PRESENTATION TO THE 4TH NATIONAL GENERAL COUNCIL COMMISSION 4: REPORT OF THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNANCE COMMISSION SUNDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2015 GALLAGHER ESTATE 1 CONTEXT • • • • In order to transform South Africa ANC needs to win elections; ANC needs votes to stay in power; Building confidence of people in the ANC government; Occupy moral high ground and deal decisively with fraud and corruption. • Respond and deliver on peoples immediate needs; • Delivery is depended on how we use finance and economic growth; • Delivery is also depended on appointment of capable, disciplined individuals with humility and interest of communities at heart. (i) Legislatures RECOMMENDATIONS • The Strategy discussion document that was initiated separately by the Chief Whip and Speakers forum was noted. • It was further agreed that a single discussion document should be developed to combine the two initiatives. • The urgent finalisation of the matter within 12 months. (ii) Provinces RECOMMENDATIONS • Review of Provinces must commence. • Establishment of the Presidential Commission should be fasttracked. • Changes in provincial boundaries require a change to the Constitution, and a change thereto requires a two-thirds majority. (iii) Local Government (1/2) • • • • • • RECOMMENDATIONS PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST: Ward committees – must come from community constituencies / structures, and not represent individual interests. GOVERNANCE: Troika - there must be continuous cooperation among the troika. Clarify role of the Chief Whip. Councillor performance - regular evaluation of councillor performance Strengthen Councillor training and support. Oversight – Municipal Councils must ensure continuous oversight; accountability; and alignment of structures. LG FINANCES: National Treasury, SALGA, CoGTA are reviewing the LG financing model, including LG Equitable Share and Grants. (iii) Local Government (2/2) RECOMMENDATIONS • Councillor support - The Remuneration Commission is currently reviewing allowances of tools of trade for councillors. • Review of the LG Model: • Amending the Structures Act to deal with: • Formula for allocation of PR / Ward seats; • Review types of municipalities, e.g. Category A municipalities, plenary; • Management of LG elections; etc. (iv) Cooperative Governance RECOMMENDATIONS • Intergovernmental Relations amend legislation to ensure integrated planning and optimal delivery in local government. • All planning must have a direct link to Integrated Development Plans. • In order to give effect to the resolution on integrated planning and service delivery the NEC should review the coordination and integration of allocation of focus areas of different NEC Subcommittees to strengthen co-ordination of policy and oversight of service delivery. (v) Public Administration RECOMMENDATIONS • Public Administration Management Act, 2014 – provides for a regulatory framework to set Human Resource norms and standards across spheres. The L&G Sub-Committee must monitor the operationalisation of PAMA as a step towards creation of a Single Public Service. • Single Public Service – need to look at mobility of staff across the spheres of government. • Building state capacity – is key to state delivery. National School of Government – must create thought leadership between the private sector and government. Resolve allocation of funding. • Service delivery ethos and attitude - The public service must adopt a service delivery ethos and attitude. • The Presidential Review Commission - should finalise the review of all salaries. (vi) Traditional Leaders RECOMMENDTIONS • The Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Amendment Bill was officially introduced into Parliament on 23 September 2015. ─ The Bill provides for recognition of Khoi and San communities. • First briefing of the Committee will be on 27 October 2015. (viii) Municipal Boundary Demarcation RECOMMENDATIONS • South African LG system is still evolving. • Continue to address financially and economically non-viable municipalities after the 2016 LG elections. • Consider the views of communities boundaries and delimiting wards. when determining municipal • Consider the time-period between the demarcation and delimitation of boundaries. • The redetermination of municipal boundaries has resulted in a change of ward boundaries – this impacts on ANC Branches. Immediate Actions by ANC - the LG 2016 Elections RECOMMENDATIONS • The 60% retention of Councillors should be linked to performance. • Consider nominations from the leagues. • Deployees must have minimum requirements. • Utilise National and Provincial ANC deployees to support and work with Councillors in priority / high risk municipalities in elections campaign work. • Increase public participation and community report-backs and door-to-door campaign. • ANC Branches to develop programmes that respond to the immediate needs of communities. • NEC to consider announcing Mayoral Candidates before the elections in Metro and other big municipalities. IMPLEMENT OUTSTANDING L&G SUB-COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS RECOMMENDATIONS • Noted substantial progress made in the implementation of previous conference resolutions; • Deployees to continue with the implementation of outstanding resolutions and provide regular feedback to the appropriate structures of the ANC; and • ANC structures to strengthen their capacity to monitor and evaluate on-going government work and the performance of deployees. Intensify Back-to-Basics - LG 2016 Elections RECOMMENDATIONS • LG Election Manifesto to be premised on the pillars of the Back to Basics programme. • Within the context of the Back-to-Basics campaign, all spheres must respond swiftly to issues raised by communities. • Identify low hanging fruit / quick wins in all governments departments. • Massify implementation of programmes with direct impact on youth, women and communities, such as EPWP & CWPs. • Extend programme such as Tirisano / Sukuma-sakhe to address protests and immediate community needs. • Develop mechanisms to address underspending of infrastructure grants by weak municipalities. NEW ISSUES FOR NEXT POLICY CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATIONS • Representation of youth on LG Structures; • Traineeship opportunities for youth in LG; • Create employment opportunities for young professionals in government administration; • Consider report on the review the allocation of powers and functions between local and district municipalities. IMPLEMENT L&G OUTSTANDING RESOLUTIONS • Special attention to spatial transformation an integration measures to reverse apartheid spatial patterns that characterises our municipal spaces; • The IUDF must provide a government-wide policy framework on how urbanisation should be managed to ensure resilience and inclusion; • Strengthen monitoring of implementation of spatial integration in all spheres – by regulating cooperative governance through the IGR Act (as amended) • In order to give effect to the resolution on integrated planning and service delivery the NEC should review the allocation of focus areas of different NEC Sub-committees to strengthen co-ordination of policy and oversight of service delivery.