Protests, pavements and public transport
There are so many parallels to be drawn from the Spanish experience after emerging from dictatorship, says KATHARINE MCKENZIE, highlighting the need for capital investment and determined leadership in our cities and towns.
67 ways to celebrate our heritage
The artworks that form part of the 'Route 67' project driven by the Mandela Bay Development Agency on behalf of the municipality,commemorate Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of political activism and service to the people of South Africa.
Talking to ... Taffy Adler
Securing well-located land suitable for human settlements has been raised by the metros as a major stumbling block to delivery. KATHARINE MCKENZIE talked to the CEO of the Housing Development Agency about their role in moving things forward.
Tackling the five big financial issues
The key to improving financial management in municipalities – and thus service delivery to people – lies in five persistent problems, all of which require concerted and serious attention.
Managing the political-administrative relationship
Trust and finding common ground between councillors and managers are critical to having an effective municipality.
Learning from Linbro
The Linbro Park landfill is the first in Johannesburg to have reached capacity and be put through a closure process by Pikitup – and there’s much to be learned from this challenging test case.
Why demographics matter for municipal delivery
Paying attention to available data on households is key to understanding trends and ensuring more informed planning and improved service delivery in local government.
Providing sanitation for the nation
Access to safe, hygienic and conveniently located sanitation is a key indicator of quality of life. Although there has been impressive progress much more is required to achieve universal access by 2014.
Changing customer relations
The Consumer Protection Act affects every municipality to some degree – andresidents will soon be taking advantage of it to ensure better service.
Promoting male circumcision
Gauteng is pioneering new attitudes to preventing HIV/Aids by encouraging boys and men to make use of the free medical circumcision services offered by Zola clinic in Soweto.
A mobile solution for rural sanitation
New lightweight movable toilet structures have been designed to address one of the most glaring sanitation challenges in rural areas, emptying the pit.
Cutting down on smoke
A traditional way of burning coal is spreading rapidly across the country’s informal settlements, reducing air pollution, improving health and cutting energy costs for residents.
How to get ahead in the municipality
Help yourself, not others – that’s the way it goes in the management offices and council chambers it seems, and the code of conduct is for those stupid enough to care.