KZN COGTA MEC SITHOLE-MOLOI ENCOURAGES MUNICIPALITIES TO IMPROVE IN SERVICE DELIVERY AS SHE BESTOWS MUNICIPAL SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Pietermaritzburg – KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, has encouraged municipalities to draw inspiration from those that are excelling in various programmes to improve service delivery at the local government level.
These were her words of encouragement to the Mayors, Municipal Managers, and Amakhosi who attended the department’s annual Municipal Service Excellence Awards held in Pietermaritzburg City Hall on Tuesday night.
The awards aim to motivate municipalities to enhance their performance, productivity, and innovation in service provision, as well as promote best practices. Municipalities contested in 17 categories which focused on various municipal programmes, including financial management, sustainable electricity projects, Expanded Public Works Programs, cleanliness township, and functional waste management, clean audit, and disaster response among the categories.
MEC Sithole-Moloi bestowed awards to municipalities that were selected as performing best in various programs. She also awarded the Best Traditional Council in coordinating service delivery at the Traditional Administrative Centre (TAC), where the Mpungose Traditional Council in Ulundi won.
The Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast under Ugu District emerged as an overall winner for its service delivery and budget implementation plan (SDBIP) in the 2021/2022 financial year. This category was determined by the level of improved achievement of planned targets, service delivery indicators, and audit outcomes.
Addressing the guests, MEC Sithole-Moloi reiterated that the aim of the awards was to encourage municipalities to draw inspiration from those that are doing well. While the MEC handed over the awards, she acknowledged that there were municipalities that were not performing as expected and reassured the mayors that the department will continue its monitoring and intervene by invoking laws where necessary.
“I must state that while acknowledging that, we are aware that not all municipalities have consistently met performance expectations, we have witnessed notable improvements in many of them. Therefore, it is imperative to honour those municipalities that have demonstrated excellence, not only to commend their efforts but also to serve as a source of inspiration for others.
Our adjudication committee looked into various aspects of municipal governance. While recognizing that municipalities may not excel in all areas, mayors should demonstrate courage and commit themselves to achieving excellence in at least five key areas. By prioritising improvement in these areas, other units within the municipality are likely to follow suit over time.
Our vision as a department is to have all our 54 municipalities functional to the best level; this will undoubtedly impact the lives of our people and portray a good image of government. As a department, we urge a renewed commitment to addressing underlying challenges and striving for improvement,” MEC Sithole-Moloi said.
List of all winners in Service Excellence Awards:
Best performing Ward Committee: Ward 1 of Greater Kokstad Municipality
Best Managed Electricity Project by Municipality: Dr Nkosazane Dlamini Zuma Municipality
Most Efficient MIG Project: uMdloti Bridge: Ndwedwe Local Municipality
Best Special Development Framework: uMhlathuze Local Municipality
Best Land Use Management Public Awareness Programme: eThekwini Metro
Most Functional Community Service Centre with best 4IR implemented: Mnini SCS eThekwini Metro
Best Traditional Council in coordinating service delivery at the Traditional Administration Council – Mpungose Traditional Council in Ulundi.
Best developed Integrated Development Plan (IDP) – Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality
Clean Audit Opinion in the 2021/2022 – Okhahlamba Local Municipality
Best sustained sound financial management – Umuziwabantu Local Municipality
Allocation and expenditure on maintenance and repair budget – Mkhambathini Local Municipality
Best Implemented Small Town Revitalization Programme: Mkhambathini Local Municipality
Best Functional District Development Agency: Enterprise Ilembe – Ilembe District Municipality
Best Performing Local Expanded Public Works Programme – Mandeni Local Municipality
Best Performing District Expanded Public Works Programme – Harry Gwala District Municipality
Best Performing Local Community Work Programme – Umhlabuyalingana Local Municipality
Cleanest Township and Best waste Management Outreach Programme – Ntuzuma Township under eThekwini Metro
Overall Winner Best Implemented Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP) – Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality
MEC Sithole-Moloi also awarded Special Awards relating to floods disaster awareness and responses.
Efficiency Disaster Management Response – Umgungundlovu District, Ugu District, and Ilembe District Municipalities
Update and Awareness on Disasters Community Radio Station: Nqubeko FM Community Radio – Ladysmith
Ends