Executive Mayor’s NCOP engagement brings home benefits

Sekhukhune

The Executive Mayor of Sekhukhune District Municipality, Cllr Minah Bahula, has emphasized that the district municipality can greatly benefit from enhanced service delivery through the lessons learned during government’s high-level meetings.

Bahula was speaking on the side-lines of a two-day National Council of Provinces (NCOP) session, held on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 August 2024, which marks the first three-sphere planning session under the 7th administration in Parliament in Cape Town.

The session was convened under the theme: “Towards an Oversight Agenda for the Seventh Parliament: Delineating Key Oversight Priorities for the NCOP in the Seventh Parliament”.

It was Parliament’s strategic innovation, emphasising the critical importance of joint and integrated planning as well as encouraging all spheres of government to work collaboratively in the planning and implementation of programmes.

The planning session was aimed at ensuring that the NCOP institutionalises and implements a comprehensive three sphere-planning oversight framework and mechanism, in line with the constitutional mandate of promoting the principles of Co-operative Governance Coordination.  This would, to a greater extent, enhance the effective implementation of key transformation priorities, in line with National Development Plan Vision 2030.

This important gathering, as the 7th administration commences its work, is designed to ensure a coordinated and aligned approach across all levels of government to effectively uplift the living standards of citizens.

Among others, Deputy President Mashatile has been tasked to assist President Cyril Ramaphosa in rolling-out the District Development Model, to ensure the effective coordination of the different spheres of government, with the aim of improving the functioning of municipalities as well as addressing service delivery challenges facing communities.

The institutionalisation of the District Development Model in this regard, has gained the necessary momentum, following the publication of the Regulations in terms of section 47(1) (b) of the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act 13 of 2005, which will provide the much anticipated regulatory framework for coherent planning, budgeting and service delivery implementation across the three spheres of government, jointly with the business sector, traditional leaders, organised labour and faith- and community-based organisations.

In his address to the assembly, Deputy President Paul Mashatile emphasized the critical role of coordinated planning and the need for strong support from the executive to the NCOP and the three spheres of government.

Deputy President Mashatile also highlighted the importance of collaboration, urging all spheres of government to work together rather than in silos or through individualistic approaches. He stated, “It is only through coordinated planning and alignment of programs that we can achieve more.”

The meeting aimed to address the strengths, weaknesses, and disconnects between the three spheres of government, with a particular focus on metropolitan and district municipalities.

During the session, Bahula highlighted the critical importance of the District Development Model (DDM) approach, noting that coordinated efforts and programs are key to making meaningful progress.

“This is an important meeting, and we can only achieve more if we work together,” she said.