“THE CORNERSTONE OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION”

28 July 2017

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1. Background

2. Legislations

3. Policy on Ward Committees

4. Establishment of Ward Committees

5. Administrative and Logistical support

6. Institutionalizing Ward committee functionality

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Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is located in Eastern region of

Gauteng Province

It mainly borders Mpumalanga and Gauteng Provinces respectively

It is demarcated into 112 wards and 224 councilors with its Head

Offices at Germiston Precinct.

It is a manufacturing hub of the Province

Its population is estimated at 4 million

O. R Tambo international Airport is located in Ekurhuleni and pride

itself of its airways, railways and freeways to interconnect all modes of

transport.

Its Governance Model is based on Separation of Powers (SOP) that

is of the separated authority between the Executive and the

Legislature

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Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996

Section 152 (1), the objects of local government are –

(e) to encourage the involvement of communities and community

organisations in the matters of local government

Municipal Structures Act, 117 of 1998

Section 73 (2), A ward committee consists of –

(a) the councillor representing the ward in the council, who must also be

the chairperson of the committee: and

(b) not more than 10 other persons

Section 73 (3), A metro or local council must make rules regulating –

(a) the procedure to elect subsection (2) (b) members of a ward

committee, taking into account the need –

i. For women to be equitably represented in a ward committee;

and

ii. For a diversity of interests in the ward to be represented

(b) the circumstances under which those members must vacate office;

and

(c) the frequency of meetings of ward committees

Section 73 (4), A metro or local council may make administrative

arrangements to enable ward committees to perform their functions and

exercise their powers effectively

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Municipal Structures Act, 117 of 1998

Section 74, a ward committee –

(a) may make recommendations on any matter affecting its ward –

I. to the ward councillor; or

II. through the ward councillor, to the metro or local council, the

executive committee, the executive mayor or…

(b) has such duties and powers as the metro or local council may

delegate to it in terms of section 59 of the Local Government: Municipal

Systems (act 32 of 2000).

Municipal Systems Act, 32 of 2000

Chapter 4, ss (16-22): Development of culture of community

participation

16(1) “ A municipality must develop a culture of municipal governance that

complements formal representative government with a system of

participatory governance…”

17 (2) “A municipality must establish appropriate mechanisms, processes

and procedures to enable the local community to participate in the affairs

of the municipality…”

The Ekurhuleni in complying with the provisions of the act, adopted

a ward committee policy.

The objective of the policy is to establish uniform rules to regulate

the processes, procedures and guidelines for establishment and

effective and efficient functionality of ward committees within the

regulatory frameworks.

The policy also sets out the roles and responsibilities of all

authorities and stakeholders in relation to the ward committee

establishment, functionality and accountability.

The policy elucidates the critical aspect of provisioning of

administrative and logistical support in line with the provisions of the

National Framework: Criteria for determining payment of out of

pocket expense for ward committees to execute their mandate.

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To enhance public participatory democracy and governance in local

government

To coordinate the interests of the ward sectors and recommend any

matter that affects the ward to the Municipal Council through the ward

councillor

To participate in the drafting of IDP and Budget policies and

deliverables

To assist the ward councillor in resolving matters that affect the ward

To adhere and oblige to processes and procedures set by the Council.

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The Municipality has established 110 Ward Committees established

out of 112 between October 2016 and March 2017

The Council further extended the period to finalize the 2 remaining

committees to be finalised by September 2017 after the objections

have been resolved.

The ward committees are elected on a sector approach and consists

of the following Council approved sectors:

o Women and Children

o Youth

o Aged and Disability

o Faith Based Organisation

o Infrastructure Services

o Economic Development and City Planning

o Environmental Services

o Health and Social Development

o Community Safety

o Sports, Heritage, Recreation, Arts and Culture

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The ward committees are convening monthly meetings to process service

delivery and developmental matters (IDP) affecting its communities.

The ward committee refers matters to department for attention through a

designed management system for them to promptly intervene and act on them.

The consolidated report of all ward committees is submitted quarterly to the

dedicated Standing Committee on Public Participation and Petitions for

accountability to Council.

The aforementioned Committee on consideration of the report refers

unresolved matters to the relevant and related Oversight Committees for

scrutiny and oversight.

In a nutshell, the ward committees are expected to report and account to

Council on its activities and the Municipality should be able to assist the

process from end to end.

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Facilitate and monitor the establishment of ward committees in the ward.

Create a ward database of all sectors and stakeholders in the ward

Support ward committees administratively to develop and sustain the

annual plan

Coordinate ward committee,public meetings and IDP workshops

Report on activities of ward committees

Distribute and disseminate information for ward committees

Coordinate the induction and capacitation of ward committees

Collate and disseminate information on projects to ward councillor and the

ward committee

Support ward councillor and ward committee with secretarial services and

logistics

Collate the process for out pocket payment for ward committee members

Keep a proper record system

Attend to queries relating to service delivery

Liaise with departments on behalf of the ward councillor.

Coordinate public participation programmes, events and activities and

engagements with stakeholders to promote participatory governance

Assist in coordination of Civic education and citizenship programmes.

Provide office space and tools of trade for ward councilors in accordance

with the Upper limits regulations

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1x DIVISIONAL

HEAD

6x Regional Managers

Senior Admin

Officer

X 6

Administrative

Officer

X2

Ward Coordinator

X 27

Ward Secretaries

X 27

1x Snr Specialist

Civic Education

and Citizenship

2x Public

Participation and

Outreach

Coordinator

1x Manager:

Petitions & Hearings

4x Petitions

and Hearing

Officers

1x SECRETARY

Build a strong sense of political culture and socialisation for sustenance of our

constitutional democracy

Adopt a posture acknowledging that dispositions that inform our democratic

principles are not inherited but continuously transferred between generations

Build a body of knowledge through education to benefit the legislative sector

Inculcate a sense of ownership and viewing our municipality as an institution

of peoples power by consistently communicating, engaging and involving

stakeholders, organized formations and other sectors of the community

Resuscitate public confidence towards our municipality by understanding our

operations and protocols as inherent in the processes of decision making

Strengthen the public participation strategies in governance processes

Share knowledge and skills required for meaningful and effective public

participation

Bridge the existing gap between theory and knowledge (Legislation and Policy in action)

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