7.5 The Role of the District Municipality 7.5.1 Support to Local Municipalities
The District Municipality has provided technical and financial support in Community Based Planning, Legal Services, Information Technology, and technical assistance around water services management to local municipalities. The District municipality is also supporting in developing inclusive plans and policies such as public participation strategies, PMS strategies and LED plans for some municipalities. The District is in the process of commissioning a study aimed at assessing service delivery gaps and identifying the service delivery requirements of the local municipalities. This process is being conducted in partnership with the Development Bank of Southern Africa. This process is expected to culminate into the targeted support for the local municipalities which the District will utilize for sourcing funding. The District has further exposed three IDP managers to IDP training and PMS trainings as part of the broad skilling of local municipalities. The focus on the support to local municipalities in the 2012/13 financial year will be on improving audit reports, performance management, ICT, and communications.
SECTION 8: GOVERNMENT STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK AND STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS
Municipal Administration and Human Resource Development
MUTAS targets set during 2010/11 Financial Year
Progress achieved thus far Target Targets not met
Challenges
encountered towards meeting the targets
Intervention needed to fast track the MUTAS targets
a) Recruitment and selection policies and procedures developed b) Policy on suspension of
employees developed
Policy adopted by Council in March 2011
Procedure that is applied by the JGDM is outlined in Collective Agreement of April 2011.
July 2011 None.
None.
None.
None.
None.
None Address vacancies in S57
positions
All S57 Positions are filled. December 2010
N/A None. None.
Address vacancies in technical positions (Planners, Engineer)
Filling of the position of Senior Planner has been shelved due to financial constraints. GIS position was filled in Dec 2010.
July 2011 New vacancy. Financial constraints. Financial support.
All S57 with signed Performance Agreements and submitted to the Department.
Agreements signed as at 01 July 2010 and July 2011 and forwarded to the Department
June 2010 None. None. None.
Development of a Performance Management System Framework
PMS Framework is in place. A reviewed Framework was adopted by Council in August 2011. PMS has been cascaded to middle management.
July 2011 None. Funding and attraction of suitable incumbents for PMS posts.
Financial support.
Job descriptions are not in place as per DCOGTA requirements Skills development plan for employees (2009/10)
All job description were completed during the Job evaluation process.
Skills development Policy has been developed.
It is being scrutinized by Senior Management for tabling to the council.
Skills Audit was conducted by the internal skills audit committee.
December 2010
None. None. None.
a) LLF meetings must be convened as planned
Convened monthly. Constitution of LLF is being reviewed.
LLF policy to be developed
December 2010
LLF powers and functions
None. None.
Good Governance and Public Participation MUTAS targets set
during 2010/11 Financial Year
Progress achieved thus far Target Targets not met Challenges
encountered towards meeting the targets
Intervention needed to fast track the MUTAS targets Functionality of Ward
Committees
Each local municipality has its own ward committees and they are functional.
Further training will be undertaken after the re-launching of ward committees after 2011 elections.
Gariep and Elundini local municipalities have signed the MoU on functionality of CDWs
2011 Municipalities have trained ward committees.
Training has not yet taken place
Process of signing with Senqu and Maletswai should be fast-tracked.
Training on roles and responsibilities Financial constraints
The process has been slow.
None.
Financial support
DLGTA to offer assistance Broader public
participation policies and plans
JGDM has developed and approved Community Participation Strategy
June 2011 None. Understaffed Speaker’s
office
Plenary system in LMs is a challenge
Capacity building and financial support for implementation of programmes Public Communication
systems
There is functional communications Unit in the District and local municipalities Manager Communications post was filled in January 2011.
June 2011 None. Limited funds to
implement programmes
Capacity building and financial support for implementation of programmes No customer care
policy
Petitions /complaint management
No suggestion boxes No toll free number
A Service Charter was approved by Council in March 2011.
A complaints management system is being implemented in the District and satellite offices.
National Consumer Anti Corruption toll free number is currently being used.
June 2011 December 2010
None. None. None.
Front Desk interface mechanisms
Front desk of the municipality has been now staffed
December 2011
None. Financial resources None.
Delegation of functions between political and administration
Delegation register was reviewed in January 2010.
June 2011 None. None. None.
Disaster Management & Fire Services
MUTAS targets set during 2010/11 Financial Year
Progress achieved thus far Target Targets not met Challenges encountered towards meeting the targets
Intervention needed to fast track the MUTAS targets
Implementation of Disaster Management Policy Framework
Policy Framework developed and adopted by Council.
Sept 2010 Gazetting of the policy.
The policy framework is being reviewed.
None.
Development of Disaster Management Plans
The district has developed TOR and a Bid Document to conduct a Scientific Risk
Assessment Study for development of Disaster Management Plan.
June 2011 Inadequate Funding for the project.
Due to budget constraints, service provider could not be appointed to complete the Disaster Risk Management Plan.
Source budget from Provincial Government and go out on tender for the project.
Establishment of Disaster Management Centres
The Bid document for the centres includes the New Office Buildings of the District Municipality.
An Amount of R5.1 Million was approved and later reallocated due to financial constraints.
GeoTech report was completed in January 2011 and it supports development of the projects.
June 2011 Inadequate Funding for the project.
Due to budget constraints, service provider could not be appointed to commence with the project.
Source funding from PDMC and other sources.
Establishment and functioning of emergency and fire services along strategic routes
R9.2 million was secured for the equipment.
3 Fire engines have been procured and delivered.
1 rescue response vehicle has been procured and delivered
10 people have been recruited and are currently undergoing a learnership programme on Fore Services and Rescue training.
A partnership with Working on Fire has also been established where a team of 24 was recruited and trained and are currently stationed in the Senqu area in Lady Grey
June 2010 Lack of funding for the day-day running of the service.
Resuscitate service level agreements with local municipalities with clear roles and responsibilities.
None contribution from the LM’s concerning planning and funding provision despite signing of service level agreements.
LMs must prioritise rendering of fire services within their budgets.
Considering the distances between towns for response operations the district is unable to reach its Target of
<30 Min to an incident.
Provide adequate funding to meet the district statutory requirements.
LMs are being engaged on compliance with SLAs.
Implementation of Disaster Management
Policy Framework developed and tabled to the Council but not yet adopted.
Dec 2010 None. The JGDM Council to adopt the policy and to
None.
Policy Framework facilitate the processes of gazetting and implement the policy framework by Sept 2010
Basic Service Delivery
MUTAS targets
set during 2010/11 Financial Year
Progress achieved thus far Target Targets not met Challenges encountered towards meeting the targets
Intervention needed to fast track the MUTAS targets
Access to water 75% of households have access to basic level of water service. This has improved from 64.3% in 2009/10 Financial Year.
Blue drop status attained for Ugie and Sterkspruit WTW.
June 2011 Municipal funding needs to be increased
Bulk infrastructure is in need for upgrade and refurbishment
Access to sanitation
75% of households have access to basic level of sanitation service. An improvement from 52.4% in 2009/10 Financial Year.
June 2011 Municipal funding needs to be increased
Bulk infrastructure is in need for upgrade and refurbishment
All towns in the District are characterised by aging infrastructure which is about 50 years old.
The demand and levels of service provided has also increased for a greater proportion of the population leading to bulk water and sanitation infrastructure operating at over capacity.
Poor water systems, especially in deep rural areas where traditional water sources are still being used, are influencing the health of communities as water quality is at times is compromised.
Financial sustainability of the service is a particular challenge, ensuring full cost recovery and debt management at a fair tariff and financing of capital investment are some of the challenges.
Investigating other avenues of sourcing funding
Additional funding to address backlog, operations, and maintenance requirements.
Access to Free Basic Services
An indigent policy exists.
The local municipalities have indigent registers and policies in place and implement free basic services for energy as well as waste disposal.
June 2011 A process to update the indigent
registers is underway in local municipalities.
Lack of an FBS Unit and dedicated personnel
Inaccurate Indigent registers.
Require Technical and financial support with cleansing and
verification of Indigent data.