PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE & TRADITIONAL

AFFAIRS (CoGTA)

Tuesday, 21 August 2012

FUNDING OF WARD COMMITTEES

OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION

1. Background

2. Object of the National Framework

3. The role of municipalities in supporting ward committees

4. Criteria for determining out of pocket expenses

5. Ward committee functionality indicators

6. Payments and budgeting

7. Training of ward committee members

2

BACKGROUND

National Framework: Criteria for Determining Out of Pocket Expenses for Ward Committee Members, 2009. The framework determines the indicators for:

Ward committee functionalityCriteria for calculating “out of pocket expenses” Budgeting guidelines and Funding mechanisms for ward development and ward committee operations.

3

OBJECT OF THE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK

The objects of the framework are to: Improve ward committee functionality by ensuring

that ward committee members are more active and able to effectively support their elected ward councillors to serve the community

Reimburse ward committee members with any 'out of pocket' expenses that they may have reasonably incurred in undertaking their duties

Provide guidelines for provinces to develop provincial specific frameworks

4

THE ROLE OF MUNICIPALITIES

Municipalities must ensure that ward committees are effectively supported. This support includes:

Access to office space and equipmentTechnical and administrative assistance through dedicated municipal staffCommunication material and community interaction systems and campaigns andOut of pocket expenses for ward committee members.

5

CRITERIA FOR CALCULATING OUT OF OFFICE EXPENSES

The following criteria must be taken into consideration when determining out of pocket expenses for a member of a ward committee:

Ward size: is a factor that influences democratic representation and participation as well as transport costs

Population density: correlates with the ward committee's ability to manage social dynamics presented by different population groups as they relate to service delivery and social cohesion.

Financial viability: community participation is integral to service delivery and must be budgeted for as part of the core business of municipalities and

Ward committee functionality6

WARD COMMITTEE FUNCTIONALITY INDICATORS

Key indicators of ward committee functionality are:Ward committee management meetings held and attendanceCommunity meetings held and attendanceTabling of ward reports and plans to the council and feedback on

the performance of the Councils to communitiesDoor-to-door campaigns and/or interactions with sub structures

including street committeesComplaints, queries, and requests registered from the community

and attended to Information brochures, flyers, newsletters, emails, sms, etc

distributedManagement and updating of ward profiles and database of

indigent householdsParticipation in plans and programmes of municipalities and other

spheres of government 7

PAYMENTS AND BUDGETING

An amount of R428 760 million (MTEF) has been made available to municipalities to provide stipends for ward committees to assist municipalities classified as grades 1, 2 and 3

As part of this allocation, each municipality in grades 1, 2 and 3 is subsidized by a stipend of R500 per month to cater for 10 members of each ward committee

These funds are transferred as part of an Equitable Share for these municipalities

8

PAYMENTS AND BUDGETING - R 000’

9

Targeted Number of Ward Committee Members in grades 1, 2 and 3 municipalities

2012/3 financial year

2013/14 financial year

2014/15 financial year

Eastern Cape 4980 28 880 28 880 28 880

Free State 1660 9 960 9 960 960

Gauteng 130 780 780 780

KwaZulu Natal 5020 30 120 30 120 30 120

Limpopo 4730 28 380 28 380 28 380

Mpumalanga 2410) 14 460 14 460 14 460

Northern Cape 1490 8 940 8 940 8 940

North West 2170 13 020 13 020 13 020

Western Cape 1230 7 380 7 380 7 380

TOTAL 23820 142 920 142 920 142 920

TRAINING OF WARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS An 8 module LGSETA accredited skills

programme for ward committees at NQF level 2 has been developed

The department has updated, translated (into all SA official languages), printed and distributed 40 000 copies of each 11 ward committee capacity building material (i.e. 8 x LGSETA accredited modules; Ward Committee Handbook; Ward Committee Resource Book and Community-based Planning Guide).

Phase 1 of accredited training completed in 4 provinces, i.e, NW; NC; EC and MP

10

Thanx

11