East London - Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sicelo Shiceka, has vowed to leave no stone unturned in fighting corruption in local government over the next five years.
Speaking at the South African Local Government Association's (SALGA) National Members' Assembly, the minister stressed the importance of ensuring good and clean governance in municipalities.
"We need to decisively deal with corruption without fear or favour. Corruption is an ill that has to be removed from our midst as it denies our people what they rightfully expect from government. Those who are involved or intend to get involved must beware," Minister Shiceka warned.
To this end, his department is to launch a national initiative aimed at achieving clean cities and clean provincial and local government audits by 2014.
Mr Shiceka said he was aware of situations, such as in Madibeng, where councillors were receiving tenders from their own municipalities.
Government has resolved to review the process where councilors and officials declare their interests and is expected to work closely with the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO) in this regard.
The minister said he was committed to providing not only bold leadership, but also the requisite support to ensure that municipalities delivered their constitutional and other mandates.
"I hope that you share my resolve and passion to do everything humanly possible and muster all our energies to turn the situation around in municipalities," he added.
He said during several research surveys conducted on the public's perception on the various spheres of government, local government has always scored the lowest. Municipalities were perceived to be incompetent, disorganised and riddled with corruption and maladministration.
"We will be na«ve, and at worst arrogant, to simply brush off these findings as mere perceptions," he added.
Minister Shiceka said Cabinet had adopted far reaching decisions and resolutions regarding better and faster service delivery in an extended Lekgotla a few weeks ago, where representatives of SALGA also participated.
