Sharing experiences of municipal support
At a recent conference in Gauteng, people who have worked as ‘hands-on’ support for local government met to share experiences and swap ideas about how to get the most from this approach.
Is disaster looming?
The two-year window period for municipalities to get their act together in terms of disaster management is over, but how ready are they to cope with the ravages of floods, fire and other crises?
Protecting your hearing
With municipalities being amongst the largest employers in most towns and cities, attention needs to be paid to safeguarding the hearing of office workers as well as those on trucks and operating machinery.
Investing in libraries
Libraries are key tools for the development of any society – and not just through the loaning of books – as cities and towns are discovering.
So many questions, so little time
Since I’ve been writing this column, I’m receiving so much correspondence that it’s starting to compete with my traffic fines.
Modernising municipal money matters
Councillors have a key role to play in the financial management systems, processes and policies that are being modernised to help strengthen the municipality’s ability to function effectively.
Keeping the lights burning
How are two of our biggest metros coping with the impact of ongoing power blackouts and planning for a brighter future?
Making the case for a national RED
While Eskom presented itself as the logical answer to the question of the seventh Regional Electricity Distributor (RED) there was a storm of protest from municipalities against the idea. SARAH HETHERINGTON attended Parliamentary hearings and filed this report.
Talking to ... Sydney Mufamadi
In terms of draft regulations, all municipalities are required to renegotiate performance management contracts with their municipal managers based on newly adopted Integrated Development Plans and budgets. DELIVERY spoke to the Minister of Provincial and Local Government about the often difficult and demanding role municipal managers are expected to play.
Talking to ... First-time councillors
With as many as 60% of all councillors elected in March being newcomers, there are many challenges and unexpected issues to deal with. ISSA SIKITA DA SILVA spoke to three Johannesburg councillors about their strange new world.
Talking to ... Qedani Mahlangu
Gauteng’s MEC for Local Government sets out the vision of a global city region – combining municipal, national and provincial resources to propel economic growth and tackle poverty.
Connected to nature and the world
Amid two pristine Nordic lakes and the glistening Tommerkoski water rapids lies the city of Tampere, its calm, tranquil surroundings in contrast with the high productivity levels and efficiency for which it has earned a world-wide reputation.
Could South Africa run out of water?
The answer is yes – as soon as 20 years time if the current rate of consumption of this most basic resource continues – and it’s an issue municipalities can’t afford to ignore.
Spreading the visitor's rand
There have been numerous studies into unlocking the tourism potential of the Wild Coast for the benefit of local communities – in the Port St Johns area a popular resort is showing how this can be done.
Going wireless, saving money
Municipalities are making the case for acquiring wireless networks which they say would save them million of rands, while boosting economic growth in their areas.