Performance information
In keeping with this resolution, SALGA convened
a consultation workshop on 24 March 2017 to
provide a platform for the national department
to present the Amendment Bill to municipalities
and to hear the concerns and views of local
government on this matter. The meeting was
highly successful in raising the awareness of the
department, challenges faced by municipalities
and the gaps in the current version of the
Amendment Bill. As a result, the department
agreed to allow SALGA more time to convene a
special task team of municipalities to develop
specific proposals for PIE amendments which
will subsequently be submitted to the department
for inclusion in the draft Amendment Bill.
Draft White Paper on Human Settlements
The National Department of Human Settlements
has been developing a White Paper on Human
Settlements as a follow-on from the breaking
new ground strategy of 2009. The intention is for
the White Paper — once approved — to serve as
the basis for repealing the Housing Act of 1997
and replacing it with new human settlements
legislation.
Given the importance of this process, SALGA
lobbied the national Department of Human
Settlements (DHS) to input into the draft White
Paper and ensure proper consultation with
member municipalities on the document. In
partnership with DHS, SALGA held a consultation
workshop with Gauteng municipalities and
hosted a two-day national roundtable session on
planning as part of the White Paper process.
Further consultations were planned to take place
in October and November 2016, once the second
draft of the White Paper was approved in June
2016 for consultation. However, the decision was
taken to postpone the joint workshops due to
delays by the department in finalising the second
draft. SALGA issued a national circular to update
municipalities on the White Paper process and
to explain why the consultation workshops were
not held this year as planned.
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SALGA lobbied for national guidelines to
develop road master plans
SALGA has lobbied for national guidelines to
develop road master plans in municipalities.
The Department of Transport has committed
to include the guidelines in its access road
development plan and the policy development
process. There was commitment to also address
this gap of road master planning in the Roads Act
that will be developed after the policy has been
adopted.
SALGA also rolled out a service authority support
programme on roads and transport, where
municipalities shared best practices with their
peers on executing the roads and transport
authority function.