Western Cape's Municipalities render best Service Delivery

The Western Cape's municipalities render very good service on the whole in comparison with the rest of the country, says Mr. Anton Bredell, Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.

Bredell this week attended an indaba held by President Jacob Zuma in Cape Town, as well as a local government indaba in Pretoria. He said according to a document titled State of Local Government in South Africa altogether 21 of the local municipalities in the province fall in the category of Highest performing local municipalities, a percentage of 87,5%. Three municipalities (12,5%) fall within the second highest category. Not one of the Western Cape municipalities is classified as vulnerable. The latter do not include the metro-cities.

Cape Town is the number one metropolitan area with 73,4%, with Johannesburg in the second position (70,8%). The research with regard to the 231 local municipalities, the 46 district municipalities and the 6 metro-cities was done by Empowerdex.

According to the 2001-census 116 258 households in the Western Cape did not have access to basic sanitation. However, the Community Survey of 2007 indicated a drop regarding the above-mentioned to 93 084 households and according to the survey of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry the number has dropped to 86 759 households this year. The numbers for access to electricity and refuse removal indicate a similar tendency, which once again indicate that most Western Cape local governments perform very well in comparison with the rest of the country.

Despite these positive figures Bredell says there is still room for improvement. He admits most mayors and municipal managers are aware of the above-mentioned. "The challenges to local councils are very big and we'll have to invest in our people in order to encourage the return of skills. Furthermore, political interference in decision making must also be stopped," Bredell said. He said the message of the President on 20 October was very positive and the further discussions on 21 and 22 October went reasonably well. "It's possible to identify with the ideas that were mentioned. However, it's the execution thereof which guarantees success."

Bredell says you must ask yourself why certain municipalities - despite the deficiencies in the present system - are successful, if you look at the following ideas: Successful municipalities have brought back skills or developed or retained them; they have created a stable political environment; they have addressed corruption and limited it; and they have a very efficient credit control system in place.

"Any new system is doomed if the latter ideas are not taken into consideration. Our focus in the first place must be focused on the training of staff, the combating of corruption and political maturity. I would like to extend my gratitude to all mayors, municipal managers, councillors and officials who are really servants of their communities," Bredell said.