Performance information
Highlights of performance per goal
SALGA’s programmes are implemented through
the SALGA directorates and provincial offices.
Below are the highlights of performance per goal.
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Support and advice; and
Knowledge and information sharing.
Highlights of performance
Goal 1: Local government
delivering equitable and
sustainable services
SALGA – Eskom engagements
This goal addresses policies,
processes, operations and
capacity that ensures that
local government is able to
provide a comprehensive
range of municipal services
to communities in a manner
that is accessible, equitable
and sustainable.
The goal specifically focuses on electricity
and energy, water and sanitation, solid waste
management, roads and transport, human
settlements, environmental management and
climate change.
The role of SALGA in achieving this goal is
an integral role of finding solutions to service
delivery challenges that are common to
municipalities, mobilising appropriate support
from partners, and facilitating knowledge sharing
from lessons learned through innovations
within municipalities. SALGA also identifies
funding and training opportunities to support
municipalities on service delivery, and serves as a
knowledge hub for municipalities. Furthermore,
it undertakes lobbying and advocacy on policy,
legislative and fiscal issues to ensure an enabling
environment for municipal infrastructure service
delivery.
The work of the SALGA in this goal is therefore
multi-dimensional. It requires an excellent
understanding of each of the sectors, as well as
an ability to influence and bring about change
in policy, legislation, institutional landscape,
financial and fiscal set up within the real life
context of municipalities on the ground.
The activities in goal one addressed the following
SALGA mandates:
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Lobby, advocate and represent;
Capacity building;
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SALGA has engaged Eskom on the current
key structural and technical issues that have
exacerbated municipal debt. In the year 2016/17,
SALGA successfully lobbied for changes to some
of Eskom’s credit control policies, including the
following:
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Reduced prime plus 5% interest on
overdue amounts to prime plus 2.5% (we
continue to lobby for this to be reduced to
prime only); and
Increase the Eskom 15 day payment
requirement to 30 days, being the same
payment period municipalities provide to
users of municipal services.
SALGA is continuing to engage Eskom on the
following to which Eskom has agreed:
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Revise some of the unsustainable
payment arrangements;
Possible waving of the interest if the
payment arrangement is complied with;
Notified maximum demand; and
Determination of the constitutional
authority for electricity distribution.
In February 2016 the Minister of CoGTA, SALGA
President and the NERSA leadership discussed
and agreed that SDAs must be entered into
between Eskom and municipalities. As a result
of this decision, NERSA issued a consultation
paper in July 2016 seeking comments and legal
views from stakeholders and the public on the
constitutional powers of the municipalities in
terms of electricity reticulation. SALGA sought
legal views and opinions from its members and
made a detailed submission to NERSA.
Establishment of metro energy forum
SALGA established a metro energy forum. The
purpose of this forum was to compliment the
working group on trading services by discussing,
analysing and providing recommendations
SALGA ANNUAL REPORT
2016/17