Going back to basics - way to go – Gordhan

03 December 2015

 

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan yesterday (Wednesday December 3) urged African ministers and mayors to explore concrete ways of strengthening collaboration in planning and service delivery as the time had come for Africa to transform local government.

 

But this would, he said, require strong political will, accountability and an end to corruption.

Minister Gordhan was speaking on the fourth day of the Africities Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre. He said transforming local government would be achieved through an integrated approach involving communities in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063. This, he said, would help to drastically reduce poverty, promote equitable growth and create inclusive wealth.

“In South Africa we have adopted the Back-to-Basics programme based on five pillars: delivering basic services: good governance, public participation, sound financial management and building institutional capacity to ensure that local government changes the lives of people,” he said.

The Minister said this integrated approach would help deal with the challenges of poverty, increasing inequality and high levels of unemployment and underemployment, especially among the youth. He said by getting the basics right, local governments would function effectively and efficiently. 

Investing in community engagement would ensure that people were at the centre of development.

“We should, therefore, create an enabling environment for citizens to participate and shape their spaces,” he said.

Gordhan said a recent report had noted that the 10 poorest cities in the world were in Africa.

“According to the article, these cities are expanding rapidly, while lacking the most rudimentary of supplies. Clean water, transportation and overcrowding are key issues.”

Strengthening partnerships between African countries and cities to exchange knowledge and practices would help in integrated urban development.

“The role of local government in effecting meaningful change in the life of ordinary citizens is incontestable. Its success is, however, dependent on the level of collaboration with other levels of government.” Opening the session, Johannesburg Executive Mayor Cllr Parks Tau reiterated the call that has been made all week: building an integrated and politically united continent based on “the ideals of Pan Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance”.

“Over the past few days we have taken full advantage of this unique platform to discuss and engage with each other, learning from and finding solutions to the varied experiences of urban Africa from modern slavery to climate change and its impact on corruption, crime and violence. We all draw inspiration from the history of the struggle as we successfully fought against colonialists and neo-colonialists to free ourselves from the clutches of colonialism and slavery. That Africans were always unified in their actions was demonstrated in 1963 when we formed the Organisation of African Unity, the forerunner to the AU. We should in that regard continue to work together as Africans to bring about a prosperous Africa."

He said for Agenda 2063 to be achieved, municipalities must assume their rightful role in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.