Local Government, Environmental Affairs and development Planning
Whether there are any municipalities that have been identified after the 2016 local-government elections that need assistance in executing their responsibilities or duties; if not, why not; if so, what kind of assistance is being given and what is the current relationship with his Department?
In the Western Cape, the focus of my department is still on our Back to Basics Municipalities. Currently we have ten (10) Back to Basics Municipalities in the Province, which are being supported through comprehensive municipal support plans. These ten (10) Municipalities are:
- Matzikama
- Cederberg
- Kannaland
- Beaufort West
- Central Karoo District
- Laingsburg
- Prince Albert
- Swellendam
- Cape Agulhas
- Oudtshoorn
During February and March 2015, my Department with the assistance of various sector departments conducted diagnostic exercises at these ten (10) Municipalities, to determine their current status against key performance areas. In response my Department crafted a customized support plan for each of these Municipalities.
Post the 2016 local government elections the Department as part of the Back to Basics initiative will be visiting these ten (10) Municipalities, to ensure that their status as well as their individual support plans is still relevant. As a starting point, my department conducted a high-level municipal assessment, focusing on their current status, as well as potential areas where my department can further support these municipalities, in terms of the Back to Basics Programme. Following these high-level assessments and depending on the key findings of these assessments, my department will then recraft these individual municipal support plans.
A consultative process with the relevant municipalities, as well as the sector departments involved will follow in the implementation of these support plans. To date four (4) of the ten (10) identified municipalities have been assessed and their individual support plans has been recrafted. Back to Basics Steering Committees are in place at all ten (10) Municipalities and the role of these committees is to drive the implementation of projects identified on the support plans.
The Department, through the Directorate: Municipal Governance is conducting workshops at municipalities that require urgent legislative support. These workshops are being conducted as result of the Local Government elections that were held on 3 August 2016.
Thus far workshops have been conducted with councillors of Oudtshoorn and Cederberg municipalities. Additional workshops were conducted with the Speakers of, West Coast District, Cederberg, Bergrivier, Matzikama, Saldanha Bay, Swartland, Cape Winelands District, Stellenbosch, Drakenstein, Witzenberg, Langeberg, Breede Valley, Eden District, Oudtshoorn, Prince Albert, Kannaland, Hessequa, Bitou, Laingsburg, Beaufort West, Knysna, George and Central Karoo District, municipalities.
The future plans of the Department are to conduct these workshops with all the municipalities. In addition legal support has been provided to Prince Albert, George, Knysna, Matzikama, Kannaland, Swartland, Hessequa, Saldanha Bay, Stellenbosch, Bitou, Breede Valley and Drakenstein municipalities.
The relationship between my Department and these municipalities are one of mutual respect to ensure the execution of our constitutional mandates.
