The 2016/2017 financial year will see implementation of the second phase of the back-to-basics programme, focusing on building effective systems and resilient institutions of local government.

The first phase of the Back-to-Basics (B2B) strategy was launched in 2014 with the sole intention of improving the functioning of municipalities to better serve communities by getting the basics right.

Acting MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Fenny Gaolaolwe, stated in the 2016/2017 Budget Speech that the department will mobilise multi-departmental teams to support dysfunctional municipalities, strengthening community engagement and local government accountability to citizens.

This will be done through Setsokotsane (provincial government service delivery programme) and Bua le Puso programme. These will be in accelerate the hands-on approach, prioritise programmes and projects that have high visibility, and impact on delivery of core B2B objectives through the implementation of the provincial infrastructure programme.

“We remain committed to ensure transformation of local government to improve the living conditions of the people in our Province, working in partnership with communities. This partnership remains critical to the provision of the basket of services which include water, electricity, waste and refuse collection, street lighting, recreational facilities, stands on which to build houses, rezoning of land business purposes and town planning for integrated developments,” said Gaolaolwe.

“We are continuing with our interventions to support municipalities, particularly around issues of capacity development, financial management, infrastructure development, revenue collection and debt management, billing, clean audits and scare skills’’, she continued.