local government management workshop higher certificate in public management 28 march 2015
TRANSCRIPT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT
WORKSHOPHIGHER CERTIFICATE IN PUBLIC MANAGEMENT
28 MARCH 2015
INTRODUCTION
Lecturer/FacilitatorAndrew TuckerB Com LLB, Attorney of the High Court of South AfricaContact details:[email protected]
WORKSHOP PROGRAMME
• 08:30 – 09:10 Course Overview• 09:10 – 09:15 Break• 09:15 – 09:45 Assignment Questions• 09:45 – 10:00 Your questions and problem areas
INTRODUCING LOCAL GOVERNMENT• Local government is a type of government which focuses on the specific
needs of people, within specific areas, boundaries, and is commonly known as a municipality. For example, the ethekwini municipality which is allocated in the Durban.
• Local municipalities exercise legitimate authority because of the free and fair elections which South Africa manages through its constitution
• One of the major challenges are the limited resources and the unlimited needs of the people within communities
• The functions of the municipalities involve the delivery of services, planning, budgeting,etc.
• Local government has specific powers, given by the central or provincial government, within a specific area
WHY IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT SO IMPORTANT
• Local government forms the basis for a democratic society.
• Important Terminologies
• Local Authority:
• Can be defined as an organization with elected and appointed officials which operates within a designated area. The Constitution of South Africa gives the right to the local government structures to govern.
• Local Governance
• Here the organizations like civil society become important, where partnerships between the government and the community are encouraged
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• Constitution reigns supreme• Spheres of government• Co-operative government
NATURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• A local area and local community formed by common interests, whether rural, urban or regional;
• Participation by a local community in the government of its local affairs – grassroots democracy;
• A local political unit with executive and legislative powers of government as the third sphere of government, and powers of taxation to control, regulate and develop local affairs and render services by means of co –operative government.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
• Chapter 7 of the South African Constitution of 1996 deals with local government• Sections 151 - 164
SUPREMACY OF CONSTITUTION & LG STATUS
• Constitution is our supreme law – everything tested against the Constitution• Constitution provides for local government status
NATIONAL & PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT POWERS
• National and Provincial Government have power to ensure municipalities perform their functions efficiently and effectively
PRINCIPLES AND GOALS OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION• 195. Basic values and principles governing public administration
1. Public administration must be governed by the democratic values and principles enshrined in the Constitution, including the following principles:
a. A high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained.
b. Efficient, economic and effective use of resources must be promoted.
c. Public administration must be development-oriented.
d. Services must be provided impartially, fairly, equitably and without bias.
e. People's needs must be responded to, and the public must be encouraged to participate in policy- making.
f. Public administration must be accountable.
g. Transparency must be fostered by providing the public with timely, accessible and accurate information.
h. Good human-resource management and career-development practices, to maximise human potential, must be cultivated.
i. Public administration must be broadly representative of the South African people, with employment and personnel management practices based on ability, objectivity, fairness, and the need to redress the
imbalances of the past to achieve broad representation.
CHALLENGES AND ISSUES
• Ethics
• Corruption
• Efficient use of resources
• Accountability
REALITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• Backlogs in service delivery• Need to recognise the connections between urban and rural areas• Transformation of municipalities are urgently needed• Relationships between the municipalities and the communities
need to be established
FEATURES & CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCAL GOVT
• See pages 38-40
ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1
• Refer pages 14-16 of Study Guide
QUESTION 2
• Refer pages 91-104 of Study Guide
QUESTION 3
• Refer pages 26-27 of Study Guide
• Interesting articles
• http://www.psc.gov.za/newsletters/docs/2010/PSC%20NEWS.pdf
• http://www.ethicsmonitor.co.za/Articles/Ethical-leadership.pdf
QUESTION 4
Refer pages 64 – 66 of Study Guide
Interesting article
http://mlgi.org.za/publications/publications-by-theme/local-government-in-south-africa/municipal-administration/2001%20-%20de%20Visser%20-%20Roles%20and%20responsibilities%20of%20municipal%20manager.pdf