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Of all the election promises made by political parties in the run-up to the recent municipal election, one in particular stands out for me. Not because it was so ridiculous, just for the sake of attracting votes – after all, that’s what most election promises are remembered for. No, in this case it was remarkable because it actually did reflect the reality and give some hope.
It was the announcement by Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance Yunus Carrim about new legislation being drafted to review the powers and funding of South Africa’s municipalities. And Carrim didn’t even make that promise at a political rally in a township but in an interview with Finweek’s Troye Lund and later at a conference of the Helen Suzman Foundation.
It’s something to look forward to. Carrim admitted there are serious problems with the current system, under which all local authorities are – wrongly – assumed to have the same ability to deliver services. Central Government and the provinces also don’t do enough to support local governments, Carrim said. Many municipalities simply don’t have the money to do everything necessary in order to provide basic services to large numbers of poor residents. There are many cases, Carrim admitted, where municipalities don’t even spend all the money at their disposal. He foresees a new system under which municipalities’ funding will be linked to their ability to provide services.
Carrim’s statements reflect a reality that gives us hope that Government plans to tackle the problem of dysfunctional municipalities with renewed zest. It would help if he were to publish the Bill as soon as possible, so that a public debate can get under way.
Meanwhile, a warning must be sounded – though the current Government probably will not heed it. That is: technocratic changes to the system will only have a limited chance of success – even if they’re excellent. Legislation can’t replace leadership. As long as local councillors and officials see examples of national leaders abusing their positions to get rich quick, spending money like billionaires and wasting public money on expensive private pleasures, then the mayor and officials of every remote dorp will try to do the same.
If services delivery, performance and productivity by humble servants of the people at national level aren’t the norm, we can forget about it happening at local level.
It was the announcement by Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance Yunus Carrim about new legislation being drafted to review the powers and funding of South Africa’s municipalities. And Carrim didn’t even make that promise at a political rally in a township but in an interview with Finweek’s Troye Lund and later at a conference of the Helen Suzman Foundation.
It’s something to look forward to. Carrim admitted there are serious problems with the current system, under which all local authorities are – wrongly – assumed to have the same ability to deliver services. Central Government and the provinces also don’t do enough to support local governments, Carrim said. Many municipalities simply don’t have the money to do everything necessary in order to provide basic services to large numbers of poor residents. There are many cases, Carrim admitted, where municipalities don’t even spend all the money at their disposal. He foresees a new system under which municipalities’ funding will be linked to their ability to provide services.
Carrim’s statements reflect a reality that gives us hope that Government plans to tackle the problem of dysfunctional municipalities with renewed zest. It would help if he were to publish the Bill as soon as possible, so that a public debate can get under way.
Meanwhile, a warning must be sounded – though the current Government probably will not heed it. That is: technocratic changes to the system will only have a limited chance of success – even if they’re excellent. Legislation can’t replace leadership. As long as local councillors and officials see examples of national leaders abusing their positions to get rich quick, spending money like billionaires and wasting public money on expensive private pleasures, then the mayor and officials of every remote dorp will try to do the same.
If services delivery, performance and productivity by humble servants of the people at national level aren’t the norm, we can forget about it happening at local level.
