Lekwa Local Municipality 2013/14 - Co-operative Governance and ...

7.13 TRADITIONAL LEADERSThe objectives of the Traditional Leaders are to work closely with Council and other grassroots structures toidentify all the important priority issues and facilitate community consultation in such communities incollaboration with ward councilors. Lekwa Local Municipality does not have any traditional authorities in itsarea of jurisdiction.7.14 AUDIT COMMITTEEThe Municipality has a fully functional Audit Committee, and no longer sharing audit services concept withother three local municipalities and the GSDM. The Audit Committee is functioning effectively as envisaged. A3-year rolling Audit Plan in terms of MFMA will be produced by Internal Audit and these would be reviewedannually. The risk based plan should be in terms of the MFMA legislation. Further risk plans also allows themunicipality to prioritize its risks into high, medium and low. The high risks are attended to immediately andsubsequently the internal controls are strengthened.Pertaining to Performance Audit committee function, the current Audit Committee will be utilized instead ofestablishing an additional Committee to focus specifically on overall Organizational Performance Audit.7.15 INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSThe municipality has an IGR unit which is focusing on Overseeing all the IGR matters, Promoting, FosteringIntergovernmental Relations and sector collaborations, Facilitating and Supporting Sports, Arts and Cultureand Facilitate and coordinate Gender, Disability and HIV/AIDS function.The Municipality is still having a challenge when it comes to integrated planning especially integration ofprograms and projects from some sector departments from Mpumalanga Provincial Government. The mannerin which the private sector is participating in the local municipality planning process also needs to be improvedthrough engagement as prescribed in the Municipal Systems Act.The objectives of the IGR Unit in Lekwa are to;221 | P a g eContribute knowledge and ideas about planning issues in the province and sectors;Contribute relevant information on the provincial sector departments plans, programmes, budgets,objectives, strategies and projects in a concise and accessible manner;Ensure that their objectives and strategies and projects take the local IDP into consideration andadjust their budgets as informed by the local IDP into consideration;Engage in a process of alignment with the GSDM and other local municipalities, and participate in theprovincial management system and co-ordination;7.16 COMMUNITY PARTICIPATIONOne of the main features about integrated development planning process is the involvement of communityand stakeholder organizations in the process. Participation of affected and interested parties ensures that theIDP addresses the real issues that are experienced by the citizen of Lekwa Municipality. As part of its publicparticipation process, the municipality has established the following structures to promote communityparticipation; IDP Steering Committee IDP Technical Committee IDP Representative Forum Traditional Leaders Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) HIV & AIDS Council Transport forumIt should however be mentioned that due to the vastness of the Lekwa Municipal area additional effortsshould be made to ensure that public participation is meaningful.