23/11/2022
The Office of the Speaker, cllr Mathabo Leeto on the 22 November 2022 invited all structures that operate in a Ward to converge at Ferdie Meyer Hall for Ward Committees Summit. This Summit is a first of its kind in Local Government sphere where communities of Lejweleputswa together with Government met to identify the diagnosis of why Ward Committees are not effective. People in attendance were Ward Councilors, President of Salga (Mr Stofile), GBV & Femicide Coordinators, Pastors, Home Affairs, Social Development, Department of the Premier (CDW’s), Department of Health (clinics), SGB’s, CPF, Ward Committees. The theme for the Summit was “Strengthen Ward Committees to Create an Interface between all organs of Peoples power”
All 74 Wards of Lejweleputswa District gathered to map out an agenda for change in Local Government sphere. In her opening address Cllr Leeto as the Speaker and also Chair of Free State Salga raised pertinent questions that pinpoint loopholes, challenges and also offer guidance that might work to invigorate a sense of ownership and responsibility.
Service delivery issues begins and ends at the ward committees. The ineffectiveness of ward committees result to protest and poor service delivery. Ward Committees are the eyes and the ears of Municipalities. Ward Committees are elected by the Communities residing in the Ward, also given stipends of R500 – R1000 to assist Ward Councilors in enhancing service delivery.
According to Leeto, the White Paper on Local Government characterizes Local Government as a sphere of government committed to working with citizens and groups within the community to find sustainable ways to meet their social, economic and material needs and improve the quality of their lives
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa enshrines the rights of all people in our country to dignity, equality before the law, freedom and security. The Constitution commits government to take reasonable measures, within its available resources, to ensure that all South Africans have access to adequate housing, health care, education, food, water and social security
Within Municipal Ward, different agencies contribute to the development, including national, provincial departments, parastatals, community groups and private sector institutions. Developmental local government must provide a vision and leadership for all those who have a role to play in achieving local prosperity. Poor coordination between service providers could severely undermine the development efforts
Vibrant Ward Committees can play an important role in achieving greater coordination and integration. Integrated development plans serve as a foundation on how Municipalities discharge their responsibilities effectively
Three spheres of government are constitutional established as organs of people’s power in order to enhance service delivery mandate. However, there is a gap in the coordination of work performed by government structures existing in a ward. This Summit has been convened to bring together all government structures that exist in a ward in order to serve communities better. In doing this, will eliminate competition but structures and resources will therefore complement each other
The Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act 13 of 2005 which promote IGR structures need to be established as a matter of urgency. Service delivery is at a low in all areas because of poor coordination. With this in mind Service delivery issues will be reported early by Ward Committees to Customer service for action. It cannot be correct that sewerage, broken pipes, poth-holes, leaking water will go on for days without being reported to relevant units in Municipalities.
Mme Leeto is calling on everybody, not to disappoint those who came before us. The baton is given to us all. Let’s lend a hand to change the outlook of local government. Municipalities are dying because of silo mentality that after today a meaningful contribution is needed to save people from sewerage and poor roads infrastructure. When there is a will, there is also a way. Our fore-bears left a positive legacy and this current generation of leadership must raise up in order to be counted. The time is ticking and there won’t be any time left soon to change the trajectory. Local Government is everybody’s business, Communities now is the right time to move away from the dark cloud.
