Performance information on the outputs of this research study with the aim of shaping the policy position paper to lobby for adequate financing of environmental functions in municipalities. The framework will be used to measure performance in the upcoming year for advocacy and lobbying activities on capacitation of the sector for environmental management.
The second phase of the local government support programme on climate change was initiated in 2015 / 16, following a successful first phase that saw municipalities in three provinces( Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape) supported to develop climate change response strategies and communication plans. In 2016 / 17, an additional three provinces were included in the programme in which municipalities in the North West, Gauteng and Free State provinces were supported to develop climate change strategies and stakeholder communication plans. In addition, the third and final phase of the programme was launched, which aims to support municipalities in Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape in 2017 / 18.
Capacity building on climate change
In October 2016, SALGA co-hosted and facilitated a five-day train the trainer climate change response mainstreaming course in partnership with the Department of Environmental Affairs( DEA), Sustainable Energy Africa and Adelphi( through the Berman Ministry for Environment). This training served to equip all district municipal officials and SALGA provincial officials with necessary knowledge, skills and tools to enable them to better support local municipalities in integrating climate change into municipal plans, programmes and projects.
SALGA also initiated a train the trainer programme where over 30 district municipalities were provided with an opportunity to participate in a fully funded five-day training on climate change mainstreaming and multi-sector planning.
Identification and approval of new restructuring zones( RZs) for social housing
SALGA established a close working relationship with the National Department of Human Settlements( NDHS) and the Social Housing Regulatory Authority( SHRA) to promote social housing and assist the department to develop a list of new restructuring zones for social housing which was approved and gazetted by the Minister. This nearly 3-year process required SALGA to provide hands-on support to the national department and SHRA to ensure a comprehensive, fair process for assessment of applications by provinces and municipalities for new RZs. SALGA played an active role to represent municipalities in the process to ensure their RZs were not dropped from the list.
As a result, 138 new restructuring zones for social housing was finally approved by MinMEC for Human Settlements on 24 November 2016. The list was subsequently approved by the Minister of Human Settlements for gazetting on 14 March 2017. Once these RZs are gazetted, municipalities with new RZs will be able to apply for subsidies for social rental housing, thus unblocking a major obstacle for social housing projects countrywide.
Amending the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from an Unlawful Occupation of Land Act
As part of our ongoing lobbying and advocacy work regarding the challenges municipalities face with unlawful occupation of land and evictions, SALGA has engaged with the National Department of Human Settlements on proposed amendments to the Prevention of Illegal Eviction From and Unlawful Occupation of Land Amendment, 1998( Act No. 19 of 1998)( PIE).
In consultation with member municipalities, SALGA developed a comprehensive strategy to lobby for the amendment of the PIE Act and to support municipalities on evictions and unauthorised land occupation. SALGA has been at the forefront of articulating the challenges of municipalities in the area of evictions and lobbying the NDHS for changes to the PIE Act which will create a more supportive and conducive legal framework for municipalities to address this issue.
SALGA gave input on the draft Amendment Bill for the PIE Act, raising concerns with the draft legislation based on the OLG position developed on PIE. As a result of our intervention, the technical MinMEC resolved that the national department must engage with SALGA and directly with municipalities on the Draft Bill to amend the PIE Act.
55 SALGA ANNUAL REPORT 2016 / 17