year is R183,7 million and for CMIP Capacity Building is R5,6 million. In this financial year municipalities have identified a shortlist of 179 infrastructure projects.
Ek wil egter kommer uitspreek oor die huidige stand van bestaande munisipale infrastruktuur. Daar rus 'n verantwoordelikheid op munisipaliteite om te begroot vir die instandhouding en onderhoud van bestaande infrastruktuur. In baie gevalle is die teendeel egter waar. My indruk is dat van ons munisialiteite wel begroot vir infrastruktuur instandhouding maar dat dit die eerste program is waarop besnoei word wanneer fondse elders benodig word. Hierdie tendens asook die afname in kwalifikasie vlakke van tegniese personeel by munisipaliteite, word tans departementeel ondersoek met die oog op moontlike intervensie.
Free Basic Services
The main objective of local government is the provision of municipal services that are viable, affordable and sustainable. It is therefore our aim to ensure that at least a basic level of services is provided free to them and so contributing to the fight against poverty.
In the Western Cape all municipalities have already implemented free basic services in terms of Council resolutions. To date the main focus on free basic services has been free basic water and free basic electricity. In the Western Cape all 30 municipalities provide a certain amount of free water to their indigent households. Let me therefore congratulate our municipalities and give Minister Ronnie Kasrils the assurance that the municipalities in the Western Cape will not be on his name and shame list.
Only ten municipalities do not provide free electricity, the main reason being that Eskom provides it directly to the consumers. A free basic electricity policy is officially set to take effect as from 1 July 2003. The official roll out of the Free Basic Electricity/Energy Policy of the Department of Minerals and Energy will commence with effect from 1 July 2003 and the guideline is 50kW of free basic electricity/energy per household per month. Each municipality must still take affordability and their own circumstances into account.
Although sanitation and refuse removal have as yet not been approved as "free basic services" 24 municipalities in the Western Cape provide free sanitation and refuse services to poor households.
I am pleased to announce that the investigation by Prof. Lieb Loots into the provision of free basic services in the Western Cape, for which he was appointed last year, has been completed. My department is presently studying the draft report and recommendations and I will make further announcements concerning these recommendations at an appropriate time.
Our aim is to produce a guideline document on the level of free basic services municipalities should provide and the affordability thereof, incorporating an indigent policy that can be implemented universally by all municipalities in the Western Cape. Our example can be used as a blueprint for other provinces to follow.
Making municipalities viable
Consumer debt to all municipalities in South Africa is now at almost R22,5 billion. Consumer debt plays a monumental and sometimes catastrophic role in the affairs of the great majority of municipalities throughout the country. The Western Cape is no exception. However, it is gratifying to note that for the quarter ending 31 March 2003 there has been a reduction in the consumer debt by 11,88% as opposed to the figures for December 2002 if the figures for City of Cape Town are excluded.
The financial position of most of the municipalities in the Western Cape are relatively sound. However some municipalities are receiving comprehensive management support from my Department and excellent results have been achieved. For the current financial year an amount of R15.1 million will be made available through the MSP to municipalities which are lagging with their transformation activities and or encounters serious financial problems.
Rampbestuur
Op 15 Januarie 2003 is die Wet op Rampbestuur 2002 gepromulgeer. Die Wet wat nog nie operasioneel is nie het 'n hele nuwe benadering in die denke tot rampbestuur teweeg gebring. Onder andere vereis die Wet dat rampbestuursentra op nasionale, provinsiale sowel as distriks en metropolitaanse vlak daargestel moet word. Die befondsing en beleidsaspekte word tans indringend op nasionale vlak aangespreek.
In die pasafgelope finansiële jaar het mensgemaakte en natuurrampe die huidige nooddienste en rampbestuursvermoë tot die uiterste beproef waarvan die wintervloede, die treinongeluk by Muldersvlei en die oorstromings in die Boland, Overberg en Suid-Kaap en bos en veld brande 'n paar was .
Alle munisipaliteite sal die voordeel ontvang van 'n Rampbestuur IT stelsel wat aangewend word in noodbeplanningsaksies en is reeds met groot sukses aangewend in beplanningsaksies tydens die Wêreldbekerkrieket en die Argus fietstoer. 'n Ramprisiko en kwesbaarheidsanalise wat deur die Universiteit van Kaapstad en Vrystaat ontwikkel is word tans met die IT stelsel versoen en die stelsel word volgende maand amptelik geloods.
Ramp-en noodbestuursdienste van die Wes-Kaap het bewys dat 'n menslike katestrofe met groot sukses en samewerking tussen al die sfere van regering hanteer kon word. Vir Rampbestuur is daar in die huidige finansiële jaar R4,9 miljoen begroot.
Laingsburg
The allegations regarding the existence of a mass grave after the flood of 25 January 1981 could not be ignored by the provincial government and it was necessary to investigate the substance of these rumours. You are well aware of the history of the investigations and the steps taken thus far. The Department is currently busy with a tender process for a more direct archaeological approach. An announcement on the name of the service provider and the timeframe for said test excavations will be made public in due course.
The Laingsburg community is deeply divided and after 22 years this community need to close the chapter on a very emotional and tragic past.
Integrated Development Planning
A key instrument in truly developmental local government is the municipal integrated development plan (IDP) My department is extremely pleased with the ability of the municipalities in the Western Cape to entrench integrated development planning as a new way of doing strategic planning within their respective communities and to involve communities. It is clear that the Western Cape performed extremely well in the drafting of IDP's when compared to other provinces.
Die vestiging van Wykskomitees is ook 'n belangrike stap om gemeenskapsdeelname te verseker. Dit skep die ideale geleentheid vir beter kommunikasie tussen die publiek en die raad en die oogmerk van 'n wykskomitee is om deelnemende demokrasie in plaaslike regering te bevorder.
Apart from this my Department is also currently busy with facilitating in liaison with organized local government the formulation of a guideline document for public participation for all municipalities in the Western Cape.
Provincial integrated Planning
The Provincial partnership with municipalities can not be a loose arrangement as the Department of Local Government is not the only department interacting with municipalities. The Western Cape has an extremely valuable asset with its 30 municipalities. We must treasure and embrace this valuable partnership as a strengthening of this partnership will promote iKapa elihlumayo.
A sound provincial policy is required to deal with co-operation and interaction between provincial departments as well as coordination of all actions and legislation. My Department will facilitate the inter governmental relations structures and IDP processes in integrating provincial policies relating to local government.
There also needs to be greater clarity on how to deal with the responsibilities relating to powers and functions in Schedule 4 and 5 of the Constitution. My Department is a member of a Trilateral Task team to investigate the issues of assignments to municipalities. This is a highly complex, legal and fiscal problem which cannot be dealt with in a rush in order to prevent a collapse of essential services.
Bringing the strategic vision to fruition within a limited budget
Ons begroting van R63,853 miljoen is slegs 0,39% van die hele provinsiale begroting en beperk sonder twyfel ons mandaat.
Hiervan is personeel en personeelverwante uitgawes R27,22 miljoen. In die lynfunksie kant is daar R36,62 miljoen beskikbaar waarvan R29,59 miljoen voorwaardelike toekennings is met direkte voorskrifte vanaf die nasionale regering. In totaal laat dit die Departement met R7,04 miljoen wat diskresionêr spandeer kan word.
Our discretionary allocation of the available R7,04 million is allocated as follows:
- 13% to Training and Capacity building
- 13% to Inter governmental relations
- 19% to general support
- 14% to legislation and;
- 41% to disaster management
To ensure that this Department can promote developmental local government there is a need for greater provincial involvement and is it necessary that the planning and interlinked budgetary requirements in terms of funding are given due consideration.
Municipalities have gone through a period of instability when councillors crossed the floor. Stability has now returned and councillors - from all political persuasions - must keep their eye on the ball. Local government is now firmly established after 30 months and it will be irresponsible for political parties and political role-players to interrupt the final transition phase of local government.
I am confident that the budget for the Department of Local Government for the year 2003/2004 will enable us to start our journey as the new Department of Local Government to ensure successful municipalities.
Van die Department se kant af het ons die jaar alles moontlik gedoen om munisipaliteite te bemagtig. Ons het stabiliteit by munisipaliteite, voltydse raadslede is in plek gestel, ons het die uitvoerende komiteestelsel en die wykstelsel in plek. Die uitdaging vir almal van ons vorentoe is om ons oog op die bal te hou en dienslewering te versnel by plaaslike regering deur nouer interregeringsamewerking. En dit is een van ons kern take in die nuwe jaar: om die samewerkende verhouding tussen ons provinsiale regering en plaaslike regering so uit te bou, dat suksesvolle munisipaliteite by uitstek die sfeer van regering kan word vir die skep van 'n beter lewe vir al ons mense.
Ek dank u.
