Gauteng’s department of local government has ceded 13 of its functions to various local governments in the province.
These include the delivery of basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity, which the department has identified as “absolute necessities” for alleviating poverty and improving people’s welfare. According to provincial minister Qedani Mahlangu, the lack of service delivery at municipal level caused by inefficiencies or failure to spend budgets has resulted in protests, especially before the local government elections.
“The review of powers and functions forms part and parcel of the global city region perspective, which promotes better coordination between province and municipalities, as well as among municipalities,” said Mahlangu.
“This means that the City of Johannesburg, which is a commercial hub, should not compete with Tshwane, which is a motor manufacturing region, or Ekurhuleni, which is a manufacturing metro. These municipalities should complement one another, rather than compete among themselves. That is where the issue of branding comes into place. For instance, when Tshwane goes abroad to seek funding, it does it alone and so do Jo’burg and Ekurhuleni. The global city region perspective says that when they go abroad, they should do so as a province, with one identity,” Mahlangu said.
Efficient and effective local government is critical in the development of any country, hence in Gauteng proposals were put on the table late last year suggesting that 13 functions be ceded to municipalities in a bid to make service delivery more accessible to communities, in line with the global city region perspective.
A committee, set up by the premier to review powers and functions between the three spheres of government, has identified housing, health, home affairs, transport, ambulance services, pollution and trade as areas to focus on, and has recommended that these functions be devolved to municipalities.
Each municipality in Gauteng has also determined its developmental and service delivery priority areas. Key to the successful achievement of these priorities is improved intergovernmental relations at all levels, and ensuring that each municipality has the necessary capacity to fulfil its developmental mandate.
The ceding of the functions is also aimed at addressing the lack of transparency and coordination between various players in local government, which have led to a high degree of social apathy. By enhancing integration and coordination, services would be spread more evenly, especially among poorer municipalities.
Functions such as transport, trade, pollution and issues regarding early childhood would be partially ceded to municipalities, meaning provincial departments will play a coordinating role.
“The province needs to coordinate these to ensure municipalities do not compete unnecessarily, so the strengths of the various regions are promoted if the city region hopes to make the necessary impact,” Mahlangu said at a media briefing.
The report has been handed to the presidency, the department of provincial and local government, and Gauteng provincial government departments, municipalities and other stakeholders.