PRESENTATION BY PROVINCIAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT DIRECTOR GENERAL, MR ZAM TITUS, TO PARLIAMENTARIANS

16 August 1999

· Purpose of presentation is for new MPs to be informed about the work of the Department and its future plans.

· Background documentation included the Department's 1998 Annual Report, History of the Department and the Resolutions adopted by SADC Ministers for Local Government (Friday, 30 July 1999)

· Background information on the Department of Constitutional Development was given to the MPs

· Transfer of certain functions to the Department of Justice. These functions include constitutional education and any other parts of the constitution which have not be implemented yet.

· A new name for this Department has not been agreed upon yet.

· The organogram of the Department and the functions discharged by the various components was given to the MPs

· Role of Parliament vis a vis the Department. For discussion at a later stage, Mr Titus asked the Portfolio Committee to think about the kind of relationship it would have with the NCOP because of their provincial linkage.

· The annual report to Parliament and structuring thereof. Mr Titus requested that Parliament decide on the format of its future annual reports.

· Busy with transformation within the Department

· The 1999 legislation programme (see below for programme)

· Departmental publications. This list is available at the back of the 1998 Annual Report.

· Major challenges:

* Local Government Elections. This will take place next year. The Department will have to assist in the administration side of it.

* Local Government Transformation Programme

* Discussion document on the role of traditional leadership under the current constitutional dispensation. The benefits for traditional leaders will be looked at.

* Rural development project and the Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme

* Section 185 Commission

* Benefits for traditional leaders

* Proposals on a new intergovernmental relations regime for South Africa and other special studies

* The Y2K Programme. A test on systems had occurred on the 843 municipalities and a report on the findings will be available in a short while. From these findings, it will be evident which systems in the specific municipalities are faulty. A "fix -it" phase will then take place and then an audit.

* Job creation programmes. On 27th August a job creation conference will be held. More details on the programme will then be made available.

* Launch of a new local government publications series

* Implementation of resolutions adopted by the recent SADC Local Government Conference. This was adopted on 30th July 1999 by the SADC Ministers for Local Government.

* Working with the Demarcation Board on the demarcation of municipal boundaries and wards

* Continuing with our work on alternative service delivery mechanisms (Municipal Services Partnerships)

* Preparing for major conferences such as on District Councils, on African Renaissance and on section 185 of the Constitution

· Already this year, after the elections, the Minister has released two major documents:

* the departmental study on metros

* the Municipal International Relations Policy Document

· The Minister has also made a submission to the Constitutional Review Committee of Parliament on the role of Provinces and the challenges facing them.

· The Minister has also attended the most recent SALGA conference which adopted a number of very important resolutions, has met with SALGA and local government MECs and also with the chairperson of the NCOP and will be meeting with members of the House of Traditional Leaders soon

· All the top managers in our Department have signed performance contracts. We prepare business plans for each financial year and have set out in those business plans a number of key performance indicators and target dates. We

have developed an outreach programme and are implementing Batho Pele and the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.

· We are revising our vision and mission statement, repositioning our department so that it can play the kind of role visualised in the speech by the President on the 24th of June 1999 and have taken steps to ensure that our personnel is empowered to play the role expected of them. We are implementing the new Public Service Regulations and are preparing our strategic plans which will guide our operations in the coming years.

 

LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME FOR THE 1999 PARLIAMENTARY SESSION

A. LOCAL GOVERNMENT: MUNICIPAL SYSTEMS BILL

Timeframe: Submission to MINMEC - 13 April 1999
Submission to Cabinet - 4 August 1999
Publication for public comments - 6 August 1999
Return date for public comments - 17 September 1999
Meeting of legal team to discuss public
comments - 20 September 1999
Final approval by Minister - 27 September1999
Submission to State Law Advisers - 6 August 1999
Introduction into Parliament - 4 October1999

Passing of the Bill by Parliament - end of sitting 1999

B. LOCAL GOVERNMENT: PROPERTY RATING BILL

Timeframe: Submission of draft Bill to Minister - 17 September 1999
Submission to Cabinet - 23 September 1999
Publication for public comments - 15 October 1999
Return date for public comments - 22 November 1999
Meeting of legal team to discuss public
comments - 25 November 1999
Final approval by Minister - 30 November 1999
Submission to State Law Advisers - 1 December 1999
Introduction into Parliament - February 2000
Passing of the Bill by Parliament - First half of 2000

C. AMENDMENTS TO THE REMUNERATION OF PUBLIC OFFICE BEARERS ACT AND THE NATIONAL HOUSE OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS ACT

Timeframe: Proposals for amendments to legal
section - 21 May 1999
Draft bill completed - 4 June1999
Submission of draft Bill to Minister - 15 August 1999
Submission to MINMEC - 30 August 1999
Submission to Cabinet - 2 September 1999
Approval by Cabinet - 15 September 1999
Submission to State Law Advisers - 16 September1999
Introduction into Parliament - 18 October 1999
Passing of Bill by Parliament - end November 1999

D. DISASTER MANAGEMENT BILL

Timeframe: Draft finalised by drafter - 31 August 1999
Submission of draft Bill to Minister - 15 September 1999
Submission to MINMEC - 30 September 1999
Publication for public comments - 15 October 1999
Return date for public comments - 10 November 1999
Meeting of legal team to discuss public
comments - 17 November 1999
Final approval by Minister - 19 November 1999
Submission to Cabinet - 23 November 1999
Approval by Cabinet - 1 December 1999
Submission to State Law Advisers - 5 December 1999
Introduction into Parliament - February 2000
Passing of the Bill by Parliament - First half of 2000

E. FIRE BRIGADE AMENDMENT BILL

Timeframe: First draft of Bill completed - 23 April 1999
Second draft of Bill completed - 25 June 1999
Final approval by Minister - 20 August 1999
Submission to Cabinet - 1 September 1999
Approval by Cabinet - 14 September 1999
Submission to State Law Advisers - 1 October 1999
Introduction into Parliament - 15 October 1999
Passing of the Bill by Parliament - end of sitting

F. DISESTABLISHMENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COUNCIL BILL

Timeframe: Approval by Cabinet - 29 July 1998
Publication for public comments - 26 March 1999
Return date for public comments - 31 May 1999
Submission to State Law Advisers - 7 June 1999
Introduction into Parliament - 23 August 1999

G. TRANSFER OF STAFF TO MUNICIPALITIES AMENDMENT BILL

Timeframe: Note: This Bill has already been drafted

Submission to MINMEC - 6 August 1999
Submission to Cabinet - 19 August 1999
Publish for public comment - 3 September 1999
Submission to State Law Advisers - 6 September 1999
Introduction into Parliament - 18 October 1999

H. COMMISSION FOR THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND LINGUISTIC COMMUNITIES BILL

Note: The timeframes for this Bill is dependent on various processes that must first be finalised.

I. SECTION 100 LEGISLATION

Note: Although a first draft of the Bill has been completed the timeframes for this Bill is dependent on various processes that must first be finalised.

J. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Note: The drafting of such a Bill is dependent on request received from other departments and the work of the Constitutional Review Committee.

K. LAWS ON REGIONAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT BILL

Note: Timeframes can only be determined once the Minister of Finance has responded to a letter from the Minister.