NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES HOLDS LOCAL GOVERNMENT WEEK
Parliament, Friday 27 July 2012 - The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will next week,
hold a seminar under the theme "Accelerating Service Delivery and Addressing Challenges
through effective Co-operative Governance" as part of the new Local Government Week
initiative.
The aim of the local government seminar is to provide an opportunity for national reflection
on issues affecting local government and to seek solutions to those challenges, in order to
improve the lives of South Africans through accelerated service delivery.
The initiative is a culmination of a series of consultations between the leadership of the
NCOP and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) which led t o a concrete
programme of engagement between the two institutions earlier this year.
The objectives of the Local Government Week are as follows:
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To showcase successes and challenges confronting municipalities in the
execution of the developmental mandate;
To assess the adequacy of the support framework from national and
provincial government, as envisaged by the Constitution;
To explore means of enforcing the constitutional support framework; and,
To facilitate dialogue on local government issues and foster a
To reach common understanding on the challenges at hand, as well as to propose
short-term, medium term and long-term solutions.
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The deliberations will focus on the following topics proposed by SALGA and considered by
the NCOP for the 2012 round of engagement:
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Sound policy and legislative framework to accelerate service delivery
Building the capacity of local government to accelerate service delivery
Sustainable human settlements and municipal infrastructure
The role of local government in stimulating local economic and rural development
Sustainable financial systems and appropriate fiscal framework for local government
Addressing the fiscal challenges for effective service delivery
Parliamentarians, senior members of the national and provincial SALGA leadership, national
Cabinet and Provincial Executive Councils, Mayors of selected metropolitan, district and local
municipalities, the Auditor-General, independent analysts and strategic entities have been
invited.
The outcomes of the deliberations will be the subject of a special sitting of the NCOP on
Friday, 3 August, that will focus on local government matters.
This initiative is an important milestone in the history of engagement between the NCOP and
SALGA. It will serve as an important means towards fulfilling the constitutional injunction that
national and provincial government must support and strengthen the capacity of
municipalities.
It provides an opportunity to SALGA to heed the call to take its rightful place an d utilise its
voice in the NCOP more meaningfully, as required by the Constitution.
The Local Government Week seminar is part of a number of initiatives planned to mark the
15 th anniversary of the NCOP.
Details of the Seminar
Date: Tuesday, 31 July to Friday, 3 August 2012
Time: 8.30
Venue: Old Assembly Chamber, Parliament
Programme is attached
Members of the media wishing to attend the sessions should forward their details, to
Nolizwi Magwagwa, nmagwagwa@parliament.gov.za; copying Khuthala Noah,
knoah@parliament.gov.za, and Milisa Kentane, mkentane@salga.org.za by Monday, 30
July 2012 at 14.00. Details required are full name, ID or passport number, name of
media house, designation (photographer, journalists for example)
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES
LOCAL GOVERNMENT WEEK
“Accelerating Service Delivery and Addressing Challenges through
effective Cooperative Governance”
31 July – 03 August 2012
Old Assembly Chamber, Parliament
DRAFT PROGRAMME
MONDAY 30 JULY 2012
TIME
From 16h00
ACTIVITY
Arrival in Cape Town
DAY ONE – TUESDAY 31 JULY 2012
08h00 - 08h45
Registration
08h45 - 09h35
SESSION 1: Welcome & Opening
Chairperson of Session – Hon. TC Memela,
Deputy Chairperson of NCOP
Welcome and opening remarks:
Chairperson of the NCOP, Hon. M. Mahlangu
(15 mins)
Keynote Address:
Minister of Cooperative Governance and
Traditional Affairs, Minister R. Baloyi (20 mins)
Purpose and objectives:
Chairperson of SALGA, Cllr T. Manyoni (15
mins)
09h35 - 11h30
SESSION 2: “Sound Policy and Legislative
Framework to accelerate Service Delivery”
Facilitator of the Session: Deputy Speaker of
National Assembly, Hon N.
Mfeketo
Focus areas: Functionality of governance
structures and systems in municipalities;
Separation of Functions; Policy and legislative
impediments; Planning between three spheres
and support by national and provincial
government; municipal best practices.
Presentations to be made by:
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SALGA; (20 mins)
2 local municipalities; (15 mins each = 30 mins)
 Accountability and oversight challenges
(Free State Local Municipality)
 Impact of intervention and progress to date,
municipal turnaround strategy (Thembisile
Hani Local Municipality, Mpumalanga)
1 district municipality (Bojanala Platinum District
Municipality, North West); (15 mins)
 Shifting of functions between district and
locals and impact on role of district
1 metro (Ekurhuleni Metro, Gauteng); (15 mins)
 Separation of Powers best practice
Panel Discussion: (30 mins)
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Ministry of COGTA
NCOP Select Committee Chairperson for
Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs, Hon.
MH Mokgobi
 NCOP Committees’ observation during their
oversight visits and action taken
Prof Jaap de Visser, Multi-level Government
Initiative, Community Law Centre, University of
Western Cape
11h30 – 11h45
TEA
11h45 – 13h15
DISCUSSION
13h15 – 14h15
LUNCH
14h15 -16h15
SESSION 3: “Building the Capacity of Local
Government to Accelerate Service Delivery”
Facilitator of Session: NCOP Chief Whip, Hon. ND
Ntwanambi
Focus areas: LG Academy; HR Strategy for LG;
Role of districts in building capacity of locals;
Recruitment and Retention Strategies – LG as a
career of choice.
Presentations by:
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-
SALGA (20 mins)
 Councillor Development and Support
 LG Academy
1 Local Municipality (15 mins)
- The challenge of attracting, developing and
retaining skills in mun (Greater Tzaneen Local
Municipality, Limpopo)
1 District Municipality (15 mins)
- Role of shared services in building capacity of
LG (Frances Baard District Municipality,
Northern Cape)
1 Secondary City (15 mins)
Building capacity for a new Metro (Buffalo City
Metro, Eastern Cape)
Panel Discussion: (50 mins)
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16h15 – 16h45
Ministry of Finance
 Improving financial management capacity of
LG
Ministry of National Planning Commission
 LG as career of choice; recruitment and
pathing
Ministry of COGTA
 Improving coordination of capacity building
interventions
NCOP Chairperson of Joint Committee on Ethics,
Hon BL Mashile
 NCOP Committees’ observation during their
oversight visits and action taken
TEA
16h45 – 18h15
DISCUSSION
18h30
RECEPTION
DAY TWO – WEDNESDAY 01 AUGUST 2012
08h30
09h00
–
Summary of issues and recommendations from
Day One: NCOP Chief Whip, Hon. ND Ntwanambi
09h00
10h45
–
SESSION 4: “Sustainable Human Settlements
and Municipal Infrastructure”
Facilitator of Session: Chairperson of Local Government
and
Housing
Committee,
Gauteng Provincial Legislature,
Hon. E. Megerman
Focus area: Human Settlements development;
Constraints on provision of basic services; State of
Municipal Infrastructure; municipal best practices.
NCOP Committees’ observation
oversight visits and action taken.
during
their
Presentations to be made by:
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
SALGA; (20 mins)
2 local municipalities; (15 mins each = 30 mins)
 Effective provision of water services
(Tlokwe Local Municipality, North West)
 Building houses or serviced land - the
housing conundrum (Steve Tshwete Local
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Municipality, Mpumalanga)
1 district municipality; (15 mins)
 Providing Bulk infrastructure (Cacadu
District Municipality, Eastern Cape)
1 metro; (15 mins)
 Impact of housing policy and PIE on cities
(Johannesburg Metro, Gauteng)
Panel Discussion: (40 mins)
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Ministry of Human Settlements
Ministry of Energy
- Sustainable and renewable energy – role of LG
 Ministry of Water Affairs
- Setting of tariffs and consultation with LG
 NCOP Select Committee Chairperson on Public
Services, Hon. MP Sibande
 NCOP Committees’ observation during their
oversight visits and action taken
10h45
11h15
–
TEA
11h15
13h00
–
DISCUSSION
13h00
14h00
–
LUNCH
14h00
16h00
–
SESSION 5: The Role of Local Government in
Stimulating
Local
Economic
and
Rural
Development”
Facilitator
of
Session:
NCOP Select Committee
Chairperson for Land &
Environmental
Affairs
(including
Rural
Development),
Hon.
A.
Qikani
Focus areas: Outlining the role of municipalities in
Local Economic Development (Cooperatives
Strategy); Broadband Access in re ICT for LG;
Impact of Preferential Procurement on LED; Role of
LG in promoting and supporting Rural Development
(including policy and legislative framework for rural
development).
Presentations by:
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SALGA (20 mins)
2 Local Municipalities (15 mins each = 30 mins)
 LED innovation and best practices
(Theewaterskloof Local Municipality,
Western Cape)
 Rural Development best practice and
challenges (Mhlontlo Local Municipality,
Eastern Cape)
1 District Municipality (15 mins)
 Role of district in stimulating LED (Sisonke
District Municipality, KZN)
1 Metro (15 mins)
 Role of cities in managing economic growth
and development in the 21st century (City of
Cape Town Metro, Western Cape)
Panel Discussion: (45 mins)
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Ministry for Rural Development and Land Reform
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Ministry for Economic Development
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Portfolio
Committee
Chairperson
for
Rural
Development and Land Reform, Hon. S. Sizane
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NCOP Select Committee Chairperson for Economic
Development, Hon. F. Adams
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16h00
16h30
–
TEA
NCOP Committees’ observation during their
oversight visits and action taken
16h15
17h45
–
DISCUSSION
DAY THREE – THURSDAY 02 AUGUST 2012
08h30
09h00
–
Summary of issues and recommendation from Day
Two: NCOP House Chairperson for Cooperative
Government and IGR, Hon NW Magadla
09h00
11h00
–
SESSION 6: “Sustainable Financial System and
Appropriate Fiscal Framework for Local
Government”
Facilitator
of
Session:
NCOP Select Committee
Chairperson for Finance,
Hon CJ De Beer
Focus areas: Revenue Collection and Debtors
Management; Challenges to attaining Clean Audits;
Review of the Local Government Fiscal Framework
(including Implementation of Conditional Grants;
Funding model of Districts).
Presentations to be made by:
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SALGA (20 mins)
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2 local municipalities; (15 mins each = 30 mins)
 Challenge of maintaining clean audits in
context of budget and accounting standard
reforms (Fetakgomo Local Municipality,
Limpopo)
 Attaining clean audits and the sustainability
of funding for smaller LM’s (Umdoni Local
Municipality, KZN)
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1 district municipality; (15 mins)
 Funding model of Districts (West Coast
District Municipality, Western Cape)
1 metro (15 mins)
 Effective
revenue
management
and
challenges in attaining Clean Audits
(eThekwini Metro, KZN)
Panel Discussion: (45 mins)
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Ministry of Finance

Auditor-General of RSA

NCOP
Select
Committee
Chairperson
for
Appropriations, Hon. TE Chaane
 NCOP Committees’ observation during their
oversight visits and action taken
11h00
11h30
–
TEA
11h30
13h00
-
DISCUSSION
13h00
14h00
–
LUNCH
14h00
15h45
–
SESSION 7: “Addressing the Fiscal challenges
for effective Service Delivery”
Facilitator of Session: NCOP House Chairperson for
Committees and Oversight,
Hon. RJ Tau
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Presentation by FFC on its recommendations relating
to local government (30 mins)
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Presentation by FFC on its recommendations for
2013/14 Division of Revenue (30 mins)
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Panel Discussion: (45 mins)
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SALGA
Ministry of Finance
National Assembly Chairperson of Standing
Committee on Appropriations, Hon. E. Sogoni
NCOP Select Committee Chairperson for Finance,
Hon. CJ De Beer
15h45
16h15
–
TEA
16h15
17h30
–
DISCUSSION
17h30
18h00
–
SESSION 8: CLOSING SESSION
Summary:
 Chairperson of SALGA, T. Manyoni
Closing remarks and thanks:
 Chairperson of NCOP, Hon M. Mahlangu
18h00
18h30
for
GALA DINNER
DAY FOUR – FRIDAY 03 AUGUST 2012
09h30
12h00
–
NCOP formal Sitting - Debate
Deliberations and Outcomes of:
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12h00
13h00
–
Local Government Week; and
Provincial Week
Lunch and departure
on
the