COGTA Ministerial Oversight Visit to Priority Districts
In a strong display of commitment to improving local governance and service delivery, Deputy Minister Dr. Namane Dickson Masemola is leading the COGTA Ministerial Oversight visit to identified District Municipalities across the Northern Cape. This marks the Deputy Minister’s third visit, following previous engagements in the Eastern Cape and Free State. Today’s engagement kicked off with a focused session with the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, which will be followed by an equally important session with the Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality tomorrow.
Dr. Masemola is joined by the MEC of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) in the Northern Cape, Mr. Bentley Vass, as well as district and local mayors, councillors, municipal speakers, SALGA representatives, as well as the CEO of the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA). Together, they will embark on a mission to confront and address challenges highlighted in reports by, amongst others, the Auditor-General as well as COGTA’s own State of Local Government Report.
Dr. Masemola is joined by the MEC of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) in the Northern Cape, Mr. Bentley Vass, as well as district and local mayors, councillors, municipal speakers, SALGA representatives, as well as the CEO of the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA). Together, they will embark on a mission to confront and address challenges highlighted in reports by, amongst others, the Auditor-General as well as COGTA’s own State of Local Government Report. Setting the tone, Deputy Minister Dr. Masemola emphasized that the primary focus of these engagements is to listen to the on-the-ground realities faced by municipalities. The Deputy Minister indicated that these sessions aim to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges relating to governance, financial management, service delivery, and technical capacity that local municipalities grapple with.
MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Mr. Bentley Vass, expressed his appreciation for Deputy Minister Dr. Namane Dickson Masemola’s visit to the province. The MEC commended the leadership of both the provincial and district municipalities for coming together with a united resolve under the theme, “Every Municipality Must Work.”
