It cannot be correct that sewage, broken pipes, potholes and water leakages go unattended for days without being reported to relevant units in municipalities. Vibrant ward committees can play an important role in achieving greater co-ordination and integration.
So said Mathabo Leeto, speaker of the Lejweleputswa District Municipality, during a summit she convened at the Ferdi Meyer Hall in Welkom on Monday (22/11).
“This summit was the first of its kind in the local government sphere where the communities of Lejweleputswa came together with government to identify and give a diagnosis as to why ward committees are not effective,” said Khaya Mqeke, communications manager for Lejweleputswa.
The summit was attended by the councillors of the 74 wards in the district, the president of Salga, Bheki Stofile, and other key roleplayers and structures within the district.
The aim of the summit was to strengthen ward committees to create an interface between the municipality and the state.
Leeto says there is a gap in the co-ordination of work performed by government structures existing in a ward.
“We must bring together all government structures that exist in a ward in order to serve communities better. In doing this, we will eliminate competition, and structures and resources will complement each other.
“Service delivery is at a low in all areas because of poor co-ordination. With this in mind, service delivery issues will be reported early by ward committees to customer service for action.
“I am 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 the silo mentality. A meaningful contribution is needed to save people from sewage and poor roads infrastructure. When there is a will, there is also a way.
“Our forebears left a positive legacy, and this current generation of leadership must rise up in order to be counted. The time is ticking and soon there will not be any time left to change the trajectory.
“Local government is everybody’s business. Communities, now is the right time to move away from the dark cloud,” she says.
Service delivery issues begin and end at the ward committees. The ineffectiveness of ward committees result in protest and poor service delivery. Ward committees are the eyes and the ears of municipalities, and assist ward councillors in enhancing service delivery.
According to Leeto, the South African Constitution enshrines the rights of all people 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,” she said.
Within municipal wards, different agencies contribute to development, including national and provincial departments, parastatals, community groups and private sector institutions.
Developmental local government must provide a vision and leadership for those who have a role to play in achieving local prosperity.
Poor co-ordination between service providers could severely undermine the development efforts, says Leeto.
