The Auditor General report painted a bleak picture of the state of municipalities in the Free State. The MEC for Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements, Saki Mokoena has deemed it necessary to convene a Local Government Summit in accordance to Section 154, which seeks to support and strengthen Local Government. “These reports serve as a wake-up call depicting the Free State as the worst performing province across all six pillars of sustainability namely PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST, Governance, building institutional capabilities, financial management, service delivery and local economic development. The gravity of this finding can not be overstated. These six pillars are the bedrock of sustainable Local Governance.” – Deputy Minister Hon. D Masemola The three day Summit will see the three branches of government, namely, National, Provincial, and Local government come together to find solutions to the report. The importance of all three spheres coming together and acknowledging their interdependence will assist and empower struggling municipalities.
Local Government is a fundamental branch that deals with maintaining infrastructure development, key municipal service delivery, and local economic development. The MEC, Mokoena emphasised on local economic development in Free State Municipalities. “Our municipalities need to become providers of social services and facilitators of inclusive economic growth. Investors are attracted to areas where there is reliable and modern infrastructure, and this in turn drives investment up and creates jobs.” If a Local Government branch doesn’t function to its optimal capacity, communities and those in them, suffer. Acting Premier, Jabu Mbalula spoke on the importance of these summits in adjusting strategies accordingly. He spoke on how important it is to respond to community needs and improve overall governance. “The issues faced by Local Government are significant, but they are not insurmountable” said Mbalula. The summit will consist of plenary and break out sessions, which will allow for discussions and will enable innovative ways to tackle challenges. The exchange of knowledge is seen as an essential way of reaching the goals of local government and promoting good and accountable governance.
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