SALGA hails City’s oversight committees

EThekwini Municipality’s Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) and other oversight committees have been identified and shared as best practices on Section 79 Committees by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). A report by the SALGA National Governance and Intergovernmental Relations Working Group was noted by EXCO.

The report followed a survey by SALGA to gauge the state of oversight in municipalities and to identify good practices of functionality which could be shared with other municipalities. EThekwini was chosen with Fezile Dabi District Municipality, The Big 5 False Bay Local Municipality and Msunduzi Local Municipality. The report states that eThekwini Municipality has established the following Section 79 oversight committees; Speaker and Party Whips Committee, AIDS Committee and MPAC.

“These committees are fully functional and they have councillors as members and advisory members that have been co-opted based on their expertise and experience…. EThekwini’s section 79 committees Terms of References are stated with clarity and this makes it straightforward for members of the committee, relevant stakeholders and the public to understand, articulate and appreciate the role of section 79 committees.”

Chairperson of Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Nigel Gumede said; “This is the result of the wonderful work that has been done by officials and councillors which has put us on the map and we are setting an example for everyone. This shows that we are running the City in a manner that is heading us towards a clean audit.”