Faizel Patel, 2016-08-17
Now that the local government elections are over and ward councillors get to work to provide promises and services outlined in their party manifestos, Local Government Action says residents must also be proactive in their communities.
The organisation says communities should be involved in the running of their neighbourhoods and wards to ensure that elected officials follow through on servicing the needs of the area they are responsible for.
An elected ward councillor who is also the chairperson, forms the committee following a process of nominations and elections processes.
Speaking to Radio Islam, Local Government Action’s Koketso Moeti says Ward committees are legislated and community participation should be encouraged.
“The idea is to ensure that it’s a connection between the community and their councillor, a collection of people that is based in the community, therefore know the community.”
Moeti says while the ward councillor is responsible for the creation of the committee it has not been done in many areas.
“Unfortunately we’ve seen that not quite being the case in a lot places in the country where people are chosen at the discretion of the ward councillor and that’s not good because it’s all about representation, its all about ensuring that the people who are there are representing your interests as a community.”
Moeti says if a ward councillor fails in their responsibilities or violated the councillor’s code of conduct, the community can approach the party whip, the chief whip and even the national executive committee (NEC) of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) of local government for recourse.
She says that according to the ward councillor’s code of conduct the councillor is expected to hold at least 4 meetings a year which should be open to all residents of a community unless it’s a closed meeting.
“If your ward councillor is not calling meetings particularly now as its time to prepare for the ward committee elections, be worried, find out, go engage, ask what wrong, what’s going on.”
For more info log on to www.localgovernmentaction.org for an adverse guide to local government.
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