Latest news with #DistrictDevelopmentModel
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Mashatile to visit Mangaung municipality for cleanup campaign
Deputy President Paul Mashatile will visit the Mangaung municipality in the Free State for a cleanup campaign next Tuesday. The presidency said this was part of the government's 'clean cities and towns campaign' aimed at ensuring that communities across the country live in clean and healthy environments. The campaign, which was first launched in Soweto in the south of Johannesburg in June, also aims to get communities involved in cleaning up their towns. 'The campaign aligns with government's broader service delivery objectives under the District Development Model (DDM) and builds on the Free State province's 'Bontle ke Botho', which promotes community pride and shared responsibility for public spaces,' the presidency said in a statement. The Mangaung cleanup initiative is under the theme: 'Bontle Ke Botho: A Free State that works for all, building clean and sustainable communities'. Mashatile's office said the initiatives were part of the government's efforts to 'revitalise urban areas, enhance service delivery, and combat environmental degradation'. With climate change a reality that requires urgent intervention, the presidency said, these campaigns were also part of the government's commitment to help curb the deterioration of the planet and take climate action to preserve the environment. 'The visit by the deputy president will mobilise communities and stakeholders to participate in cleaning and greening initiatives, showcase accelerated service delivery interventions, including waste management, infrastructure repairs, tree planting as well as reinforce partnerships between the government, private sector and residents to ensure sustainable urban development.'
IOL News
30-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Grim report on state of KZN municipalities - more than half at risk
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cogta Thulasizwe Buthelezi engaged with Mayors on the state of municipalities in the province earlier this week. Image: Supplied Only 19 of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal are stable while 28 are deemed 'at risk' and seven are 'in distress,' according to a report looking into the state of municipalities in the province. The report was tabled during a meeting between the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and municipalities held in Durban on Monday. Top government officials stated that if a municipality is unstable, it affects service delivery to communities, something that should be avoided. The provincial treasury has indicated that it has experts ready to be deployed to any struggling municipalities. The report, titled Back to Basics, examined the state of local government between last year and March this year and was finalised in May this year. It is part of Cogta's ongoing work to monitor the performance of municipalities by undertaking a comprehensive analysis of their state. This includes identifying common and specific challenges impacting the stability and functionality of municipalities in delivering services to communities. The assessment outlined the process for this evaluation, stating that key performance indicators were allocated a weighting, and points were assigned according to the actual performance against these indicators. The KZN assessment revealed the following findings in terms of categorising municipalities: 19 municipalities were found to be 'stable' and require normal monitoring; 28 municipalities were categorised as 'at risk' and require close monitoring and Section 154 support; Seven municipalities were categorised as 'in distress' and require high-priority, hands-on targeted intervention. The report stated, 'Since the advent of a democratic local government, there have been many government support programmes aimed at advancing service delivery and institutional support to municipalities, the latest being the Back to Basics programme and the District Development Model.' 'The national government has also allocated significantly large sums of money in the form of grants to build municipal capacity and to address the municipal infrastructure backlog over the years. Despite the valuable service delivery milestones that have been achieved since the dawn of democracy and the support provided, it is clear that local government still remains in distress and has not reached the sustainability stage as envisaged by the White Paper in 1998.' Many assessments have been undertaken, and generally, at the forefront of local government challenges are the following: Poor political and administrative interface and weak leadership Intra and inter-political party differences negatively affecting municipal stability, governance, and service delivery Poor communication and accountability to communities Ageing infrastructure and minimal budget allocated to infrastructure maintenance leading to violent service delivery protests Escalating maladministration, fraud, and corruption, with weak consequence management Insufficient municipal capacity due to inadequate skills in people occupying critical positions Poor financial management and negative audit outcomes Service delivery backlog and non-payment for services, leading to municipal financial distress. However, the assessment recorded good work being undertaken by a majority of municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal. Many councillors and officials work under extremely difficult conditions, yet they continue to perform well. However, the assessment has found that there are still stubborn governance, administrative, financial, and service delivery challenges that consistently prevent the achievement of the objectives of developmental local government. Marlaine Nair, the chairperson of the Cogta portfolio committee, said the instability of municipalities directly affects service delivery. 'As the Cogta Portfolio Committee, we are calling on the Department of Cogta to not just provide support to municipalities in need but also ensure that there is swift consequence management to avoid repeat irregularities and ongoing corruption and maladministration. Corruption must be rooted out. 'We also call on councillors to properly perform their oversight duties. We cannot have councillors turning a blind eye and accepting write-offs of billions without proper reasoning or the tabling and support of unfounded budgets,' she said. Finance MEC Francois Rodgers expressed concern about poor fiscal management at the local government level, stating, 'As Treasury, we have always made it clear that we have a task team that can and will assist municipalities when it comes to fiscal compliance, but the reality is that we need the political buy-in from the mayor and council. Often, where we do try to assist, like in uMkhanyakude, we don't get that.' Acting Cogta HOD, Dr Joey Krishnan, said the MEC in his Budget policy speech announced measures aimed at stabilising and improving the seven distressed municipalities. 'We are focusing on targeted support to municipalities for them to do what is expected of them. This includes financial experts and other forms of technical support including the Provincial Project Management Unit, which will ensure that catalyst projects are implemented to unlock growth. 'We are also rolling out the cluster model which brings the department closer to these municipalities. As we saw yesterday (Monday) through these cluster engagements, accountability and service delivery take centre stage with other key stakeholders such as Eskom, the Water Board, and the AG, amongst others being afforded the opportunity to engage directly with municipalities with the aim of resolving bottlenecks,' said the acting HOD. THE MERCURY
Eyewitness News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
eThekwini responds to DA's claim about flood victims as 'political grandstanding'
DURBAN - The eThekwini Metro Municipality has responded to claims by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that it failed to take responsibility when flood victims were evicted from their temporary residence. At least 150 people were left stranded when the Bayside Hotel threw them out on the street over the delayed payment of R128 million by government. The DA has called on the SA Human Rights Commission and Public Protector to investigate human rights violations, citing the municipality's account for the eviction. The metro has refuted the claims accusing the DA of playing politics. Last week, when the flood victims were left destitute, Human Settlement MEC Siboniso Duma went to Gauteng to meet the ministry to resolve the matter. This was followed by a R30 million purchase of the Montclair Lodge to house the flood victims. Despite this intervention, the DA said the metro should have acted first since the victims are residents of eThekwini. DA eThekwini caucus leader, Thabani Mthethwa, said, 'Whether those people were put in there by the national or provincial government, as part of the District Development Model the Municipality should have taken responsibility in making sure that they are taken care of.' Meanwhile city spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said, 'The actions of reporting the Bayside Hotel evictions of the flood victims to the Human Rights Commission and the Public Protector is an exercise in futility, and desperate political grandstanding because the matter relating to the dignified resettlement of flood victims has been sufficiently dealt with by all spheres of government.'
The Citizen
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Flood tragedy in Eastern Cape: 38 children among 101 dead
The death toll from the devastating floods that struck the Eastern Cape earlier this month has risen to 101, the provincial government confirmed yesterday. Briefing the media on the provincial government's response to the June disaster incident, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Zolile Williams said the victims include 63 adults and 38 children, with 32 children identified as learners. Two people remain missing. The OR Tambo and Amathole districts remain the most severely affected due to loss of life, the displacement of families, damaged infrastructure, livestock losses and learners missing examinations. 'The OR Tambo District alone accounts for 77 of the deceased, with Amathole District 10, Alfred Nzo District five, Chris Hani District five, Joe Gqabi District two, and Sarah Baartman District two,' Williams said. He also noted that among those who died were public servants who were the first responders. Ongoing relief efforts The MEC said the provincial government remains in the first phase of the disaster management response, including immediate response and humanitarian relief, which is characterised by the provisions made to ensure that all affected people are safe and basic needs are met. He noted that the provincial government has activated response systems enabled through the District Development Model approach, in line with National Disaster Response Standard Operating Procedures and in collaboration with non-governmental organisations and the private sector. Humanitarian partners include Gift of the Givers, Al Imdaad Foundation, the Black Coffee Foundation and Asfraful Aid. Corporates such as Old Mutual, MTN, and local businesses and supermarkets continue to reach communities whose homes and belongings were destroyed. 'These collaborations underscore the power of public-private partnerships in responding swiftly to emergencies,' Williams said. Williams acknowledged ongoing support from ordinary citizens who have extended a helping hand, saying their presence and contributions have brought hope and comfort to the affected families. He said government continues to appeal for ongoing support from the private sector, businesses and individuals to assist with donations of food, clothing, blankets, furniture and other essentials. Some affected families have already started burying their loved ones. 'Burial support that is being provided has been made possible by Avbob, who have pledged to offer the storage of the bodies, burial services and transportation of the human remains to the area identified by the family for burial. 'From today, we are expecting that 31 of the bodies will be buried across the provinces, and this includes two learners from Jumba Senior Secondary School who are being buried in Ngqeleni, as well as Nomonde Ntlabathi, who was an enrolled nursing assistant at Bedford Orthopaedic Hospital, who will be buried in Centane on Saturday with her three grandchildren,' Williams said. Through the Department of Education and the South African Social Security Agency, government has provided financial assistance to families to help with funeral preparations. 'We remain grateful to our social partners who have provided groceries to the families.' – Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
14-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Cleaner Gauteng: Province joins Deputy President's national clean-up drive
Gauteng is expected to play a major role in the newly launched Clean Cities and Towns Campaign, a national initiative led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Unveiled on June 6, the campaign aims to tackle urban waste, promote environmental responsibility and inspire civic pride in public spaces across SA. The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has pledged its strong support. MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko attended the launch alongside Mashatile, reinforcing the department's commitment to cleaner, safer environments that support better public health outcomes. ALSO READ:Ekurhuleni shuts down non-compliant spaza shops over health and safety Structured for a nationwide rollout, the campaign relies on collaboration with local municipalities, government departments and community organisations to achieve a unified effort in environmental upliftment. A key element of the drive is the Bontle ke Botho programme, which encourages municipalities, including Gauteng's, to compete in keeping their areas clean and well-maintained. The programme also seeks to foster local pride and a culture of shared responsibility for public spaces. Speaking at the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Kliptown, Mashatile urged communities to take ownership of the initiative. 'We call upon all communities to come on board and do their part in ensuring cleaner spaces,' he said, stressing the importance of active citizen participation. The campaign aligns closely with existing GDoH efforts to promote clean, healthy communities. Last year, Nkomo-Ralehoko handed over a thriving vegetable garden in the N12 informal settlement in Benoni. It was developed on a former dumping site, fulfilling a promise she made in September 2023 to turn the area into a sustainable food source for residents. ALSO READ: Gauteng's 'I Serve with a Smile' campaign aims to restore trust in healthcare That project reflects the campaign's core goals: improving public well-being through practical, community-driven and sustainable action. 'There is a strong link between clean environments and public health,' said Nkomo-Ralehoko.'Such efforts play a vital role in preventing illness and promoting well-being.' The choice of Kliptown's Walter Sisulu Square, deeply tied to SA's history of unity and progress, was a symbolic nod to the campaign's vision of community-led transformation. The initiative also supports the District Development Model, which aims to improve service delivery through better co-ordination between national, provincial and local government. With strong leadership from Mashatile, support from provincial bodies such as the GDoH, and the involvement of local communities, the Clean Cities and Towns Campaign should make a lasting impact on how South Africans live, work and care for their environments. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
