Latest news with #VelenkosiniHlabisa
TimesLIVE
5 hours ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Hlabisa urged to punish delinquent mayors and municipal officials
The DA has slammed the co-operative governance and traditional affairs ministry for neglecting oversight work at the coalface of service delivery centres. The DA made these remarks before the passing of the Cogta budget. 'It is due to this allowance of municipal top brass existing unchecked for the poor decisions that they make, that have resulted in dysfunctional municipalities and dilapidated services,' the DA said. In the National Council of Provinces, the DA's Dr Igor Stefan Scheurkogel led the charge, saying the collapse of local government stemmed from a crisis in political leadership. 'Of 116 municipalities, 68 have submitted unfounded budgets for three consecutive years. The auditor-general warned parliament that this fiscal recklessness has become systematic. 'Unfounded budgets are illegal under the Municipal Systems Act, which requires all municipal budgets to be based on a realistic anticipated revenue. These illegal budgets continue with zero accountability. The collapse of local government stems from political leadership. It simply doesn't care.' He told Cogta minister Velenkosini Hlabisa that he now has a chance to turn things around. The DA suggested the problems can be solved by going back to the basics. The party argued that real-time monitoring of revenue collection, early warning systems for deficits and cash flow issues, professionalisation of senior financial management roles and direct political accountability for overspending and irregularities were key to turning municipalities around. 'This is not a funding crisis. The crisis is of political will. The solution does not lie in a new funding model, it lies in the government crisis. Municipalities cannot continue with these illegal budgets, warning and evading consequences. What is missing is leadership, more for financial management and not policy smokescreens.' Scheurkogel told the NCOP that it was time municipal officials faced the music for their glaring failures. 'South Africans deserve budgets that deliver real services, roads that can be driven on, taps that deliver clean water, electricity that stays on, infrastructure that works and not politically convenient fiction. 'Yet, CFOs, HODs, have not been dismissed for unauthorised expenditure, no mayor has been held accountable, no measurable improvement has been seen. Instead, we see a government that knowingly budgets for failure and abandons communities to suffer the consequences.' He called the review of the white paper on local government a step in the right direction, saying, 'we must now commit to making local government work, because it is the sphere of government that touches the lives of South Africans every single day'. Hlabisa highlighted the comprehensive review of the 1998 White Paper on local government as a key focus area of his ministry, saying that it marks a crucial step towards a focused and fit for purpose local governance structures and that will result in efficient service delivery. 'This review is a testament to our collective commitment to addressing the challenges facing local governance and shaping a future that aligns with the aspirations of all South Africans. 'The review emphasises the need for local governments to adapt to a changing world characterised by urban growth, climate challenges, youth unemployment, and digital transformation, while embracing collaborations with traditional and Khoi-San leadership institutions. Hlabisa announced that he expected major collaboration across society as the review will function to influence governance, community engagement, and socioeconomic development. 'It reflects the government's commitment to improving local governance and service delivery, which are vital for effective democracy and citizen satisfaction. We prioritise inclusive engagement by ensuring all voices, especially those historically silenced, are heard. We aim to provide marginalised groups, like informal traders, women, youth, traditional and Khoi-San leaders, and rural communities, with the opportunity to participate.' He said the review aims to create a modern local governance structure that fosters capable, ethical and innovative municipalities, ultimately improving lives and strengthening democracy. The department has announced it has buckled to requests for more engagement, which has resulted in an extension of the deadline to July 2025. 'Our goal is to develop a responsive local government system that meets the needs of all South Africans and delivers quality services. We have made progress in implementing targeted interventions in distressed municipalities. These interventions include infrastructure maintenance and development support, enabling municipalities to address basic service delivery backlogs in water, electricity, roads and sanitation. 'We are also advancing critical policy and legislative reforms that lay the foundation for long-term stability and improved governance. Our interventions are guided by careful assessments of municipal needs, and we are committed to ensuring that our support is effective and sustainable.' According to the minister, his department's budget strategy introduces a package of targeted and differentiated interventions, guided by careful assessments of municipal needs. He said the department had identified 30 priority municipalities requiring support and intervention. Hlabisa said the department's focus areas include the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) which will accelerate critical infrastructure projects, ensuring value for money. He added the ministry allocated R493.8m to support this initiative in priority municipalities. 'Second, integrated urban development for growth nodes will enhance urban planning and infrastructure investments. To support these initiatives, we have reallocated R244.7m from the MIG to the Integrated Urban Development Grant (IUDG).' The third priority is the strengthening of municipal systems and the District Development Model (DDM) which is expected to enhance intergovernmental planning and budgeting. Its figure will rise from R151.1m in 2025/26 to R165.3m in 2027/28, supporting municipalities in improving their systems. 'We're finalising a municipal debt relief framework with the National Treasury to help municipalities manage debt and enhance financial sustainability,' pledged the minister. Gauteng Cogta MEC Jacob Mamabolo said Hlabisa has made his job easy, showing full support for the budget vote. He said it will be very strange if any party or member were to deviate from a 'very profound address made by the minister'. 'This is a very strategic and correct line taken, that we as Gauteng embrace and endorse. We have launched a province wide turnaround strategy in October 2024 and we are pleased to report remarkable and significant progress in the municipalities.' Hlabisa announced that his department's budget amounts to R410.9bn — with 96% majority earmarked for intergovernmental transfers and entities. He believes this significant investment will enable his department to implement criticalinitiatives that deliver tangible and measurable improvements in the lives of citizens. The department has allocated traditional affairs R195,530m, with a portion earmarked for transfer and subsidies.
The Citizen
24-06-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
Hlabisa warns of cold front set to hit Western and Northern Cape
Minister Hlabisa has called on municipalities, disaster management centres to be on high alert and ready to assist. Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Velenkosini Hlabisa, on Monday called on South Africans to brace for extreme weather. This is especially important for those in the Western Cape and the Northern Cape. An intense cold front is expected to hit the regions from Wednesday, 25 June, through to Friday, 27 June 2025. The South African Weather Service (Saws) has forecast a combination of heavy rainfall, gale-force winds, and dangerous sea conditions. Additionally, snowfall is expected as the system makes landfall midweek. Hlabisa urged communities to remain vigilant, especially in low-lying and vulnerable areas. 'We call on all residents, especially those in vulnerable areas, to remain alert. They should follow official weather updates and take precautionary steps to protect their lives and property,' he said. Flood risk and traffic danger Saws has warned motorists to exercise extreme caution on the roads against the following possible impacts: Heavy rainfall is anticipated over the western parts of the Western Cape, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas. This could lead to localised flooding on Wednesday into Thursday (25–26 June). Roads may become wet and slippery, significantly increasing the risk of accidents. The public, especially motorists, is urged to drive with caution, reduce speed, and avoid flooded roads. Strong, gusty winds over the interior may cause localised structural damage and uproot trees, posing risks to property and lives. Cold to icy conditions are expected, with possible snowfall over the western mountain ranges of the Western Cape. These conditions will extend into the south-western interior of the Northern Cape. ALSO READ: Chilly weather expected for most parts of South Africa Coastal danger and shipping disruption Maritime conditions are expected to deteriorate sharply. Gale-force winds and rough seas with wave heights of up to 7.5 metres are forecast along the Western and Northern Cape coastlines. This poses a risk to fishers, vessels, and port operations. 'Coastal residents, fishers, and beachgoers are strongly advised to stay away from the shoreline and adhere to maritime safety warnings,' said the department. ALSO READ: Weather alert: Cold front to batter Cape provinces from Wednesday Disaster response on standby Minister Hlabisa has called on municipalities, disaster management centres, and relevant stakeholders to be on high alert and ready to assist. 'We are deeply concerned about the possible impact of this approaching cold front,' he said. 'We urge all authorities to activate contingency plans and ensure quick response measures are in place.' NOW READ: Get out the warm coats – the big brrrr is set to hit Gauteng
IOL News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Exploring the call for better salaries for municipal councillors in South Africa
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa says the remuneration of councillors was an issue that needed to be looked at in terms of the review of the White paper on local government. Image: Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs / Facebook Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has suggested better pay for municipal councillors so they can focus on the jobs they were elected to do and not seek other income sources. He made the comment during a high-level dialogue held yesterday in Midrand, Johannesburg, with political parties as part of the ongoing review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government. Hlabisa stated that the review aims to revive municipalities and ensure they are run like businesses. He said there is a need to consider better pay for councillors, senior managers, and municipal managers, especially to attract them to work in rural areas as part of the review. Hlabisa noted that many municipalities are in a dire state.'Local government is where policies become services and promises because infrastructure and governance become tangible. Local government must be capacitated and financially resourced. 'The state of our municipalities leaves much to be desired, and we know that the majority of our public holds the opinion that municipalities are not doing well. Year after year, the audit outcomes show that few municipalities receive a clean bill.' He explained that many municipalities face challenges, and the geographical locations and funding models of the municipalities are at the heart of these issues. 'We need to adopt a style where our municipalities are run like businesses. But to do so, we need to make a bold and new approach to structuring, funding, and remuneration of councillors.'If our councillors are paid peanuts, they will spend most of their time on other jobs and only pay lip service to service delivery. The issue of the remuneration of councillors should be a matter that must be engaged.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'The issue of the municipal manager and section 56 employees is critical. If you want to attract competent engineers, accountants, and municipal managers to deep rural municipalities, the remuneration must compensate those people so they will be eager to go and serve our rural municipalities.'When we review the white paper, these are the issues that we must engage with honestly and come up with recommendations,' the minister said. He also mentioned the importance of engaging traditional leaders to ensure their maximum participation in municipalities to advance democracy in the country. Hlabisa further warned that building local government is now a make-or-break moment. The call for better pay for councillors was met with mixed reviews, with a ratepayers group describing such a move as unwarranted. A councillor in a metro, such as the mayor or chairperson of the committee, could earn close to a million rand a year, while ordinary councillors in smaller municipalities could earn around R200 000 a year. Anthony Waldhausen of the Msunduzi Association of Residents, Ratepayers, and Civics in Pietermaritzburg stated that such a proposal would be unjust. 'We disagree completely, as they are being paid well and with other perks currently.'There should be a review of what councillors are being paid; for example, why ward councillors and PR councillors are paid the same. We don't know what roles and responsibilities the PR councillors have, and they should be paid less than the ward councillors.' A councillor in the Impendle Local Municipality in the KZN Midlands stated, 'Our municipality is very small; it does not have many of the things that generate money for municipalities, like water. So a councillor earns about R23 000 per month, and after deductions that include pension, tax, car allowance, and cell allowance, the councillor is left with about R14 000.' The Democratic Liberal Congress (DLC) leader Patrick Pillay in eThekwini Municipality said salaries were adequate.'Councillors are sufficiently remunerated and take our ratepayers for granted. They cannot be contacted nor are they available to attend to critical issues of the communities they represent.' Councillor Abbas Warasally in the Alfred Duma Local Municipality, however, said better pay could minimise corruption.'I personally believe that by doing so, it will cut down on corruption, and councillors will focus on service delivery as well as the needs of their communities. Presently, some councillors take on a second job to make ends meet, thus leaving communities unassisted. The only full-time councillors are those who are office bearers, whereas the rest are part-time contract workers.' Professor Pundy Pillay from the Wits School of Governance said while better pay for councillors may be a positive move, he questioned where the budget for this would come from. 'It might change the behaviour of councillors. The minister might have a point about the increase, but he should clarify where the money is going to come from.' He added that with the current funding model, money is predominantly spent on the national and provincial governments, leaving very little for local governments. Furthermore, he said while in theory municipalities can generate revenue, this was largely true for metros and not for the smaller, poorer municipalities.
IOL News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Municipal meltdown: Hlabisa blames debt crisis on failing revenue collection
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa many municipalities in South Africa are in severe financial distress largely due to ineffective revenue collection systems. Image: Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs / Facebook Municipalities are drowning in debt largely because they cannot collect the money they are owed, according to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa. Hlabisa made the remarks Monday at a national dialogue in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, under the theme "Every Municipality Must Work – A Call to Collective Action." More than 300 representatives from political parties and municipal councils gathered to reflect on the relevance of the 1998 White Paper in the context of local government performance. Hlabisa emphasised that the gathering was intended to facilitate open dialogue rather than deliver firm decisions. 'As we embark on this critical process, we recognise the crucial role political parties play in shaping the future of our local government system,' Hlabisa said. 'Local government is where policies become services, promises become infrastructure, and governance becomes tangible.' He said that while some municipalities are performing well, most are underperforming, plagued by financial mismanagement, poor governance, and over-reliance on consultants. 'All 257 municipalities in South Africa are governed by political parties, either through majority or coalition governments,' he said. 'We therefore recognise the central role of political parties and value your input as we seek to improve the White Paper on Local Government.' Many municipalities in the country are facing tough times, with many re-dealing with financial pressure, outdated infrastructure, poor service delivery, and leadership challenges. These problems often come as a result of weak financial management, corruption, a shortage of skilled staff, and too much political interference. Hlabisa said the failure of municipalities to generate sustainable revenue, particularly in under-resourced or geographically disadvantaged areas, has left many unable to meet basic obligations like paying salaries or contributing to pension and medical aid schemes. 'A one-size-fits-all approach will not solve these issues,' he said. 'We need a differentiated strategy and must consider running municipalities like businesses - with appropriate funding, structures, and remuneration for councillors.' Meanwhile, Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke has voiced support for the ongoing review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government. 'I just want to put on the table that our reflection as an auditor office is that the 1998 White Paper was fantastic. 'It's good to review it…but that must be followed by a very bold and courageous assessment and recommitment to implementing it. And implementing it as I see it, it's going to take political parties genuinely thinking about who were deployed to take on the rule and responsibilities in the municipal space.' IOL News previously reported that Maluleke's 2023 and 2024 local government audit report, tabled in Parliament last week, echoed Hlabisa's concerns. Only 41 municipalities received clean audits. While 59 municipalities improved since the 2020 and 2021 financial years, 40 regressed. Maluleke said that 99 municipalities received unqualified audit opinions, meaning their financial statements were credible. However, many had significant compliance and performance reporting issues. Of these, 71 failed to submit quality financial statements and relied on auditors to correct errors. In total, 219 municipalities spent R1.47 billion on consultants for financial reporting, yet 130 still submitted flawed financials - which highlighted the ineffective spending.
TimesLIVE
23-06-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Cogta minister Velenkosini Hlabisa leads review of the White Paper on local government
Co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Velenkosini Hlabisa will on Monday lead deliberations with political parties on the review of the White Paper on local government in Midrand, Johannesburg. The meeting will also look at local government restructuring before the 2026 local government elections. TimesLIVE
