Cape Town – Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan says his department will up the ante to ensure that local government works more efficiently.
Speaking to SAnews in reaction to President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the National Assembly on Tuesday night, Minister Gordhan said municipalities need to listen to the people more and respond to challenges quicker.
He said this at a time when a number of municipalities have recently experienced service delivery protests that have often turned violent.
“[This] would be responding to people, listening carefully, responding with a greater sense of urgency, and making sure that when they raise a problem, we go sort it out instead of allowing it to accumulate over time,” he said.
The minister also said municipalities need to govern better and “follow the rules”.
“We need to make sure that we have competent officials and technical capabilities.
“In smaller municipalities and districts, we have to make a greater effort to get people like engineers and planners - particularly at district level - so that smaller municipalities can access those services,” Minister Gordhan said. – SAnews.gov.za
