11 April 2005

MOGALE CITY'S ward committees ensure there is community participation in local government. The co-ordinator of these committees, Peter Kute, reflects on their effectiveness in a question-and-answer session with reporter Sipho None.

Sipho None: The Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998 requires that ward committees be formed to facilitate community involvement at local level. Has the mandate been achieved and how far have ward committees gone in implementing this mandate?
Peter Kute: Based on current events, we were able (as per the Municipal Structures Act requirement) to facilitate the formation of ward committees within Mogale City. All the wards within the jurisdiction of Mogale City have elected ward committee members and most of the committees are currently up-and-running.

None: When members were elected into office, were they aware of this mandate?
Kute: We made it a point that elected members understood their mandate and issues surrounding ward committees, and were able to carry out that mandate as required of them. The municipality has employed four full-time community liaison officers who have been assigned to take charge of the day-to-day running of the ward offices as of April this year.

None: When were the ward committees put in place in Mogale City?
Kute: The Mogale City Local Municipality held its ward committee elections on 23 March 2002 and ward committee members were inaugurated in November of the same year. These elections were conducted through a secret ballot and only eligible voters in the ward were allowed to cast their vote. New voters had to register to ensure that they, too, participated in the process.

None: Ward committees are made up of many sectors of the community, including religious and business representatives. At what level are they involved in providing communities with a direct say in the governing of the municipality?
Kute: When committee members were elected we made it a point that all sectors of our communities were included in this process. Among other sectors in the committee are the Community Policing Forum, youth formations and the labour movement. Ward committees are made up of 10 members, excluding ward councillors, who take the role of chairperson of the committee. Attempts have been made to equalise the spread of men and women in the committees.

None: What are the challenges ward committees currently face?
Kute: There are two main issues that need to be addressed: political affiliation and the failure to convene monthly ward committee meetings. The issue of political affiliation in determining members of ward committees evoked mixed feelings and suspicions were rife that ward committees were a mere extension of the ruling party programme. Nevertheless, we managed to inform our communities that this initiative was a vehicle for an inclusive participation in local governance. In some of the ward committees, members are still failing to convene monthly ward committee meetings as required. We are currently working with ward councillors to address this matter quickly.

None: How do you hope to overcome these challenges?
Kute: At the moment we are busy getting our ward offices up-and-running. The construction and refurbishment of these offices was completed in April 2004. The appointed community liaison officers will work closely with the ward committee co-ordinator, who is responsible for the running and functioning of the ward committees and reports directly to the council's speaker, Farouk Omar Bhayat.

None: The Department of Provincial and Local Government hosted a conference on "Public Participation in Local Governance", and the minister, Sydney Mufumadi, highlighted several issues regarding ward committees. What was the focal point and what resolutions were taken regarding ward committees?
Kute: The recent national conference on public participation agreed on the tenure of ward committee members. When members were inaugurated the stipulated period was to be two years in office - that has been ratified by the minister to two-and-a-half years. This review is in line with Rule 39 (A) of the Standing Rules and Procedures.

None: Where do you see ward committees in the next five years?
Kute: Ward committees will make inroads in public participation processes to inform local municipalities of the needs of communities and also take government to the people. They will play a bigger role in municipal affairs.