Acronyms and Abbreviations
Chapter 2: Local Government Restructuring and Transformation with Specific Reference to Ndwedwe Local Municipality
2.11. Organisational structure of Ndwedwe Local Municipality
44 2.10.8. Civil society organisations
Civil society is concerned with community rather than private ends. Civil Society Organisation relate to the community, the collectivity, or some portion of the public rather than being centred around the individual, the family, or the private, inward looking needs of groups members (Nzimakwe, 2008:45).
According to (Mallya, 2009:102) Civil society organisations are non-profit organisations formed to help members of civil society in a variety of ways, including politically, socially, and economically. Civil society consists of numerous private institutions, also known as non-governmental organisations, that vary from private enterprises, religious or church groups, sports and welfare societies, and other non- political sectors of society (Nzimakwe, 2008:45).
The ability of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to accomplish the following objectives is the primary motivator for municipalities to form partnerships with them (Van der Waldt, 2014:39).
i. To achieve cost effective service delivery;
ii. Deepening democracy; and iii. Extending service delivery.
The goal of CVOs is to form partnerships with local governments to foster innovation and long-term service delivery, hence improving access to services and community empowerment. Therefore, Ndwedwe local Municipality consist of Ndwedwe Community Development. This organisation was established to ensure that corruption is minimised in the area of Ndwedwe, also fighting for backlog in the supply of basic services such as water and housing especially to those who are poor. and to ensure that cadre deployment is not tolerated.
45 Figure 2.1. Ndwedwe Local Municipality Organisational Structure
Source: (Ndwedwe Local Municipality IDP, 2018)
The directorates or heads of departments that are within Ndwedwe Local Municipality is discussed below:
2.11.1. Municipal manager
The municipal manager implements the municipality’s plan, as directed by the municipal
council. The position of municipal manager is crucial to the overall operation of the institution as well as the attainment of strategic service delivery planning objectives (Ndwedwe IDP 2018/2019). In terms of service delivery planning, the Municipal Manager ensures that local communities are involved in the activities of the municipality, as well as emerging and preserving a system that ensures that the citizens are satisfied with the services provided by the municipality. As the accounting officer of the municipality, he or she is accountable for all income and expenditure of the municipality and ensure compliance with applicable municipal finance management legislations (Ndwedwe Municipality Annual Report 2017-2018).The Municipal Manager in local government is appointed by the Municipal Council as required by Section 54(A) of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act No.32 of 2000. The role of the Municipal Manager in service delivery planning is to is to guarantee that the municipality’s plans and goals are encountered (Ndwedwe IDP 2018:86). The Municipal Manager is accountable to the
46 executive mayor for the administration’s management and the fulfilment of the Council and executive mayor’s functions and responsibilities. The Municipal Manager is also in charge of implementing the IDP and ensuring that local community services are delivered in a sustainable and fair manner (Ndwedwe IDP 2018/2019).
The Municipal Manager also plays a role in employing and offer training to officials to improve their skills, subject to allocated authorities and conformity with the Employment Equity Act 56 of 1998 and the Skills Development Act 81 of 1998. The Municipal Manager is responsible for advising political structures and office bearers, such as the Speaker and the Executive Mayor, and ensuring that all decisions made by the municipal council, its political structure, and office bearers are carried out properly. The Municipal Manager is also in charge of managing communications between the council’s administration, political structures, and office bearers, as well as facilitating community participation in municipal matters through advertising public participation tools (Van der Waldt, 2014:76).
The Municipal Manager oversees safeguarding the municipal funds, certifying that all fiscal systems are in place and well conserved. The Municipal Manager also ensures that the approved budget is made available to the citizen. An SDBIP is also established and updated quarterly by the Municipal Manager (Van der Waldt, 2014:76).
2.11.2. Director: Economic Development and Planning
This directorate is responsible for long-term economic growth and development, as well as infrastructure and fundamental service delivery, to some extent. The Director Economic Development and Planning is entrusted to the duties which include Local Economic Development (LED), Tourism, Agricultural development, and sustainable human settlement (housing development). In terms of developing an LED and Tourism Strategy, an Agricultural Sector Plan, and a Housing Sector Plan. The Municipality has made significant progress in improving economic development in the area of Ndwedwe (Ndwedwe IDP, 2018). This directorate oversees policies and initiatives that can assist small businesses in creating jobs and reducing poverty by ensuring that they have the necessary skills.
2.11.3. Director: Finance Services
A poor financial management has resulted to a failure and inefficiency of local government in achieving substantial development while many local governments face the problems of wide gaps between citizen’s need and the financial resources. To improve productivity, transparency and accountability, financial administrators in local government should act fairly. In addition, to minimise levels of fraud, corruption and fruitless expenditure, internal control measures should be put in place (Augustine 2020:342). At local government level, financial management is the appropriate steps taking to ensure
47 proper revenue generation and further utilisation of financial resources in line with local government objectives goals and citizen’s expectations. To ensure quality of service delivery in Ndwedwe Local Municipality, the Director Finance Services is responsible for advising the municipality by ensuring that the funds are spent according to the budgeted projects as he or she is responsible for fiscal management in the municipality.
This department oversees the municipality’s financial management and viability.
2.11.4. Director: Technical Services
Since this position is crucial for good service delivery, the municipality has filled it. In accordance with the IDP’s strategic objectives, the incumbent is accountable for delivering sustainable infrastructure and basic services (Ndwedwe IDP, 2020:85).
2.11.5. Director: Corporate Services
This job aims to create a transpicuous bureaucratic entity to be proficient of achieving openness and reliability while also raise concerns such as equity plan for employment, fairness, and openness as well as fostering skills development within the administration structure (Ndwedwe IDP, 2018).