The Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and Human Settlements is set to launch the Back-to-Basics campaign on Monday.

Earlier this week the provincial government said the launch aims to lay a foundation for functional municipalities and capable machinery at a local level that can create safe, healthy and economically sustainable areas where citizens can work, live and socialise.

COGTA MEC Jacob Mamabolo said the department has made tremendous progress in delivering water, electricity, sanitation and refuse removal at a local level. He said the rates of delivery are unprecedented in world-wide terms.

“… Despite our delivery achievements, our governance system in the province is still a cause for concern. It is clear that much needs to be done to support, educate and where needed, enforce implementation.

“It is therefore important to understand where we are, where we could be and what needs to be done. Our goal is to improve the functioning of municipalities to better serve communities by getting the basics right,” said MEC Mamabolo.

Five pillars of the Back-to-Basic campaign

The five pillars of the Back-to-Basics campaign include

• Putting the people and their concerns first and ensuring constant contact with communities through effective public participation platforms.
• Creating conditions for decent living by consistently delivering municipal services to the right quality and standards.
• Being well governed and demonstrating good governance and administration by cutting wastage, spending public monies prudently, hiring competent staff, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Ensuring sound financial management and accounting and prudently managing resources so as to sustainably deliver services and bring development to communities.
• Building and maintaining sound institutional and administrative capabilities, administered and managed by dedicated and skilled personnel at all levels.