Pretoria - Government is to accelerate the implementation of the Local Government Turnaround Strategy, which is aimed at ensuring an effective and efficient local government, says Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
Speaking during a briefing by the Governance and Administration Cluster in Pretoria on Friday, the minister said focus areas had been identified that would assist in fast tracking the implementation of the strategy.
These include service delivery, governance, financial management, infrastructure development and fighting corruption.
"Working with provinces and municipalities, 108 priority municipalities with the highest backlogs in basic services, financially distressed, the highest number of informal settlements and under-spending on infrastructure grants, have been identified and will receive targeted focus and support," she said.
Stakeholders outside government have also been mobilised to support these initiatives.
All levels of government have worked together to achieve the following:
* 93 703 temporary jobs through the Community Works Programme which will be up-scaled to 162 000 temporary jobs in 2012/13;
* 92% of ward communities were established, while 77% have been inducted; and
* 80% of municipalities have established Municipal Public Accounts Committees to improve governance and oversight in these municipalities.
Other positive news detailed by Dlamini Zuma included that more than 85% of local households have access to electricity, most of which were in rural areas.
In addition, more than 2.2 million houses were delivered since 1994 and 74% of households have access to useable water.
The minister noted that 84% of South Africans now had access to sanitation and 72% had access to refuse removal services.
"As part of our contribution to government's overall Infrastructure Development Plan, R47 billion has been budgeted over the next three years towards the development of infrastructure in the 12 major cities to ensure that our people do indeed enjoy a better life," she added.
There would also be a review of all pieces of legislation that impede service delivery. Dlamini Zuma said more than 300 sections of legislations that fell under this category have now been identified and reviews would be undertaken.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Richard Baloyi said 23 districts, under which the 108 municipalities fell, were found to be districts that were in distress for various reasons.
The Local Government Turnaround Strategy was meant to be rolled out to the entire country and the aim was to empower municipalities, he added.
Meanwhile, Dlamini Zuma said she was in high spirits ahead of next month's African Union (AU) Summit in Ethiopia, where the next chairperson for the AU Commission will be elected. She is contesting for the post against incumbent Jean Ping of Gabon.
"I thrive on challenges. That's what keeps you going, that's what keeps you young. I'd get bored if there were no challenges. For me it's just one more challenge... Some you win some you lose. I'm in high spirits now and I'll equally be in high spirits when I come from Addis [Ababa] irrespective [of what happens]," she said.
