Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has welcomed Cabinet’s approval of the revised White Paper on Local Government, describing it as a game changer for municipalities across South Africa.
The revised framework aims to tackle long-standing governance, institutional, financial and service delivery challenges that continue to hamper local government performance.
Its approval comes as the country prepares for the local government elections scheduled for the 4th of November. Hlabisa says the policy will help improve competency levels among councillors across municipalities.
“This is going to be a game changer because the deployment of officials as cadres is going to come to an end. This is a principle all political parties agree that if we want to fix our municipalities, let us get it right from the employment point of view. People must be employed on the basis of capabilities and relevant experience other than being friends or to a certain political party that runs the municipality.”
Hlabisa says the framework will be implemented immediately. He adds that President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to officially launch the framework on the 22nd of this month.
“It is going to be implemented immediately. What is going to happen on the 22nd of October, the president is going to officially launch the revised white paper, and we are going to establish a management transition board, which is going to roll it out immediately.”
Video: Cabinet approval of Reviewed White Paper on Local Government welcomed: Velenkosini Hlabisa
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