Partnerships needed for reform in local government

During a recent presentation on local government reform to Southbroom ratepayers, public sector lawyer Oya Hazel Gumede said that to build South Africa, everyone needed to partner with each other to take the nation forward ‘because we are running out of time’.

“We have come to a point where nothing really works – we are literally regressing – at some points we are progressing, then we are stagnated and now regressing,” she added.

According to Gumede, in the midst of regressing, ‘we are unable to believe that things can be in some way different, even within the municipal sphere’.

Also, due to the current political crisis in the country, the systemic issues of local government that need to be changed to go forward are not discussed but rather left at a superficial level.

“We focus on corruption and lack of skills – these are important but superficial – if we were a nation that was working in the way it should, we would now be at a stage 20 odd years into our democracy looking at structures, systems and processes, and at what has and hasn’t worked and what needs to change,” said Gumede.

“But we are not because we are caught in a crisis of imagination with regards to what needs to be done in local government, we are stuck, we are frustrated and every single week or day there is some community out there that has come to its wits end.”

Furthermore, for local government reform, three issues need to be looked at:

* Function and fiscal reform
* Separation of powers between politicians and technocrats
* Government accountability, processes and systems reforms

“If we as citizens focus on these being the key things that need to be done with local government, we will start seeing some traction as opposed to thinking that all we need to do with local government is try and change our politicians and hopefully get some kind of service delivery.”

Gumede also spoke about poverty, unemployment and inequality and that one key mandate of local government in the Constitution that is not being exercised is economic development.

Among these are to facilitate employment creation, support the development of the green economy, foster and incubate SMME development and support local business and innovation.

“Local economic development (as a medium term goal) is a critical issue that needs to be dealt with if we are going to prevent ourselves from going over the cliff we tethered on during the July unrest and riots,” she added.

A long term goal would be a group of committed people driving reform in the country. Also, to collapse local and provincial spheres of government as there is no reason for three tiers of government.

“We need to create a more lean and efficient government, save money, have fewer politicians, and be very clear on the role of politicians and technocrats. If these reforms don’t happen, we are going to be frustrated because protests don’t work,” said Gumede.

At local government level, she has targeted working with several municipalities, including Ugu and people’s frustration with its water services.

“I am not working with the municipal officials because I have done that for two decades, advised them, and they don’t have the power to change anything.”

The intention is work with the citizens, ratepayers association, civic organisations in the townships and business. “The solution is not with municipalities, but the solution is with us the people.”

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