APPROVED IDP DOC 2011-16.BA PHALABORWA.pdf

(e) to encourage the involvement of communities and community organisations in the matters of local
government.
Section 152(2) prescribes that a municipality must strive, within its financial and administrative capacity, to
achieve the objects set out in subsection (1).
Section 153 determines that to fulfill its developmental duties a municipality must-
(a) structure and manage its administration and budgeting and planning processes to give priority to
the basic needs of the community, and to promote the social and economic development of the
community; and
(b) participate in national and provincial development programmes.
This implies that the local sphere of government should align its strategies and priorities to that of national
and provincial government. A number of key documents and role players influence the setting of strategies
and priorities within municipalities. These will be described in more detail below.
The new Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) which outlines the priorities, strategic objectives and
targets of government for the period 2009 – 2014, indicates National Government’s Strategic intent is to
improve the quality of life of South African communities. An extraction of these priorities as provided in a
document issued by the Office of the Presidency: Together Doing more and Better Medium Term Strategic
Framework: A framework to guide government’s programmes in the electoral mandate period (2009-
2014) 8 , can be summarised as follows:
Strategic Priority 1: Speeding up growth and transforming the economy to create decent work and
sustainable livelihoods.
Strategic Priority 2: Massive programme to build economic and social infrastructure.
Strategic priority 3: Comprehensive rural development strategy linked to land and agrarian reform and
food security.
Strategic Priority 4: Strengthen the skills and human resource base.
8 The Presidency Republic of South Africa. 2009. Together doing more and better. Medium term strategic
framework. Available at: http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/docs/pcsa/planning/mtsf_july09.pdf
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