Minister Thembi Nkadimeng emphasized the role of ethical leadership in creating a fair and inclusive society, supplying citizens with essential services, and opposing corruption in service provision. She also provided updates on anticorruption efforts and the National AntiCorruption Strategy, which aims to enforce zero tolerance towards corruption and nurture an ethical and accountable state.
The Summit on Ethical Leadership in Local Government has taken place in South Africa, coinciding with the start of Human Rights Month. The country’s local government AntiCorruption Strategy encourages ethical standards, with a focus on integrity, accountability, and commitment to public service. The Local Government Ethical Leadership Initiative and AntiCorruption Forum are working to instill an ethical culture, including the development of a Code for Ethical Leadership in Local Government. The Ethics Institute, SALGA, and the Moral Regeneration Movement have been instrumental in supporting this endeavor.
Local governments play a crucial role in addressing the energy crisis by providing solutions and collaborating with the Western Cape Government (WCG). Municipalities are responsible for service delivery, which is severely impacted during power blackouts. To combat the crisis, provinces must focus on protecting essential services and seeking alternative sources of energy.
The National Treasury has recently released its comprehensive local government revenue and expenditure report for the third quarter of the 2022/23 financial year. This analysis provides an overview of the performance of local governments against adjusted budgets, including conditional grant allocations, up to 31 March 2023.
The North West Provincial Legislature extends its condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the late Councillor Fikile Alfred Jakeni, who passed away on June 1, 2023, after a short illness. Honorable Basetsana R. S. Dantjie, the Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, conveyed her sympathies on behalf of the Provincial Speaker’s Forum.
Minister Thembi Nkadimeng recently presented the 2023/24 Budget Vote for the Departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA). This important occasion highlighted the department’s past accomplishments and future plans, with a focus on accelerating implementation and ensuring local government becomes a key driver for growth, innovation, inclusivity, and cohesion.
The North West Provincial Legislature Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts has scheduled MFMA public hearings for May 24th, 2023. The hearings will focus on the 2019/20 audit reports of Mamusa, Kgetleng, and Ditsobotla Local Municipalities and aim to promote transparency and accountability in local government.
The City of Cape Town is committed to making local government more accessible and improving the quality of life for its residents. Two initiatives have been deployed the Mobile Office and Basket of Services to provide residents with convenient opportunities to receive assistance from City officials representing various departments.
Swartland Municipality, located in the Western Cape of South Africa, has significantly improved community engagement by launching the first online Integrated Development Plan (IDP) in the region. The webbased solution, affectionately known as the “IDP in Your Pocket,” has received acclaim for being userfriendly and accessible.