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Municipal Manager

Annual Report

In his annual address our Mayor, Councillor Dumzela, has dealt with the slogan for the Senqu Municipality, HOne People, One Municipality, One Destination", and shown how the adoption of the theme, "CONTINUITY AND CHANGE"

has resulted in the political structure, the administrative structure and the people working together towards a better future in which the needs of the community are taken seriously.

My contribution as the Municipal Manager is to show how the administrative structure has co-operated with all stakeholders to turn policy into reality. I will deal briefly with some of the critical aspects contained herein.

Senqu Municipality is a Category B municipality promulgated as a Collective Executive with 32 councillors (16 elected and 16 proportional). The political structure is depicted in the following model, which includes the nexus with the core of the administrative structure.

The management team of Senqu Municipality actively seeks ways to create and sustain better value, including increasing citizen access and satisfaction, while improving workforce productivity and can demonstrate publicly that funds are under control and services are, at least, at a level commensurate with the expenditure. This contributes to the financial viability, sustainability and growth of Senqu Municipality.

An analysis of the demography of our area of administration is as follows:

Total number 1 50 000
Percentage in formal employment 13%
Percentage actively seeking employment 18%
Percentage with no constant source of income 17%
Income less than R1000* per month 83%
Main sources of employment Social & Community Sector 38%
Agricultural Sector 28%
Education Secondary level 8% matriculated

Community consultations, IDP needs analysis and an intensive Community Outreach Programme identified the following key issues:

  • Institutional capacity building;

  • Institutional restructuring;

  • Water and sanitation;

  • Addressing HIV / Aids;

  • Stimulation of the economy with special emphasis on agriculture;

  • Roads and storm water;

  • Electricity provision; and

  • Housing provision and the acquisition of land.

Council has recognized the challenges that developmental local government poses through the responsibility for the social and economic development of a community with a weak profile and great need.

In response to these challenges, Council has approved an R81 million three-year capital programme that focuses on provision of housing, infrastructure and services with only 21% allocated to financial and corporate service expenditure. The annual operational budget exceeds R44 million, which is a growth of more than 20% in three years. Salaries account for 40%.

All Council's Funds and Reserves are cash backed by investments and/or cash in the bank. To ensure that these very limited funds are used to maximum advantage, the management team has developed and applies a process that defines the key challenges for each major project, identifies key performance areas and indicators. This process is applied in all departments as well as on projects, which allows managers to control inputs, set target dates and assess outputs. This has been particularly useful in the departments responsible for the major services, Le. provision of housing, electricity, water and sewers, environmental and community health, as well as maintaining a reasonable expenditure ratio of financial administration, corporate services and payrolls generally.

A microcosm of the national need, housing for the Senqu communities is a priority and projects have been undertaken at Lady Grey, Herschel, Hillside, Sterkspruit and Rossouw.

Job creation, poverty alleviation, roads, water and electricity were the major needs identified by the community during these meetings and workshops held and a huge effort has been made to secure funding for agreed projects.

Long term planning created around the Outreach programme to all wards, inputs from the IDP committees and from the representative forum have provided the Municipality with Strategic Development Objectives formulated in the year under review that will be a blueprint for assessing improvement achieved over the next several years. These objectives include:

  • 5% increase in economic growth by June 2007

  • Increased access to social services by 2006

  • Provide potable water to all by2008

  • Make electricity available to all by 2006

  • Provide formal housing for 15 000 people by 2006.

Other identified objectives that are to be attained during the period 2005 to 2014 are included in the bodyofthis report.

Difficulties are sure to arise that challenge our efforts in operations, development and administration as was the case in the past. Our financial management has met its challenges head on as is shown inter alia by:

  • 26% decrease in consumer debtors balances (contrary to national trends)

  • The up-to-date submission offinancial records achieved on 7 October 2004

  • The progress already made on MFMA implementation

  • The growth in operating income.

Local Economic Development has been enhanced by R18.5 million assigned to the following projects:

  • Plantation of the Perlagonium Plant

  • Masakhane Rossouw Agricultural Project

  • Gxothindlala Agricultural Project

  • Holo Hlahatsi Project

  • Livestock Improvement Programme

  • Mining Qualifications Authority In Partnership with Municipalities

  • Land Care Project - Department Of Agriculture

I take this opportunity to thank the staff of Senqu local Municipality for their sustained effort to improve the quality of service rendered to the community. Their contribution has been noted and my personal appreciation of the commitment by the management team is boundless and while I would like to name the many contributors space does not permit and I ask the following valued team members to pass on my thanks and congratulations: Mr C R Venter (Manager: Financial Services); Mr Z A Williams (Manager: Corporate & Support Services); Mr P G du Toit (Manager: Community & Social Services) and Mr R N Crozier (Manager: Technical Services).


MUNICIPAL MANAGER - MXOLISI MAXSON YAWA


Senqu Structure - Click to enlarge



Current Projects

1. Holo Hlahatsi - Tourism Project
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