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5 December 2007

Municipalities from all nine provinces of the country gathered at Gallagher Estate in Midrand to hear who had come tops in the provision of services in improving the lives of South Africans.

The awards were in recognition of the excellent work done by municipalities in areas such as provision of water, electricity, and financial management. The number of households with access to water has increased from 59% in 1994 to 88% in 2007. In 2004, only 30% had access to electricity and households with access are standing at 59% for heating, 67% for cooking and 80% for lighting. This information was confirmed by the Statistics South Africa 2007 Community Survey. "We note with a deep sense of appreciation, the findings of the Community Survey as they communicate a message that untiring industry, sound sense and unswerving fidelity are important qualities whose display is bound to bring success," said Minister for Provincial and Local Government Sydney Mufamadi.

The Vuna Awards recognised municipalities in different categories. The City of Johannesburg took the top prize in the Metropolitan Municipality Category. The runners up were Ethekwini and City of Cape Town respectively. In the category of Local Municipalities, Swartland Local Municipality in the Western Cape scooped the award, followed by Steve Tshwete from Mpumalanga and Umngeni from KwaZulu-Natal. In the district category, Bophirima District Municipality from the North West occupied the top position. The runners up, West Rand and Ugu Districts were tied on second position.

"In addition to all this, we set out to eradicate the abominable system of bucket sanitation in formal settlements by the end of December 2007."
A lot of progress has been recorded in the local government sphere during this financial year as a result of proper planning and spending. By July 2007, all municipalities had adopted Integrated Development Plans (IDPs). "We undertook a credibility analysis which shows that 79% of all municipalities have IDPs whose credibility is rated as either medium or high," said Minister Mufamadi.

Under the Five Key Performance (KPA) Awards, Nelson Mandela Metro took the Service Delivery and Infrastructure award and tied with Ethekwini on the Local Economic Development award. Ethekwini also took the financial viability award while the City of Johannesburg took Institutional Development and Municipal Transformation award as well as Good Governance and Public Participation.

Other winners were Umngeni Local Municipality from KwaZulu-Natal, Maruleng from Mpumalanga, Overstrand from the Western Cape and Emalahleni from Mpumalanga. West Rand dominated the District Municipality category in the KPA awards as it went home with the LED and Institutional Development and Municipal Transformation awards. Bophirima from North West and Sedibeng in Gauteng tied on the Service Delivery KPA. The Good Governance and Public Participation also went to Bophirima while Nkangala and West Rand District Municipalities took the LED and Financial Viability respectively.

A total of 141 municipalities entered this year's competition following a successful provincial Vuna Awards process. Also recognised in this year's awards was Steve Tshwete Local Municipality for being the most improved Project Consolidate Municipality. Three national departments were recognised for their continued and exemplary support to local government. These are the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Department of Minerals and Energy as well as the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

"The accomplishment of, and the due recognition we give to the municipalities, as well as to the best helpful provincial and national government departments represent our attempt to show, in the most enduring way possible, that we have no intention to lose our developmental sensibilities," said the Minister.

"We are determined to stay on course on the road to a better and worthy future," he concluded.

Issued by: Department of Provincial and Local Government
5 December 2007
Source: Department of Provincial and Local Government (http://www.dplg.gov.za)