The Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association (DOCRRA) has submitted several proposals to the Government for the reform and strengthening of municipal and district systems as part of the Review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government.
The White Paper set out the broad principles on which local government would work in the democratic South Africa, but it has not stood the test of time through 27 years. Across the country, municipalities are in a dire state, plagued by financial stress, dysfunction and corruption.
The main points of the DOCRRA proposals are:
+ A mandatory covenant to be signed by all parties contesting elections not to politicise executive council leadership, minimum educational standards and training for all elected councillors and legislative changes to end the tyranny of micro-parties in hung councils.
+ Strict appointment by merit to executive positions, imposition of mandatory consequence management policies and boards on all councils, regular life-style audits and the deployment of independent investigators into all councils from a central Integrity Unit based at Provincial level.
+ Scrapping of the current cumbersome consultation systems and their replacement with Sectoral End User Forums where the Executive Leadership of councils can directly engage representative business and civic groups about critical issues around electricity, financing, housing and infrastructure.
+ Establishment of differentiated zones within current districts. The first would be resourced Economic Cantons run on the principle of private sector Managed Precincts and supported by rates rebates and the second Developmental Zones, whereby rural and small town districts would be serviced by centralised and professionalised District Services Entities (DSE’s).
+ Creation of a Municipal Rebate Debentures (MRD’s) whereby private sector players are encouraged to invest in municipal infrastructure in return for long-term and convertible rate rebates.
+ Tightening of all monetary control measures with a higher degree of liability of municipal officials in the event of gross negligence or criminality.
+ Establishment of centralised provincial procurement agencies to be run by professionalised entities using a common database programmed to detect fraud, disqualified tenderers or collusive bidding.
DOCRRA also attended a workshop on the White Paper review with the iLembe Chamber, hosted by Minister Hlabisa. We wish to extend our thanks to the Chamber CEO, Cobus Oelofse for his kind invitation to this event. To read our complete submission, please click here.
We need your support to continue to influence policy on both a local and national level. Please join DOCRRA today and add your voice to the growing movement of active citizens.
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