BY ERIC MATOME KGOMO
NKANGALA: With the aim of working with the people to improve service delivery in the communities, the Nkangala District Municipality (NDM) carried out a Mayoral Outreach Programme in all six local municipalities. The outreach led by NDM Executive Mayor Cllr Sarah Masilela and conducted throughout the month of March. The programme that interacted with various stakeholders, kick-started earlier last month at Thembisile Hani, Dr JS Moroka, eMalahleni, Emakhazeni, Steve Tshwete and eMalahleni Local Municipalities.
According to the district municipality, the community outreach program was done in line with the Local Government Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act 32 of 2000), which requires municipalities to encourage participatory governance and create conditions for the local community to participate in the affairs of the municipality.
“It was also aimed at affording the community of the local municipalities an opportunity to guide the planning and budgeting process of Nkangala District Municipality, through highlighting needs important for the development of their respective wards and municipality at large, which must be the focus of the 2021/22 Financial Year,” said SDM Spokesperson Mhletjwa Masombuka.
Masombuka added that the outreach was also providing a platform for the community to participate and inform the IDP of the district, assessing the extent to which the current programmes/projects’ initiatives implemented by local municipalities, NDM and provincial sector departments.
“The programme addresses local developmental needs and concerns affording the municipalities an opportunity to present to their communities programmes and projects, that seeks to strategically address the developmental needs and concerns of our communities as identified in the proceeding engagements and IDPs,” explained Masombuka.
He said the platform was affording the municipality as well as the community an opportunity to appraise the implementation progress and challenges, in terms of all projects that are implemented in local communities.
“Given the prevailing Covid-19 crisis that is confronting the country and the world, NDM was conducting the community outreach meetings through virtual and radio platforms,” he said.
