GAUTENG LOCAL GOVERNMENT TURNAROUND SUMMIT DECLARES COMMITMENT TO BUILDING SMART AND RESILIENT MUNICIPALITIES @KASIBCNEWS

GAUTENG LOCAL GOVERNMENT TURNAROUND SUMMIT DECLARES COMMITMENT TO BUILDING SMART AND RESILIENT MUNICIPALITIES @KASIBCNEWS 

The Gauteng Local Government Turnaround Summit, held at Misty Hills Hotel and Conference Centre in Mogale City, West Rand Region, on the 23rd and 24th of October 2024, opened and closed by Premier Panyaza Lesufi, concluded with a firm commitment from participants to drive transformative change in local municipalities. Themed “Building Smart and Resilient Municipalities of the Future,” the summit brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from eleven (11) municipalities, Provincial Government Departments, National Government Departments, State-Owned Entities, and experts in local government. 

The summit was facilitated by former Statistician-General, Dr Pali Lehohla and received reports from various institutions including the Gauteng City Region Observatory (GCRO), AGSA, Stats SA, South African Cities Network. Attended by the two Royal Houses in Gauteng other traditional leaders, Mayors and Members of Mayoral Committees from across the city region, the summit delved into issues that face the local sphere of government and through its commissions produced a plan on solutions to address these. Speaking during the opening ceremony Deputy Minister for the National Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Dr Dickson Masemola emphasised the importance of professionalizing local government through the appointment of suitably qualified people in the right positions, adding that there was a review of the white paper on the funding model for municipalities. 

The summit also took a report on the financial state of Gauteng municipalities from MEC of Finance and Economic Development Mr Lebogang Maile who remarked that the provincial Treasury had appointed technical advisors that would provide municipalities with financial management and would assist them in implementing Financial Recovery Plans.

MEC for Infrastructure Development and COGTA Mr Jacob Mamabolo announced that an implementation monitoring committee comprising MMC’s of Corporate Services and Municipal Managers from all municipalities would be established to ensure that decisions of the summit were implemented.

In the declaration issued at the summit’s conclusion, participants acknowledged that local governments face persistent challenges across governance, finance, infrastructure, service delivery, local economic development, spatial restructuring, and safety and security.

Key Issues Addressed: 

• Local governments face serious challenges in governance, financial sustainability, and service delivery. 

• Governance is complicated by coalition arrangements in many municipalities. 

• Infrastructure decay hampers service delivery and local economic growth. 

• Financial viability remains a pressing issue for most municipalities. 

• The global digital shift is transforming service provision. 

The summit celebrated 25 years of achievements in local governance and service delivery, but participants recognised that Gauteng municipalities must do more to meet their constitutional mandates and address emerging challenges, including climate change and rapid urbanisation. Reaffirmation of the District Development Model (DDM) A key outcome of the summit was the reaffirmation of the District Development Model (DDM) as the main approach to tackling municipal challenges. The DDM One Plan will guide turnaround efforts across municipalities in the Gauteng City Region (GCR).

Commitment to turnaround Participants pledged to transformative actions grounded in cooperative governance, intergovernmental collaboration, strategic partnerships, and social compacts. 

Strategic themes identified for the turnaround included: 

• Municipal Governance: Promoting clean, accountable, and ethical governance. 

• Municipal Administration: Committing to the professionalisation and continuous development of municipal administration. 

• Municipal Finance: Strengthening accountable financial management, with sound budgeting, reporting, and accountability processes. 

• Infrastructure and Service Delivery: Delivering projects on time, within budget, and to high standards, with active public participation. 

• Local Economic Development: Driving local economic growth in alignment with the Township Economy Development Act. 

• Spatial Restructuring: Redressing apartheid spatial planning and fostering inclusive development. 

• Municipal Digital Transformation: Advancing the digitalisation and modernisation of governance and service delivery systems.

• Safety and Security: Focusing on community safety and infrastructure protection. 

In closing, Gauteng Premier Lesufi thanked the collective leadership for addressing critical local government challenges and outlined priority areas: 

• Upgrading aging water, electricity, and sewer infrastructure. 

• Preparing for anticipated water shortages.

• Tackling municipal revenue challenges. 

• Addressing issues related to undocumented foreign nationals and businesses. 

• Combating high levels of crime, corruption, and government property vandalism. 

• Preventing land invasion and creating opportunity in waste management 

• Improving townships, hostels, and informal settlements, and implementing Central Business Districts (CBD) revitalisation, with a focus on the Johannesburg CBD 

• The repurposing of the Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency to support bulk services and infrastructure development 

• The modernisation of the indigent register • Tackling climate change and augmenting disaster management

“We are pleased that for the first time since the 2021 Local Government Elections, all municipalities, without exception, today we are meeting here to work together. We are now planning together from the centre as one province, with one plan and one execution plan,” said the Premier. He emphasised that the summit was a seminal point of reference point marking a period where the provincial government and local government commit to doing things differently. 

“We must all pull our resources together for the benefit of everyone in our province,” said Premier Lesufi.

Senior Citizens enjoy relaxed and fun picnic at Johannesburg ZOO #KASIBCNEWS

Senior Citizens enjoy relaxed and fun picnic at Johannesburg ZOO #KASIBCNEWS 

Dozens of senior citizens gathered at the Johannesburg Zoo this week for a special “picnic in the park” event organised by the City of Johannesburg’s Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM Region F) in collaboration with the Social Development and Sport & Recreation Departments.

Elderly residents from Wards 54 and 125 in Region F2 attended the event accompanied by their ward councillors, Cllr Matsobane Sekhu of Ward 125 and Cllr Stuart Marais of Ward 54. This was the second picnic for the elderly this month after a successful event on the International Day of Older Persons, 1 October, where hundreds of seniors from various wards took part.

The picnic provided a refreshing break from daily routines, offering a chance for seniors to enjoy nature, socialise, participate in fun games, and engage in activities that promote emotional and psychological well-being.

October, designated by the United Nations to honour and appreciate senior citizens, carries the theme “Aging with Dignity” this year, serving as a reminder to respect and support the health and well-being of our elders.

The day was all about giving back to our cherished elders, with every detail thoughtfully planned to ensure relaxation, enjoyment, and the creation of lasting memories. Seniors explored the zoo, viewed animals, and enjoyed nature, leaving them feeling refreshed and uplifted.

Throughout the morning, participants joined in fun games such as tug of war, swing ball, juskei, ring the stick, morabaraba, and more. They were also treated to fresh fruit, water, and juice.

In his welcoming speech, Cllr Marais addressed the attendees, saying: “This day is for you. We want to bring variety into your life. Whether you’re busy or spend much time at home, today is your day to relax and have fun. We’re grateful to CRUM and the other departments for organising such a beautiful event, and we hope you enjoy yourselves.”

Meshack Maluleke, Regional Manager of Social Development in Region F, echoed this sentiment, adding: “We’re so pleased to host you today. As senior citizens, you hold immense value as keepers of knowledge and history. Today, we want you to relax and enjoy yourselves without worry. It’s important that our elderly have the resources to enjoy their golden years with health, dignity, and a sense of belonging.”

“October is Senior Citizens’ Month, and we want to remind you that the city has services designed for you. Today we are joined by social workers from your areas; please don’t hesitate to contact them when needed,” said Maluleke.

One active participant from Ward 125 shared, “I walk three times a week with a group of over 10 grannies, and we also hike on weekends. We believe staying fit is essential for our health, and we love being outdoors and enjoying nature.”

Research has shown that interacting with animals can help lower blood pressure, reduce heart rates, decrease stress levels, and provide a calming sense of well-being. The zoo’s surroundings certainly contributed to a serene experience for everyone who attended.

RISE OF KIDNAPPINGS AND THEIR LINK TO EXTORTION IN SOUTH AFRICA @KASIBCNEWS 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) strongly condemns the alarming rise in kidnappings across South Africa, which has seen a staggering increase of over 260% in the last decade. With more than 17,000 kidnappings recorded in the past year alone, recent reports show that this surge is directly connected to the growing extortion crisis that continues to terrorise communities, businesses, and individuals throughout the country. Kidnapping has become a central feature of the extortion rackets that have taken root in South Africa, with criminal groups exploiting the vulnerability of citizens and using violence and coercion to extract ransom payments. 

This trend mirrors global patterns of organised crime, where extortion and kidnapping are intertwined, creating a toxic cycle of violence and fear. These criminals, armed and highly organised, have turned communities into hunting grounds for their illicit activities, leaving thousands of South Africans living in terror. In fact, South Africa is now considered the sixth highest country for kidnappings.

The EFF has repeatedly raised the issue of extortion and the criminal networks behind it in Parliament, demanding urgent and decisive action from the government. Yet, despite our calls, the ruling government and its law enforcement agencies have been slow to respond. Extortion first emerged as a significant problem in KwaZulu-Natal around 2014, but by 2019, it had spread to other provinces, embedding itself into township economies, rural areas, construction sites, and even public services. This slow and inadequate state response has allowed the criminal practice of extortion to become normalised and entrenched across the country.

The failure to combat extortion at its roots has contributed to the surge in kidnappings, as criminals exploit a state that is both unwilling or unable to protect its people. Business owners, community leaders, and ordinary citizens are being brutalised into compliance with criminal gangs, while the state has remained largely ineffective in providing the necessary protection and justice. In September, our Commander-in-Chief Julius Malema brought forward a draft resolution to fight for the safety and security of South Africans. Our proposed resolution calls for the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee dedicated to investigating the widespread issue of extortion across South Africa. 

This committee will hold public hearings, seek input from small business owners, civil society groups, and subject matter experts, and develop comprehensive policy and legislative recommendations to eliminate this crime. Parliament must take a central role in holding the government accountable and ensuring robust oversight in the ongoing battle against extortion. We will continue to lobby for the adoption of this resolution demand as we cannot allow extortion and kidnapping to become part of the fabric of our society. Additionally, the EFF will continue to expose these injustices and hold the state accountable for its failure to protect our people from the violence of organised crime.