Service delivery protests must be completely eliminated by 2014, Cooperative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka said on Wednesday.
”We must respond to issues before people go to the streets,” Shiceka told a local government indaba in Boksburg, which included municipal and provincial government representatives.
He wanted a ”responsive, efficient, effective and accountable” local government.
”We must be able to say by 2014 we are committed … to a clean audit by all municipalities. We must reduce infrastructure backlogs by 2014.”
The indaba followed a wave of service delivery protests around the country, many of which turned violent. Communities largely called for the removal of councillors due to a track record of poor service delivery.
On Tuesday President Jacob Zuma, speaking at a meeting in Khayelitsha, condemned the violent nature of protests.
In his address Shiceka said politicians must ensure municipal managers accounted for their performances.
A turnaround strategy for local government would be formulated by December, and from January to March next year, it must be discussed and implemented at municipal level.
Shiceka was releasing a report on the state of local government which highlighted a number of challenges, including electricity backlogs and financial mismanagement.
According to the report, 30% of the service delivery protests between January to July this year occurred in Gauteng, followed by 17% in the North West and 15% in the Free State.
The report also indicates an ”escalating loss of confidence in governance”, with protests increasing considerably in 2009 when compared to the last six years.
”Relationships at the local level are tainted by… contestation among the elite of local areas.
”A culture of patronage and nepotism is now so widespread in many municipalities that the formal municipal accountability system is ineffective and unacceptable to many citizens,” the report read.
Mbalula, Malema visit Standerton
Meanwhile, African National Congress (ANC) national executive commitee member Fikile Mbalula, ANC Youth League president Julius Malema and Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza met in Standerton on Wednesday following recent service delivery protests.
”They are currently in the meeting. The meeting started late this morning,” party spokesperson Brian Sokutu said. They would brief the media at 3pm.
Their visit followed another a trip to the area by Mbalula and fellow NEC member Malusi Gigaba last Thursday. They held long meetings with municipal and provincial officials, church organisations, community leaders and local party structures.
In recent weeks the Sakhile township in Standerton saw violent protests over complaints of corruption and bad service delivery.
Residents demanded the resignation of the mayor and councillors. — Sapa