Capacity-building Initiatives for Municipalities | Western Cape Government

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Capacity-building Initiatives for Municipalities

2 July 2014

The lack of capacity in municipal Budget and Treasury Offices (BTO) is a critical governance issue that if left unattended will impact on sound financial management, audit outcomes and sustainable service delivery. Municipal decisions regarding its structure, capacitation and development of finance officials, systems and processes must be in line with its strategic objectives, promoting the 3Es (effective, efficient  and economical use of resources). 

The MFMA Compliance: Capacitation and Development unit in partnership with Municipalities is committed to monitor and support municipalities in this regard.

The unit’s efforts are aligned to the national capacitation framework with its primary focus on the design of an optimal BTO structure, the competence and skill of financial officials and the development and implementation of HR strategies to respond to the current and future skills demand.

Capacity building initiatives to date have been based on a "one size fits all". It has become clear that to grow our timber we need to take a longer-term view, driven through a differentiated approach when supporting our municipalities. This approach gave birth to the BTO Structures Guideline, which served as a catalyst towards the improvement of practices in organisational structuring. 

Western Cape Municipalities have demonstrated their commitment to continuous learning and compliance with the prescribed minimum competency levels by enrolling in the required financial training programmes. Provincial Treasury (PT) has enrolled in the same training programme to be equally equipped with our counterparts. 

The lack of capacity in municipal Budget and Treasury Offices (BTO) is a critical governance issue that, if left unattended, will impact on sound financial management, audit outcomes and sustainable service delivery. Municipal decisions regarding its structure, capacitation and development of finance officials, systems and processes must be in line with its strategic objectives, promoting the 3Es (effective, efficient  and economical use of resources). 

The MFMA Compliance: Capacitation and Development unit, in partnership with municipalities, is committed to monitor and support municipalities in this regard.

The BTO skills survey project and the Financial Management Internship Programme directs combined municipal and PT support to respond to current skills gaps and future skills demand municipalities may be faced with. The successes of these initiatives are underpinned by the principle of co-operative governance. These initiatives will provide the basis for an appropriate mix of accredited and non-accredited training, funding and on-site support.

The unit continually strives to improve the capacitation of the municipal workforce by pushing boundaries, continuous learning, building relationships and meeting client expectations.

Media Enquiries: 
Melissa Van Niekerk
Deputy Director: Corporate Governance
Tel: 021 483 6695