DDP Annual Local Government Conference

The DDP hosted its annual local government conference at Elangeni Hotel on 10 November 2022. The theme for this year’s conference was: Local Government in focus: Service Delivery, Maladministration, and Disaster Management.

The local government is one sphere of government that is closer to the people, as one of its main objectives is to deliver services through the integrated development plan taken from the national development plan. This conference therefore will be looking at service delivery, maladministration, and disaster management within the local government structure in the province of KZN using eThekwini as a case study.

The main objectives of this conference were to:

• Unpack the implications of corruption on service delivery
• Engage on the response to the floods and what progress has been made
• Determine what, if any consequences have and can be meted out on individuals who undermine the procurement processes at government institutions
• Examine how the consequences meted out on individuals found to have flouted procurement processes can be strengthened to deter municipal and other government officials from engaging in corrupt activities.
• Engage on the role of citizens and civil society and other stakeholders in encouraging a culture of accountability

There was a variety of speakers that presented their institutional development model, which they use to assure the effectiveness of local government. The speakers unpacked the social impact of the floods, implications for state capacity service delivery and maladministration, auditor general South Africa Municipal financial management act report and the need for institutional reforms and learnings gleaned and final thoughts for potential collaboration between citizens, government, and the corporate interests.

Professor Mngomezulu from the University of the Western Cape delivered the Keynote address; Patrick Martel from the School of Built Environment and Development Studies at the University of KwaZulu Natal presented on the social impact of the KZN floods; Malcom Canham from eThekwini Municipality presented on the Challenges, plans, and opportunities for collaboration; Merusha Vather; Auditor General of South Africa presented the MFMA report and the need for institutional reforms; Andile Mafa from the Ranyaka Community Transformation gave insights on Civil Society and the need for transparency and increased public participation; Dr. Isaac Khambule from UKZN presented on the Learnings gleaned and final thoughts for potential collaboration between citizens, government and the corporate interests.

Watch the conference recording on our YouTube Channel here