The instability of coalition governments and their negative effect on service delivery are set to come under sharp focus when the SA Local Government Association (Salga) in Gauteng holds a two-day summit this week.
Salga Gauteng provincial executive committee chair Jongizizwe Dlabathi will convene the first provincial members’ assembly (PMA) in Tshwane on Monday and Tuesday, under the theme “Promoting Service Delivery and Good Governance through Ethical Leadership, Professionalism and Effective Financial Management”.
Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi will deliver the keynote address at the PMA.
Gauteng co-operative governance and traditional affairs MEC Mzi Khumalo and his economic development counterpart Tasneem Motara will take part in PMA discussions. The gathering will bring together senior decisionmakers in the province’s municipalities including mayors, speakers, municipal managers and CFOs.
On the agenda of the PMA are the effect of coalition governments on service delivery and municipal governance as well as ethical leadership as a “catalyst for effective oversight and accountability”.
The summit will also discuss the state of local government in Gauteng, where the Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane metros fell under a DA-led multiparty government after the municipal elections in 2021 when the ANC’s support fell below 50% for the first time. There has been disruption since then.
Ekurhuleni, without a permanent political head for nearly two weeks, is set on Tuesday to elect a new executive mayor after the process to find DA councillor Tania Campbell’s replacement was postponed last week when the EFF and ANC could not agree on a mayoral candidate.
Council speaker Raymond Dhlamini confirmed to Business Day on Sunday that an extraordinary meeting would be held on Tuesday to elect Ekurhuleni’s first citizen, who will effectively be in charge of the R51.2bn budget for financial 2022/2023.
Business Day reported last week that the stalemate that led to the postponement of the council meeting was borne of the EFF wanting to field its Gauteng chair and Ekurhuleni councillor Nkululeko Dunga as its mayoral candidate, and wanted the ANC councillors to support him, but to no avail.
ANC Gauteng secretary Thembinkosi Nciza and Dunga could not be reached immediately for comment.
The ANC nomination process for leaders to be elected at the party’s December conference is expected to wrap up on Monday, with the consolidated list of the people who will make it onto the ballot set to be completed by November 12.
Parliament’s portfolio committee on co-operative governance and traditional affairs will on Tuesday consider a petition from Emalahleni local municipality residents calling on the National Assembly to investigate the persistent shortage of water in their area in the past decade.
On Wednesday, the ministers in the governance cluster, which includes the ministers of co-operative governance and traditional affairs and public service & administration, will answer questions from MPs in the National Assembly.
Also on Wednesday, the State Security Agency will brief the standing committee on public accounts on the vetting of officials of organs of state.
The parliamentary inquiry into the fitness of public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to hold office will continue to hold hearings on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
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