SALGA annual report 2016/17 SALGA ANNUAL REPORT 201617 PRINTED FINAL | Page 29

Strategic overview SALGA’s membership and stakeholders Membership: Key stakeholders: Since its establishment in 1996, SALGA has implemented its mandate of supporting local government transformation in a complex environment characterised by a highly diverse and diffuse membership-base of municipalities. South Africa’s 257 municipalities – which collectively constitute an independent, interdependent and inter-related sphere of government - make up SALGA’s membership. They range from deep rural municipalities grappling with severe service delivery backlogs and institutional challenges, to sophisticated cities with significant institutional capacity. They are classified in accordance with the criteria in the Municipal Structures Act: metropolitan (Category A), local (Category B) and district municipalities (Category C). The strategic plan must therefore respond to the varied needs of different municipalities. The SALGA constitution also makes provision for associate member organisations that are strongly concerned with or involved in local government matters and who comply with criteria as may be determined by the NEC. The efficient management of stakeholders has become a core element of business strategies in many successful organisations. In line with the SALGA mandate to represent, promote and protect the interest of local government, the association recognises the important role of stakeholders in the local government sphere. Stakeholders are integral in shaping and supporting the implementation of the SALGA mandate and programme of action. The diagram below outlines some key stakeholders that SALGA engages with as part of a broader process of representing, supporting and servicing its members. Stakeholders also play a vital role in bolstering the resource capacity of SALGA. Public sector Member municipalities Private sector Civil society Donor agencies State owned entities Research institutions Professional bodies Other international partners Local government International municipal associations Provincial government National government SALGA stakeholder map 29 SALGA ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17