Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Pravin Gordhan and Limpopo Pemier Stanley Mathabatha
In around half of South Africa’s municipalities, good governance is a serious non-performance issue. This challenge had informed the launch of the Back to Basics strategy for municipal government, Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Pravin Gordhan told the Limpopo Provincial Public Sector Corporate Governance and Ethical Workshop in Bela-Bela.
“We tend to be delusional. The reality in South Africa is that in many institutions we are doing extremely well, but in many other areas we are not doing well enough.” Gordhan said his department was currently collecting forensic reports from all municipalities to assess their levels of performance, but that it was clear so far that much more needed to be done to improve governance at municipal level. “Where we see poor governance, malpractice and neglect of our people, we will intervene,” he warned.
The minister noted that citizens were starting to speak up, demanding to know how their money is being spent. “They are pointing to kleptocracy. Transparency is imperative for good governance.”
To improve overall governance, accountability and public service delivery, the Back to Basics strategy launched last year is designed to serve as a “strategic rebooting” of municipal government, said Gordhan. “The strategy is about taking a slightly tougher view and addressing what we need to do differently. It’s about serving the people we are responsible for.”
The strategy rests on five key pillars: putting people first, good governance, sound financial management, delivering quality of services and building sound institutional and administrative capabilities to ensure that every municipality performs basic functions without compromise.
In drafting the strategy, Gordhan’s ministry had noted that a recent review of South Africa’s 278 municipalities had established three groups of municipalities: 37% where the basics were right but more needed to be done; 32% which were almost dysfunctional and need assistance to get the basics right; and 31% which were dysfunctional and needed significant work to get the basics right. In this third category, the review had found endemic corruption, dysfunctional councils, no structured community engagement and participation systems, and poor financial management leading to continuous negative audit outcomes, as well as a poor record of service delivery and service management functions. The Back to Basics strategy is designed to get all municipalities out of a dysfunctional state and support and incentivise them to stay effective, with a targeted and brisk response to corruption and fraud.
“At the most basic level, we need to put the people first,” said the minister. “In good conscience, how can we live in an environment where people are living in misery? The Bill of Rights must be made a reality for all South Africans, and having access to basic services such as water and electricity are crucial in order for them to enjoy those basic rights.”
He noted that globally, there were increasing levels of distrust in public sector leaders, and the public sector had to move to earn public trust. “It is the people who will have to tell us — have we governed well? It is important for all of us to earn public trust.”
Gordhan said rebooting municipal government performance demanded bold municipal political leadership and management with the necessary commitment to change, as well as national, provincial and local coalitions for change and development.