GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Challenges that local municipalities in the Garden Route District are grappling with were highlighted during Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa’s visit to George on Monday 30 June.
Hlabisa attended a district co-ordinating forum meeting at the Garden Route District Municipality offices to gain insight into the state of local government in the district.
The event was also attended by Western Cape Local Government Minister Anton Bredell, whose department hosted the event.
Some of the issues underscored included the fast population growth, fiscal pressures, ageing and insufficient infrastructure and funding for capital projects, collecting rates and taxes, and attracting skilled personnel.
In an overview of the district, Garden Route Mayor Andrew Stroebel said the region’s population is growing at a rapid rate and it is now home to more than one million residents. George’s population grew by 53% over the past decade, which equates to a whopping 4% annual growth rate. Pressure on infrastructure and services as well as staff capacity at municipalities is increasing.
Financial management is a concern, and municipalities are struggling with debt collection, particularly in Bitou, where outstanding consumer debts jumped from R300m to R397m in two years.
Rising living costs impact the affordability of increases in rates and taxes for middle-income households that fall just outside the indigent support bracket.
However, he said the Auditor-General’s audits of the district’s municipalities look promising overall. Ratings Africa recently rated Mossel Bay Municipality one of the most financially sustainable municipalities in South Africa.
Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa addresses the media.
Hlabisa said his department has made a deliberate decision to reach out, listen carefully and intervene in a meaningful way to assist municipalities to be functional and deliver services. “Our goal is to understand the issues on the ground and remove the barriers that are hindering service delivery and development.”
He was pleased that all the municipalities in the Garden Route have functional governance structures, but said some have challenges of political instability and frequent changes in leadership.
Hlabisa said various issues raised during the meeting will be addressed in the White Paper on Local Government that is currently under review. These include insufficient grant funding for urban and rural municipalities, ‘one size, fits all’, despite very different revenue bases.
Honest discussions needed
Bredell said many of the issues in municipalities have to do with a lack of leadership and management. “We must be honest about this, otherwise we are never going to solve it.
"I hope that the new generation of people sitting in this room will tackle that. Let’s have the thorough, and deep, and uncomfortable discussions. At the end of the day, we want to serve our communities.”
Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Anton Bredell.
Also in attendance was National Sport Minister Gayton McKenzie, who stressed the importance of putting political differences aside to co-operate for the sake of the country’s people.
White Paper deadline extension
*Hlabisa announced an extension of the deadline for public participation in the White Paper review from 30 June to 31 July to allow the opportunity for more input.
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