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• The Migration Network: which was instructed by the National
executive Committee of SALGA to conduct a study on migration
and its implications for local governance. The process of
developing the research initiated a small community of practice
that informed the research, as well as allowing a space to share
other experiences relating to migration and its management.
• The Municipal Managers Network: was initiated this year to
facilitate dialogue and peer-learning amongst municipal
managers. The network provides an opportunity for SALGA to learn
of key municipal issues and challenges from municipal
administrators in the process of developing policy positions to be
deliberated and approved by the SALGA leadership.
Local government learning events
SALGA facilitated 14 learning events throughout the year which resulted
in closer engagement between SALGA and municipal practitioners to
facilitate peer learning and networking towards improved capacity and
knowledge for service delivery, which included:
• Panel debate on Millennium Development Goals and how the
Local Government Turnaround Strategy could enhance the role
that municipalities can play in achieving these.
• Two seminars on the role of Local Government in managing
HIV/AIDS.
• Two seminars in partnership with Wits University on migration
and urbanisation and their implications for local governance.
• Managing climate change through green buildings conducted in
a session at the Green Buildings Council of South Africa
Convention in 2010.
• Two roundtables on public participation in local governance
centred on results of a public participation benchmarking programme.
• Municipal managers roundtable focusing on dialogue around a
variety of key municipal issues that senior municipal administrators
feel need to be addressed in the term of local government
following the elections.
• Mining and local government roundtable.
Local government research agenda
• Migration: in 2009 the National Executive Committee of SALGA
instructed the research unit to conduct a study on migration and
its implications for local governance. The research was concluded
in 2010 and culminated in a SALGA position to manage both
national and international migration proactively towards growing
global development trajectories. This includes effective
management of local data and its use in policy making, planning
and budgeting.
• Mining: a study on the state of mining and local government
in South Africa was concluded in 2010, highlighting key issues
to consider to enable municipalities and mines to establish a
mutual trust borne of a better understanding of each other and
other factors that would enhance their co-operation for improved
planning and development.
• Municipal leadership: a bottom-up assessment of municipal
performance was concluded using a sample of municipal
mayors and managers in order to assess and reflect on
the progress and challenges in local government from a
municipal leaders perspective.
• Transversal: SALGA has clear, evidence-based policy positions
on transversal issues that pro-actively influence local government
policy, thereby improving the positive public perception, and
ultimately performance of, local government in this arena.
Coordination of structured stakeholder engagements
SALGA coordinated structured engagements with international donors
and development partners in order to aid in identifying areas of
collaboration and link-strengthening between SALGA and the donor
community. This resulted in closer engagement between SALGA,
the donor community and other development partners towards
improvement in capacity building, institutional development and
improved services within the local government sphere. Four donor
and development partner roundtables were hosted by SALGA within
specified thematic areas, namely:
• Capacity building through knowledge management.
• The role of local government in managing climate change.
• Municipal finance and government reforms.
• Local government elections 2011.
• The journey of local government and SALGA over last 5-10 years.
• 2011 Councillor Induction Programme.
Engaging and lobbying sector departments in IGR structures to
ensure integrated planning
SALGA strengthened Intergovernmental Relations in integrated
planning to better equip municipalities in developing sector plans.
Provincial Integrated Development Plan (IDP) Key Performance
Area meetings focusing on the progress made by stakeholders in
their commitments to support municipalities on IDPs took place
in September 2010 for SALGA Mpumalanga municipalities, who
were also supported during the Provincial Planning Forum on
18 -19 November 2010 through discussions with all stakeholders on
the progress made since the IDP analysis in May 2010. The Department
of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) was engaged to
assist the municipalities and a workshop on the Spatial Development
Framework (SDF) guidelines was held on 26 November 2010. The
municipalities which were assisted in developing sector plans on
public participation included Steve Tshwete, Emakhazeni, Emalahleni,
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