May 2014
The Municipality faces a number of challenges in meeting the local government objectives. One of the primary challenges being that the priority areas identified in this situation analysis do not all fall within the functional area of the Municipality.
This has the effect that the Municipality will play a dual role namely that of implementing agent and that of facilitator and coordinator. Pivotal to both roles is ensuring that the Municipality has the capacity and resources. It is on this premise that it is recommended that the municipality firstly review its institutional framework, financial viability and governance to equip it to play the role required of it.
4.14.1 HIGH RATE OF POVERTY
Poverty in Umhlabuyalingana manifests itself in different dimensions with income poverty and human poverty being the most common. Income poverty refers to the lack of sufficient income to satisfy basic food needs and essential non-food needs such as clothing, energy and shelter. It arises from a high rate of unemployment, poor access to productive resources, lack of marketable skills and general lack of job opportunities. In fact, 44.9% of households do not have secured monthly income, and there is a generally high dependence on social grants as a source of income.
Human poverty, on the other hand, broadly refers to poor access to basic human capabilities and it arises from high representation of the members who cannot read, write and numerate, food insecurity, malnutrition, declining life expectancy, increase of sickness and deaths related to preventable diseases and poor access to basic services. Rate of functional illiteracy in Umhlabuyalingana is estimated at 65%. Overcrowding as its starting to happen in Manguzi also contributes to this situation.
UMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality has embrace and enrolled the government initiative of ward committees to ensure that service delivery is effective in ward. There is an effective structure of the ward committee and its functions below:
4.14.2 COMPOSITION OF WARD COMMITTEE
A ward committee consists of the councilor representing that ward in the council who is also the chairperson of the committee, and not more than ten other persons.
In the process of election of Ward Committee we also take into account the need for women to be equitably presented in a ward committee and for a diversity of interests in the ward to be represented.
May 2014
Gender equity was also pursued by ensuring that there is an even spread of men and women on a ward committee.
4.14.3 FUNCTIONS OF WARD COMMITTEE
Following are the Functions and powers of UMhlabuyalingana Local Municipal Ward Committees through the municipal policy in line with the provisions of Section 59 of the Municipal Systems Act.
Powers delegated in terms of the adopted policy are as follows:
To serve as an official specialized participatory structure in the municipality;
To create formal unbiased communication channels as well as co-operative partnerships between the community and the council. This may be achieved as follows:
Advise and make recommendations to the ward councilors on matters and policy affecting the ward;
Assist the ward councilors in identifying challenges and needs of residents;
Disseminate information in the ward concerning municipal affairs such as the budget, integrated development planning, performance management system (PMS), service delivery options and municipal properties;
Receive queries and complaints from residents concerning municipal service delivery, communicate it to council and provide feedback to the community on council’s response;
Ensure constructive and harmonious interaction between the municipality and community through the use and co-ordination of ward residents meetings and other community development forums; and Interact with other forums and organizations on matters affecting the ward.
To serve as a mobilizing agent for community action within the ward. This may be achieved as follows:
Attending to all matters that affect and benefit the community;
Acting in the best interest of the community;
Ensure the active participation of the community in:
Service payment campaigns;
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The integrated development planning process;
The municipality’s budgetary process;
Decisions about the provision of municipal services; and
Decisions about by-laws.
Decisions relating to implementation of Municipal Property Rates Act (MPRA)
Delimitate and chair zonal meetings.
4.14.4 OPERATION SUKUMA SAKHE
Operation Sukuma Sakhe has a 'whole of Government approach' as its philosophical basis. It spells out every initiative and how it links to initiatives being implemented by the different sector departments and the spheres of government, therefore delivery of services is required through partnership with community, stakeholders and government.
Operation Sukuma Sakhe is a continuous interaction between Government and the community to come together to achieve the 12 National Outcomes. It encourages social mobilization where communities have a role, as well as delivery of government services in a more integrated way. Government has structured programs which need to get as deep as to the level of the people we are serving.
The UMhlabuyalingana Sukuma Sakhe comprises of the following departments:
Department of Sport and Recreation Department of Health
Department of Education
Department of Social Development Department of Transport
Non Profit Organizations Kwangwanase S.A.P.S
Emhlabuyalingana Municipality
May 2014
Office of the Premier (Youth Ambassadors)
UMhlabuyalingana Sukuma Sakhe was established in 2011 and has monthly meetings. In the meetings we discuss challenges facing communities in each ward and devise multi sectorial responses to assist members of our community. The programme assists in aligning government projects and efforts and in reducing wastage of resources.
4.14.5 YOUTH
Youth Development is a process or journey that automatically involves all of the people around a youth—family and community. A young person will not be able to build essential skills and competencies and be able to feel safe; cared for, valued, useful, and spiritually grounded unless their family and community provide them with the supports and opportunities they need along the way.
The municipality is working towards positive results in the lives of youth by focusing on different aspects of life rather than concentrating only on academic skills and competencies.
The expected outcomes of youth development programmes are: Physical well-being, mental well-being, Intellectual health, Employability and Civic and Social Investment.
UMhlabuyalinga Municipality therefore engaged on numerous programmes in order to achieve their goal.
5 LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTRE
The municipality runs a well-resourced Library centre mainly for the youth, with a informediary; Career guidance Advisor whom is also a Librarian, The Library centre serves as a resource centre and has ten computers (with internet) provided for use by walk-ins. It further serves computer classes at no cost for Umhlabuyalingana youth. Trainings for career guidance and or exhibitions are particularly important at the municipality for the growth and the development of the youth.