Question NW90 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
02 May 2017 - NW90
James, Ms LV to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether the proposed ward-based War Rooms, which the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the Eastern Cape has instructed that they must establish in every ward of every municipality, have any basis in legislation; if so, what are the relevant details: (2) is the function of such War Rooms a duplication of the existing ward committee structures; if not, what is their purpose; if so, why are they being established; (3) has the establishment of such War Rooms had a financial implication for the municipalities in terms of (a) support, (b) administration and (c) resources; if not, how are the municipalities expected to operate without resources; if so, (i) on what basis is this unfunded mandate issued and (ii) where are municipalities expected to obtain such resources from?
Reply:
Service Delivery War Room is a province-wide, integrated, comprehensive and sustainable service delivery model that seeks to radically restructure the interface between government and the people to better respond to the needs of the people. The collaborative War Room Machinery aims to improve government’s service delivery capacity and build an activist public service that is responsive to the needs of the people.
1. The establishment of ward-based War Rooms is intended to give effect to Chapter 3, section 41(1)(c) and (h) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,1996, that provides for the principles of co-operative government and Inter-governmental relations in the three spheres of government.
The War Rooms’ model is also meant to give effect to section 16 and 17, Chapter 4 of the Municipal Systems Act Chapter 4 of the Municipal Systems Act that all for municipalities to have a mechanism for public participation, War Rooms become that mechanism for involving the public in planning, implementation and monitoring of service delivery as the public gets to participate trough their structures in War Rooms.
2. War Rooms are not a duplication of ward committees. War Room serves as an inclusive support structure that is aimed at promoting public participation in the affairs of the municipal council in a ward in a structured and coordinated manner.
3. The War Room is premised on the utilization of existing municipal resources. War Rooms are conducted in community halls or public institutions. Development Workers do not receive additional remuneration.
(a) in terms of support, Cogta and the Office of the Premier utilize their resources to support municipalities to conduct workshops and training;
(b) on administration, Community Development Workers provide administrative support and their remuneration is provided for by Cogta; and
(c) there are no additional resources that are expected from municipalities in operating the War Rooms.
(i) War Rooms are regarded as Integrated Services Delivery Models meant to bring together fragmented service delivery to communities and are therefore not viewed as unfunded mandate; and
(ii) Municipalities are using the existing resources and are supported by Cogta and the Office of the Premier.