Velenkosini Hlabisa, the newly appointed Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), emphasized the seventh administration’s dedication to revitalizing struggling municipalities, including the eThekwini Metro.
In his Budget Vote Speech delivered in Parliament, Hlabisa acknowledged the various challenges confronting local governments. Looking ahead, he outlined the department’s commitment to implementing Municipal Support and Intervention Plans (MSIPs) and implementing financial recovery strategies in municipalities facing distress.
Municipalities facing difficulties
He informed Parliament that the current leadership intends to focus on addressing the severe financial and governance distress affecting five additional municipalities, which has severely impacted service delivery. Some of these municipalities have struggled to meet payroll obligations over the past three to six months and face daunting debts and prolonged legal challenges.
The municipalities identified are Ditsobotla in the North West, Kopanong and Mafube in the Free State, Emfuleni in Gauteng, and Thabazimbi in Limpopo. Additionally, efforts will be directed towards resolving governance, institutional, and service delivery issues in the eThekwini Metro.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) President noted that eThekwini is currently receiving support from the national government, under the Presidency and KwaZulu-Natal CoGTA.
He emphasized that while these municipalities are prioritized, it does not diminish the challenges faced by others. The department’s budget for Cooperative Governance totals R395.7 billion, with 95.9% (R379.61 billion) allocated for transfer to municipalities and affiliated entities over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period. This funding will primarily cover the local government equitable share, disaster relief grants, and municipal infrastructure grants.
Furthermore, he highlighted that the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) will continue its efforts to support 22 distressed municipalities facing increasing infrastructure needs to deliver essential services.
“These municipalities struggle to secure resources for infrastructure projects due to borrowing restrictions and reduced transfers from the national government amidst fiscal constraints,” he explained.
He emphasized that the government’s success relies on the collaborative efforts of Parliament, departments, municipalities, traditional leaders, civil society, and every citizen.
The Minister outlined his department’s goal to streamline government programs by eliminating fragmentation in planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring by the end of the current administration’s term.
“We cannot afford to stand by while taxpayers’ money is not utilized as intended and vital infrastructure that could benefit our communities remains unrealized,” he added.
Conventional leadership
In his Budget Vote Speech, Hlabisa also expressed strong support for traditional leadership, including the Khoi-San community.
“The time for lamenting is over; we must collaborate to bring about real change by revitalizing dysfunctional municipalities and enhancing support for traditional and Khoi-San leadership institutions. The seventh administration marks a new era that should serve as a pivotal moment for the CoGTA sector post 30 years of freedom and democracy.”
The Department of Traditional Affairs has been allocated a budget of R187.3 million, which represents a reduction of R5.8 million compared to the previous year.
According to the Minister, traditional and Khoi-San leadership institutions have raised numerous concerns with the government through various engagement platforms over previous administrations.
“Our traditional and Khoi-San leaders face challenges such as uneven support and resources to effectively fulfill their roles, difficulties in integrating with municipal governance frameworks, and the imperative to formally recognize Khoi-San leaders while promoting respect for their cultural heritage.”
During the current fiscal year, the department will continue to support the Commission on Khoi-San Matters (CKSM) to complete its mandate and submit recommendations. The CKSM was established to manage applications for the recognition of Khoi-San communities and leaders, having received 124 applications and conducted 62 Applicant Member Investigations (AMIs) to ensure completeness of applications.
