By Johnathan Paoli
Following Gauteng’s local government turnaround summit, the three spheres of government, SOEs and other key stakeholders have committed to work together to develop strategies to improve service delivery and the financial sustainability of municipalities.
A declaration issued after the two-day summit under the theme “Building Smart and Resilient Municipalities of the Future”, reaffirmed the District Development Model as a viable strategy to revitalise municipalities.
Participants acknowledged that many municipalities were currently governed through coalition arrangements, which had led to increased complexities in decision-making and resource allocation.
They also noted that many municipalities struggled with financial sustainability, which impacted their ability to deliver essential services.
The declaration noted that deteriorating infrastructure hampered service delivery and local economic development, further straining municipal resources.
Participants recognised the need for municipalities to adapt to new technologies in service provision.
The declaration acknowledged the achievements of local government over the past 25 years, but emphasised the ongoing difficulties in meeting constitutional mandates.
Participants pointed out that factors such as financial instability, poor governance and climate change continued to undermine the effectiveness of municipal operations.
They committed to a new approach to turn around efforts, emphasising cooperative governance, intergovernmental relations and strategic partnerships.
The key themes identified for the turnaround included fostering clean, accountable and ethical governance practices, ensuring accountable financial management through improved budgeting, reporting and accountability processes, and delivering infrastructure through effective partnerships while engaging communities in the process.
At the same time, local economies needed to be promoted and aligned with the Gauteng Township Economy Development Act, and the legacy of apartheid spatial planning had to be addressed to promote equitable urban development.
Also, governance systems and service delivery must be modernised through digitalisation, and the safety of communities and safeguarding municipal infrastructure must be prioritised.
The summit concluded with a strong commitment to implement these strategic themes in their municipalities, and embrace innovative approaches and encourage collaboration so that municipalities were better equipped to deal with current and future challenges.
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