GOOD NEWS || R350 Has Been Extended Till 2023

The initiatives of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration to professionalise the public service will reportedly also be implemented at the municipal level.

This, according to Ramaphosa, would enhance local government service delivery.

The president was addressing on Thursday in Port Shepstone, on the south coast of KZN, during the final day of the National Council of Provinces’ (NCOP) “bringing parliament to the people” program.

The program intends to increase public involvement in NCOP procedures and give it the ability to monitor government initiatives and policies.

But when EFF members interrupted the president’s speech, the event almost turned chaotic and was delayed just a little.

Ramaphosa was set to speak when the EFF organised a mini-protest, claiming that the Phala Phala farm scandal should prevent him from speaking to the assembly.

EFF MP Mmabatho Mokause declared, “We are not going to hear from a president who has betrayed his oath.” He won’t be speaking to the house. He is a dishonest president who lies excessively.

The EFF protesters were told to leave if they did not want to listen to Ramaphosa by a segment of the crowd that was clearly in favour of the ANC.

Order was eventually restored by NCOP chair Amos Masondo, and Ramaphosa took the stage.

Ramaphosa acknowledged the issues that the citizens of the Ugu district municipality had brought up since Tuesday.

These included widespread criminality, a lack of access to clean water, and subpar road systems.

He acknowledged the district’s predominately rural nature and noted that the R350 relief grant had been extended by the government till 2023.

He said that during his five presidential izimbizos this year, he had learned about “new” service delivery difficulties at the local government level. To address them, he said, new laws would be needed.

The laws will, among other things, make it illegal for municipal officials to hold political office, specify eligibility requirements for the appointment of municipal managers, and improve the process for evaluating performance.

He said that the cabinet had approved this measure in October as a means of “professionalizing” the public sector.

Ramaphosa expressed worry about corruption and illegal activity in the area of local government.

According to the National Treasury and Auditor-General’s reports on local government, many municipalities suffer from inefficiency, bad administration, a lack of financial controls, corruption, and poor governance.

“Given that money is stolen at the municipal level, it appears that all criminal activity takes place there. It has an impact on the local government’s capacity to offer the fundamental services people require to lead fulfilling lives.

 

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