Annual Performance Plan 2009-10 - Co-operative Governance and ...

FOREWORD BY THE MEC
The Department of Local Government was formed on 1 st April 2008 after the Executive Council took a decision to
split the Department of Local Government and Housing into two votes. The splitting of the former department has
given us an opportunity to strengthen the Department of Local Government by bringing in additional capacity.
In May 2008, we completed the process of reconstituting our Traditional Authorities into Traditional Councils. This
process which is unprecedented in the country was done in-terms of the Mpumalanga Traditional Leadership and
Governance Act of 2005. We have now begun a process of assisting these Traditional Councils to be fully
functional. As this is the first time we have Traditional Councils, we will be learning as we continue the journey and
we are sure that we can rely on the support of our esteemed Amakhosi.
We are encouraged by the positive efforts for good performance of our municipalities. Although there have been
some challenges that have faced our municipalities, municipalities have continued to strive to perform well and
deliver on their mandate. One of the major challenges that our municipalities will be faced with in the 2008/09
financial year will be the implementation of the Municipal Property Rates Act. The municipalities have until 31 July
2009 to implement Municipal Property Rates Act. The department will put systems in place to assist municipalities
to implement this Act.
We have made significant progress in terms of service delivery. Today a total of 667 495 households in the
Province have access to water. We have also managed to provide 583 505 households with electricity. Our
challenge together with the Department of Minerals
And Energy is to ensure that more households have access to electricity.
A Task Team has also been established with DWAF, DALA and my department to explore strategies of resolving
sewer spillages in communities. An amount of R40 million is being used this financial year to expedite VIP
drainage and sanitization, fix the operations and maintenance challenges with most Sewer Treatment Plants and
to do upgrading where necessary.
Our Water For all flagships has helped accelerate the reduction of water backlogs. Through this flagship we will
reduce the backlog by 2010. We have finalized the planning and prioritization of projects across all districts.
Through the Water for All flagship in 2007/08 we were able to provide access for 46 230 households and we will
further provide access to 86 000 households in 2008/09 and 126 325 by 2009/10.
Our planning is guided by the 5 Year Local Government Strategic Agenda (2006-2011). We have made sure that
all our plans are aligned with the priorities as defined by the Strategic Agenda, Provincial Growth and
Development Strategy (PGDS) and the MEC’s Policy and Budget Speech. This Annual Performance Plan is also
linked to the Medium Term and Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
The 5 Year Local Government Strategic Agenda has three priority areas. These are the focus areas where all
sector departments need to mobilize resources. The areas are:
• Mainstreaming hands-on support to Local Government to improve municipal governance,
performance and accountability
• Addressing the structure and governance arrangements of the State in order to better strengthen,
support and monitor Local Government
• Refining and strengthening the Policy, Regulatory and Fiscal Environment for Local Government and
giving greater attention to the Enforcement Measures.
The province has began the construction of the Disaster Management Centre. We are confident that the Centre
will be complete by the end of 2009. In the meantime the Department has entered into a service level agreement
with the Mbombela Local Municipality to set up a temporary centre.
As government we are continuing to make sure that we bring government services closer to the people. We have
set a target of making sure that by 2014 each municipality has two Thusong Service Centers. Currently we have
10 Thusong Service Centers in Mbangawane, Casteel, Mpuluzi, Breyten, Siyathemba, Wonderfontein,
Marapyane, Moremela, Matsamo and Tholulwazi. Thuthukani, Louisville, Daggakraal and Doornkop Thusong
Service Centers will be operation in the 2008/09 financial year.