Question NW772 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

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01 April 2021 - NW772

Profile picture: Spies, Ms ERJ

Spies, Ms ERJ to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether, perhaps in collaboration with the SA Local Government Association, her department will consider introducing a mandatory programme accredited by the SA Qualifications Authority which is similar to the programme for newly appointed municipal officials, for all newly elected municipal councillors to capacitate them to fulfil their duties; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The Department in collaboration with South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and key stakeholders developed an Integrated Councillor Induction Programme (ICIP). The programme is accredited by Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA at NQF Level 3. It is a mandatory programme for all newly elected municipal councillors and traditional leaders who are identified to participate in the proceedings of municipal councils. Upon successful completion of the five-day training session, participants are awarded a certificate of competence.

The ICIP is followed by the municipal specific induction programme which entails the induction of councilors by their respective municipalities. The focus of the programme is to equip councilors with knowledge on the environment they will operating within the municipal jurisdiction.
This includes inter alia the development of applicable municipal by-laws, rules of order in council, specific responsibilities of each councilor in respect of committees which they serve.

The other mandatory programme relates to the portfolio-based induction. This programme is designed to orientate councilors in specific portfolios aligned to their respective functional responsibilities in the municipality. These will include various council committees such as Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) and Oversight Committees.

Furthermore, municipal councillors are also encouraged to enroll for an accredited NQF Level 5 Training Programme, which is designed for an individual career pathway for those who have formal and experiential learning as they have served as councillors before. Career pathway incorporates councilor induction as a starting point of councilor development during the term of office of the council.

 

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