Back to Basics: What should women in local government be doing
to assist? Disclaimer: While drawing on CoGTAs Back to Basics
information, this is NOT an official CoGTA presentation and does
not purport to portray the only actions required of women in
LG.
Slide 2
International Womens Day "Equality for women is progress for
all" Theme for 8 March 2015
Slide 3
Touch Points in this Presentation Context for Back to Basics
Assessment Areas for Back to Basics What is required for Getting
the Basics Right? Focus Areas for Municipalities What is my role?
Qualities of a Lady B2B What is my role as a women? Disclaimer:
While drawing on CoGTAs Back to Basics information, this is NOT an
official CoGTA presentation and does not purport to portray the
only actions required of women in LG.
Slide 4
Context for Back to Basics State of the Nation Address (SONA)
17 June 2014 Together we move South Africa forward Government would
like peoples experience of local government to be a pleasant one
Government has evaluated all municipalities, including their
financial management . Government has formulated a plan of action
to revitalise local government . Technical PCC 4 July 2014
Presentation by CoGTA on development of a new approach to
revitalise and strengthen the performance of local government
Programme of Action for Local Government 2014-2019 CoGTA Back to
Basics: Serving Our Communities Better! Back to Basics to Build a
Responsive, Caring and Accountable Local Government
Slide 5
Assessment Factors Political Stability Governance Service
Delivery Financial Management Institutional Management Community
Satisfaction Acknowledgement: CoGTA - Back to Basics: Serving Our
Communities Better
Slide 6
Assessment Areas (cont.) Institutionalise a performance
management system to effect the changes develop and implement a set
of indicators measuring municipal performance in terms of the
basics, namely: CoGTA Putting people first Delivering basic
services Good governance Sound financial management Building
capacity
Slide 7
Getting the Basics Right Acknowledgement: CoGTA - Back to
Basics Presentation Implemented through National, Provincial and
Local Government interventions
Slide 8
Focus Areas for Municipalities (1) Public Participation:
Putting people first Implement community engagement plans targeting
hotspots and potential hotspots areas. Municipalities to implement
responsive and accountable processes to communities. Ward
committees must be functional and Councillors must meet and report
back to their constituencies quarterly. Utilise the CDWs, Ward
Committees and Ward Councillors to communicate projects earmarked
for implementation. Municipalities must communicate their plans to
deal with backlogs. Municipalities to monitor and act on
complaints, petitions and other feedback. From: Back to Basics:
Serving our Communities Better!
Slide 9
Focus Areas for Municipalities (cont.) (2) Basic Services:
Creating conditions for decent living Deliver the basic services:
Basic electricity, basic water, sanitation, waste removal etc.
Ensure that services such as cutting grass, patching potholes,
working robots and streetlights and consistent refuse removal are
provided. Council to ensure proper maintenance and immediate
addressing of outages or maintenance issues. Municipalities must
provide basic services and maintenance. Municipalities must improve
mechanisms to deliver new infrastructure at a faster pace whilst
adhering to the relevant standards. Focus must be placed on the
operations and maintenance of existing infrastructure to ensure
continuity of service provision. Increase of CWP sites targeting
the unemployed youth in informal settlements to render day to day
services such as cutting grass, patching potholes, cleaning
cemeteries, etc. From: Back to Basics: Serving our Communities
Better!
Slide 10
Focus Areas for Municipalities (cont.) (2) Basic Services:
Creating conditions for decent living (cont.) Extend reach of basic
services to communities living in informal settlements by providing
temporary services such as: (i) potable water, (ii) temporary
sanitation facilities, (iii) grading of gravel roads and (iv)
refuse removal. Improve policing and installation of high mast
lighting. Cities to announce plans for township establishment where
they exist. (3) Good governance Municipalities will ensure
transparency, accountability and regular engagements with
communities. All municipal council structures must be functional
and meet regularly. Council Meetings to sit at least quarterly. All
Council Committees sitting and processing items for council
decisions. Clear delineation of roles and responsibilities between
key leadership structures. Functional oversight committees must be
in place, e.g. Audit Committee and MPACs. From: Back to Basics:
Serving our Communities Better!
Slide 11
Focus Areas for Municipalities (cont.) (4) Sound financial
management All municipalities must have a functional financial
management system which includes rigorous internal controls. Cut
wasteful expenditure. SCM structures and controls with appropriate
oversight. Cash-backed budgets. Post Audit Action Plans are
addressed. Act decisively against fraud and corruption. Supply
Chain Management structures in place and functional according to
regulations. Conduct campaigns on culture of payment for services
led by councillors. Conduct campaigns against illegal connections,
cable theft, manhole covers etc. From: Back to Basics: Serving our
Communities Better!
Slide 12
Focus Areas for Municipalities (cont.) (5) Building Capable
Institutions and Administrations All municipalities enforce
competency standards for managers and appoint persons with the
requisite skills, expertise and qualifications. All staff to sign
performance agreements. Implement and manage performance management
systems. Municipal management to conduct regular engagements with
labour. From: Back to Basics: Serving our Communities Better!
Slide 13
What is my role? The only thing necessary for the triumph of
evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke (1729-1797);
Statesman, Author, Philosopher Be the Person you were meant to
be!
Slide 14
10 Qualities of a Lady A lady is generous with her time,
wisdom, and resources. She is a woman of her word and follows
through with her commitments, whatever the cost. She willingly
serves others and extends a hand to those in need. She manages her
priorities and time well understanding that she can only serve
others after she has taken care of herself. A lady possesses a
positive outlook on life. Her humour, wisdom, and consistent
encouragement attract others to her. From: What would Mrs King
do?
Slide 15
10 Qualities of a Lady A lady is a lifelong learner. She
maintains a teachable posture and embraces change for the better.
She does not compare herself to others, but embraces her strengths
and accepts her weaknesses. A lady models civility in how she
treats others. She demonstrates respect, restraint, and personal
responsibility in her appearance, behaviour, and communication. She
is honourable, and values and respects others. From: What would Mrs
King do? (Cont.)
Slide 16
10 Qualities of a Lady A lady is well-mannered and knows what
is appropriate. She is able to navigate various social and
professional settings with ease and proficiency. She embraces all
people those from other cultures, as well as individuals from
various social and economic backgrounds. A lady possesses a strong
work ethic. She takes pride in her labour at home and in the
community, and strives to give her very best. She is trustworthy,
loyal, and people speak well of her. A lady is poised, graceful,
and confident. Her posture and body language communicate a strong
personal presence. From: What would Mrs King do? (Cont.)
Slide 17
10 Qualities of a Lady A lady is well-dressed. She knows how to
select clothing that is modest, age appropriate, within her budget,
and perfect for the occasion. She is well-groomed, practices good
hygiene, and maintains her health. She understands that her
personal appearance the way she chooses to dress, groom, and carry
herself communicates instantly to others who she is. A lady is
well-spoken and a generous listener. She knows how to effectively
connect with others and communicate her message. Her words are
kind, tactful, and free from gossip. She is gracious and inclusive
From: What would Mrs King do? (Cont.)
Slide 18
10 Qualities of a Lady A lady manages her home and the needs of
her family. She creates a welcome, peaceful, loving, and nourishing
environment a safe shelter from the storms of life. Her actions
reflect whom she has chosen to be rather than base them upon the
opinions of others From: What would Mrs King do? (Cont.)
Slide 19
A lady understands that her real strength is not found in
trying to be like a man, but rather, in being gracious, thoughtful,
kind, intelligent, self-assured, and poised.
Slide 20
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MODERN WOMAN Until our homes are simpler
and less an object of care and anxiety, until our dress is
determined by beauty, health and utility rather than by fashion or
caprice, and until our tables are ordered with regard to physical
well-being, we do wrong to lay the various forms of nervous
prostration to the account of thought and study. By MRS. CAROLINE
K. SHERMAN - 1893
Slide 21
Thank you! Presentation by Louise Muller, Past President of
IMFO, at the 2015 IMFO Women in Leadership Seminar
