Latest news with #DepartmentofCooperativeGovernance
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Fixing South Africa's ailing municipalities: White paper on local government under review
Cogta Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa said there was a need to reassess the funding model for municipalities. Image: File Picture Unethical practices, poor accountability, a broken social contract with communities and the weak integration of traditional governance systems are among the challenges facing South African municipalities. This is according to a discussion document released as part of the review of the White Paper on Local Government. The Department of Cooperative Governance has commenced the process of reviewing the White Paper on Local Government, which is expected to be completed next year. The review process will examine the funding model of municipalities and could lead to the closure of municipalities that are failing to provide services. The discussion document notes that there is reasonable concern and widespread doubt about the ability of most municipalities to perform their roles effectively. 'Manipulation and methods aimed at maintaining power and/or rapid enrichment have spread, resulting in corrupt, nepotistic, and unethical activities within municipalities. Many political leaders have continued to turn a blind eye to these practices, especially when municipal resources have been used and abused to fund party political operations and campaigns," it said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The poor relationships with citizens are also a significant issue. 'There is a large divide between many municipalities and their communities, including residential, business, university, and institutional communities. The fact that, as of 2024, households owe municipalities a staggering R230.5 billion (74% of total municipal debt) is an indicator of the broken social contract,' said the discussion document. It further noted that there was weak integration of traditional governance systems which presents both challenges and opportunities for improving citizen service delivery and community development. 'Traditional leaders, who wield significant cultural legitimacy and grassroots influence, command respect from their communities and operate alongside constitutionally mandated municipal structures tasked with democratic governance and service provision. Traditional leaders potentially have an important role to play in nation-building, promoting social cohesion, contributing to municipal integrated development plans,' it said. Municipal budgets have also borne the brunt of climate-induced disasters, with extreme weather events between 1998 and 2025 increasing emergency expenditures by 320% across South African cities. 'Flooding in Durban during the 2022 rainy season required R780 million in unplanned drain clearance and road repairs, diverting funds from scheduled housing projects. The frequency of such events has necessitated permanent budget line items for disaster response,' it concluded. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa said there was a need to reassess the funding model for municipalities, pointing out that the current model—where municipalities collect 90% of revenue and other spheres of government contribute 10%—is not working. He added that the number of municipalities will also be revisited, and municipalities that are not delivering services may be dissolved. He stated, 'If a municipality is not fit to deliver services, why should we keep that municipality?' ActionSA member of Parliament Alan Beesley expressed deep concern over the worsening state of municipalities. He said poor service delivery by the municipalities not only negatively impacts the lived reality of many South Africans but also causes significant damage to the economy. 'As such, ActionSA welcomes the Review. It is important that in addressing the challenges faced by municipalities, the review does not become a waste of time and money but rather that the outcomes are pragmatic and implementable. Key challenges are the lack of governance, accountability, and consequence management. This will only change if the corrupt are put in jail and the incompetent are fired.' DA spokesperson on Cogta Marina Van Zyl stated that they welcomed the review but expressed concern that this process is yet another attempt to repackage systemic failures without a clear path to reform. 'Municipalities across the country are collapsing under the weight of poor governance, unfunded mandates, cadre deployment, and political interference. With only 13% of municipalities receiving clean audits and billions lost to fruitless and unauthorised expenditure, the rot is deep and structural. The DA believes that reform must begin with professionalised local government, strong consequence management, and electoral reform to stabilise fragile coalitions. The DA will engage with the review process constructively but firmly—advocating for reforms that give power back to communities, not to national bureaucrats,' she said. Local government expert Michael Sutcliffe said after 25 years, it was good that the white paper was being reviewed. 'We should be careful not to disrupt systems that are functioning well and should fix the things that need to be fixed.'
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Government takes action on Community Work Programme amid national minimum wage demands
The Department of Cooperative Governance says a review is under way in the Community Work Programme after participants demanded to be paid the national minimum wage. Image: Lerato Selepe The government is reviewing its public employment initiatives, such as the Community Work Programme (CWP), as employees are demanding to be paid in terms of the national minimum wage. This has emerged from communication sent by the Department of Cooperative Governance director-general Mbulelo Tshangana, earlier this month in response to demands for the national minimum wage to be implemented in the CWP. 'The department (Cooperative Governance) is part of discussions that are led by the Department of Employment and Labour about the future of public employment programmes, which are funded through the national fiscus. 'The issue of minimum wage forms part of that review and outcomes will be communicated once such processes have been concluded,' he told CWP management, staff at site, district and provincial level, participants and financial administrators in a circular dated May 9. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ After Tshangana approved adjustments of between 5% and 7% effective from last month, stipends for participants are set at R120 a day, while supervisors receive R144 daily. Site administrators, safety officers, district managers, financial administrators, and provincial managers can be paid between R315 and R1,500 a day. The national minimum wage is nearly double the stipend paid to each CWP participant at about R29 an hour (or R230 a day). According to the Department of Employment and Labour, workers employed in another public employment initiative, the Expanded Public Works Programme, are entitled to a minimum wage of just under R16 an hour. Delivering the Budget on Wednesday, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana allocated the CWP R10.3 billion, of which an estimated 70% (or R7.2bn) is set aside for participants' stipends and the remainder for items such as tools and materials, protective clothing, training, professional services, and programme overheads. The Department of Cooperative Governance plans to maintain the number of CWP participants in the programme at 178,860 over the next three financial years. The CWP was set up to foster social and economic inclusion by providing individuals with a source of income in targeted high-unemployment areas. It also offers participants valuable work experience, which the government hoped could significantly increase their access to broader career opportunities when they exit the programme. Earlier this year, participants aged 60 years and above were informed that their contracts were extended for a period of four months last month to the end of July and will not be renewed. 'The last payment will therefore be (on) August 25, 2025. All participants reaching an age of 60 years will be automatically exited from the programme as from August 1, 2025, in compliance with CWP implementation policy,' Tshangana reminded them.
The Citizen
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Tzaneen's Talana hostel upgrade to bring 146 homes
TZANEEN – The Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) has announced the construction of 146 Community Residential Units (CRUs) at Talana Hostel in Tzaneen as part of its R2.57 billion Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget. Speaking during the presentation, CoGHSTA MEC Basikopo Makamu confirmed that the project is set to begin in the second quarter of 2025, with the procurement process for a contractor already underway. 'To keep up with growing housing demands due to migration, we are prioritising the construction of CRUs in areas like Talana under the Greater Tzaneen Municipality,' Makamu said. He also highlighted efforts to address critical infrastructure challenges, noting that CoGHSTA will assist water service authorities in upgrading sewer systems posing health risks in areas such as Dan village in Tzaneen. He reported that while the sewer line in Makotse village has been completed, engineering designs for Dan village are in progress following a detailed site assessment. Makamu reaffirmed the department's commitment to reducing informal settlements, including targeted intervention in the Maruleng Municipality. He further outlined progress on various projects in the Mopani District, including the Ha-Mawasha Sewer Bulk Line, Giyani Extension F and H Bulk Water Pipelines, and the Siyandhani Bulk Sewer Pipeline. Makamu said he recently visited the Giyani Section F and Masakaneng bulk water and sewage projects. He praised the progress, especially in Giyani Section F, where the project is complete and ready for municipal allocation of residential sites. The development has already created 21 job opportunities and is expected to benefit 365 households, he said. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
