Pretoria – Cabinet was at its regular meeting this week appraised on the Presidential Local Government Summit, and approved the Back to Basics Programme for Local Government.
The programme, one of the outcomes of the high-level summit held in September, is based on building a responsive, caring and accountable local government sector.
Addressing media at a post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Performance, Monitoring, Evaluation and Administration, Jeff Radebe, said the Back to Basics Programme will focus planning and operations of all municipalities on the effective delivery of basic municipal services and regular communication with residents.
“The aim is to move from intent to action. Improvements in the performance of municipalities will improve the living conditions of all South Africans that depend on well-functioning municipalities to lead dignified lives,” Minister Radebe said.
He said since 1994, local government has been a primary site for the delivery of service.
“While there has been unprecedented progress in delivering water, electricity, sanitation and refuse removal at local levels, in areas where service delivery is failing we need to put people and their concerns first.
“This requires that we move away from the outdated top down service delivery to a culture of Batho Pele and serving communities,” the Minister said.
He said crucial to this new approach is a system of reporting on, and being accountable for performance.
WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement
Meanwhile, Minister Radebe said Cabinet also approved the establishment of an inter-departmental task team under the International Cooperation, Trade and Security Cluster to oversee the implementation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement.
Minister Radebe said that South Africa’s position is to work with other African countries to ensure that the adoption and implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement does not require African countries to accept obligations they do not have the capacity to meet and that expose them to legal challenges.
“While South Africa remains committed to the multilateral negotiations under the Doha Round, our position is to seek an outcome that preserves our space to pursue policies that support industrial development and employment that lie at the heart of the objectives set out in the National Development Plan.
“South Africa has affirmed the importance of fully multilateral and inclusive approaches to the conduct of WTO business as best suited to balanced, equitable outcomes that meet the interests of all Members,” the Minister said.
Localisation procurement leverage policies, regulations
Cabinet has also approved the implementation of a comprehensive program to ensure compliance with existing localisation procurement leverage policies and regulations.
This includes a policy alignment process to review and strengthen the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, extending the Competitive Supplier Development Program to all strategic State-Owned Companies as well as strengthening departmental regulations, particularly the mining charter to enable local procurement.
“This is a powerful instrument for industrialisation which will enhance the competitiveness of national industry, enable the development of new national industrial and technological capabilities, increase exports and achieve deeper black economic empowerment,” Minister Radebe said – SAnews.gov.za
