The Executive Mayor of Garden Route District Municipality, Cllr Memory Booysen, invites all stakeholders to an IDP/Budget and PMS Representative Forum meeting.
At the event, all Mayors within the District will be outlining their projects and programmes for their respective areas. Furthermore, all sector departments in the Western Cape will have an opportunity to also present their projects and programmes for implementation in the Garden Route district.
The Forum is scheduled to take place as follows:
Date: 23 January 2020
Time: 10:00am
Venue: George Municipality Civic Hall
For further information, please contact the District IDP Manager Mzukisi Cekiso at mzukisi@gardenroute.gov.za.
The 2nd Integrated Development Planning (IDP), Budget and Performance Management Representative Forum, hosted by Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), took place on Thursday, 14 March 2019 at the Civic Centre in George. This event was a second of its kind to be hosted by the District. The event housed approximately 150 delegates, varying from Councillors and municipal officials, to representatives from sector departments in the Garden Route district.
Apart from representatives from B-municipalities, various Government organisations were also given the stage to talk about their initiatives and plans for the future. This was the part on the programme which municipal representatives waited for in anticipation.
Soon after Mr Mzukisi Cekiso, Manager of Integrated Development Planning at GRDM, recapped the resolutions of the 1st Forum that took in Mossel Bay last year 2018, Executive Mayor of GRDM, presented an overview of the Garden Route district. Mayor Booysen emphasised that the Garden Route is the second biggest district in the Western Cape and is still growing in terms of population statistics.
Executive Mayor of Garden Route District Municipality, Cllr Memory Booysen during his keynote address at the 2nd Integrated Development Planning/Budget and Performance Management Representative Forum that was held at the George Civic Centre on 14 March 2019.
When highlighting his plans for the Garden Route, Mayor Booysen pointed out one of the initiatives of the GRDM and said: “Big events, such as the Garden Route Investment Conference, hosted by the municipality last year have resulted in negotiations to take place with an investor for a R1 billion contract. This contract will be of benefit to all municipal areas in the Garden Route,” he added. Although Mayor Booysen brought good news to the various representatives in relation to the District’s plans, such as to appoint a development agency for the district etc., he also changed his tone and raised his concerns about various challenges which the entire district is faced which. One of these challenges is the drop-out rate of high school learners. He subsequently pleaded with municipalities to plan for programmes to be put in place to reverse this trend.
Municipal Manager of GRDM, Mr Monde Stratu, encouraged all municipalities to fully utilise IDP platforms to raise issues of concern and that everybody must work hard to improve communication among stakeholders to ensue better cooperation.
GRDM Municipal Manager, Mr Monde Stratu, during his address said: “We have received correspondence from the Western Cape Government that the IDP Indaba is coming back in April 2019”. Stratu encouraged municipalities to make use these opportunities to engage on matters of public interest”. When referring to public participation, he furthermore explained that the District will be going to the next phase of the IDP and Budget process. “We need to work very hard on our communication as stakeholders of Government, as we are not all on the same page and should work hard in achieving better coordinated,” Stratu said.
Speaker of Garden Route District Municipality, Cllr Eleanore Bouw-Spies, and Programme Director of the event (left), together with Speaker of George Municipality, Mr Gerrit Pretorius (right), after he delivered his speech on behalf of George Municipality.
Municipalities on the other hand raised their municipal concerns of which many spoke about the drought issue in their area, over population in relations to adequate services such as a need for health facilities etc, unemployment, housing, provision of electricity – to name a few. Although many municipalities appeared to be despondent when sharing their municipal budget constraints or shortcomings, many of them also saw the light at the end of the tunnel when sector departments announced their future plans for the Garden Route. One such good announcement, was that of the Department of Health in the Garden Route/Klein Karoo District, when Mr Manie Abrahams highlighted that in the 2019/2020 financial year, R462 million will be spent on hospitals and R498 million for primary health care services. Abrahams said: “One of the reasons for the spending, especially at primary health care facilities and hospitals, is to decrease the waiting time of visitors”. He added: “The Department’s infrastructure upgrading this year for the district amounts to R10 to R30 million for the Mossel Bay hospital which is in progress, as well as a new hospital for Bitou of which the date still needs to be confirmed”.
The Bitou Municipality was fully represented at the event, with (fltr) Executive Mayor of Bitou, Cllr Peter Lobese, Municipal Manager of Bitou Municipality, Mr Lonwabo Ngoqo, and Mr Thembinkosi Henge, IDP Manager.
In concluding the activities of the day, Portfolio Chairperson for Finance at GRDM, Cllr Jerome Lambaatjeen thanked all municipal officials and representatives from sector departments who attended the event.
The programme was facilitated by Cllr Eleanore Bouw-Spies, Speaker of Garden Route District Municipality.
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Representative Forum exists with the purpose of aligning the GRDM Integrated Development Plan (IDP) to its budget, as well as to align the district IDP with local municipal IDPs, which includes their projects and programmes.
At the Forum, sector departments present their planned programmes and projects for 2019/2020 which will be xrolled out in the Garden Route. Executive Mayors throughout the Garden Route are presenting their municipality’s at the Forum. All stakeholders, including ward committees (one member per ward), have been invited too.
The Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM’s) second Institutional Strategic Planning Session takes place on the 12th and 13th of March 2019. The session is aimed at reflecting on how GRDM performed over the 2018/19 financial year and if resolutions have been successfully implemented.
By continually striving to fulfill its vision, reaching intended objectives and implementing strategies, the municipality will also ensure that its alignment with national and provincial government goals are in place. The municipality is serious about mitigating its threats and
transforming it into opportunities, as well as growing its unique strengths and taking advantage of opportunities presented.
Representatives who attended the Western Cape Districts Integrated Forum are (from left): Mr Mzukisi Cekiso: GRDM IDP Manager, Ms Natalie Fortuin: IDP Coordinator at Cape Winelands District Municipality, Ms Vanessa Zeeman: Head: IDP and Communication at Overberg District Municipality, Ms Bianca Daries: Director: IDP and Performance Management at Cape Winelands District Municipality and Mr Leon Janse van Rensburg, Manager at the Auditor-General SA.
The Integrated Development Planning (IDP) Unit of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) on 3 August 2018, hosted the Western Cape Districts Integrated Forum. The meeting was attended by IDP Managers from the GRDM, Overberg District Municipality, Cape Winelands District Municipality, as well as a representative from the Auditor-General South Africa.
The aim of the meeting was to achieve the cross-district alignment of key performance areas in terms of Integrated Development Planning and to share challenges faced by the IDP function. Best practices pertaining to the function itself, the readiness of the IDP process as per the legislative framework, as well as the establishment of an inter-district IDP support platform, were also discussed at the engagement. During the meeting, the IDP managers exchanged their process plans, as well as time schedules and agreed that future Western Cape Districts Integrated Forum Meetings will take place prior to the Provincial IDP Managers Forum meetings. The change in meeting schedule, will ensure better outcomes to be expected and more effective decisions to be made at the Provincial IDP Managers meetings.
Manager of the IDP Unit at GRDM, Mr Mzukisi Cekiso, commented on the manner in which the engagement transpired and said: “It was an excellent Provincial IDP Budget & Performance Management System Alignment engagement, which focused on the importance of districts offering support to one another and finding solutions to common challenges. This is paramount for the progress of the Western Cape as an entirety,” Mr Cekiso added.
It is envisaged that the Forum meetings will take place on a quarterly basis to continue with the progress of proper Integrated Development Planning across districts in the Western Cape.
The Eden District Municipality (Eden DM) hosted its first Integrated Development Planning (IDP)/Budget and Performance Management System (PMS) Representative Forum on 21 and 22 May 2018 at the Civic Centre of Mossel Bay.
The list of invitees included municipal officials from the Eden District, including Bitou, Mossel Bay, Knysna, George, Kannaland, Oudtshoorn and Hessequa municipalities, Ward Committee Members, as well as Provincial Government Department representatives. Their role at the event was to fill the gaps for services delivery which will ultimately be incorporated into the 2018/2019 – 2021/2022 IDPs of the participating municipalities within the area.
Sector Department Representatives who made presentations on the 2nd day of the IDP/Budget and PMS Representative Forum. Back row (from left) are: Mr Thembinkosi Henge – IDP Manager of Bitou Municipality, Ms Kholiswa Jobela – Social Worker Manager: Mossel Bay & Hessequa, Mr Juan de Lora – Deputy Director: Department of Transport and Public Works, Dr Terence Marshall – District Manager: Department of Health Services, Ms Claire du Plessis – Property Planner: Department of Education, Mr David Ali – Chief Town & Regional Planner: Department of Human Settlements Planning and Mr Mzukisi Skosana – Social Services Manager: Eden & Central Karoo. Front row (from left) are: Brigadier Centyana – South African Police Services, Ms Zingiswa William – Community Development Supervisor: Eden & Central Karoo and Cllr Memory Booysen – Eden DM Executive Mayor.
In officially starting off the event on the 21th of May, Executive Deputy Mayor of Eden DM, Cllr Rosina Ruiters, emphasised the importance of cooperative governance and said: “It is extremely important when Municipalities, Ward Committees and Government Departments work together on one IDP to effectively deliver services to the residents of the area”.
The Executive Mayor of Eden DM, once again, as in similar preceding occasions of this magnitude, emphasised the issue of competitiveness between municipalities, when he said: “We as municipalities do not have to compete with one another. “We have different roles to fulfil”. He also made an example of Imbizos hosted by Municipalities. “When a local municipality wants to host an Imbizo, they can do so and we as a district can assist. He also explained that when the District wants to host an Imbizo, it can also be done within a municipal jurisdiction of the Eden district, but it must be done in collaboration with the relevant B-municipality,” he clarified.
In the demographic profile presented by Mayor Booysen, he stated that the poverty rate per headcount stands at 48, 5% which is worrying.
Given the recent water challenges of the District, Mayor Booysen also raised the issue of Eden DM who applied to become a water services authority and said that some municipalities in the district do not have the capacity to deal with their water challenges. “By becoming a water services authority, we need to look at the realities of our district,” he said. “Through these efforts, Mayor Booysen highlighted: “We want to be a caring, respectful and resourceful District. We want to inspire and we want to excel in whatever we do,” he added.
Ward Committee Members from Greater Oudtshoorn present at the IDP/Budget and PMS Representative Forum. In no particular order are: Ms Louisa Prins, Mr Isaac Fielies, Ms Daleen Everts, Ms Lynn Kapieka, Ms Esmarine Stuurman, Mr Lizo Dani, Mr James Stokes, Mr John Afrika, Mr Kosie Jansen, Mr Bennie Arends, Mr Saul Rabie and Mr Stephen Adams during a short break.
On the 1st day’s programme, Municipalities presented their challenges and gaps within their respective areas, which included: water storage facilities, storm water management facilities, the issue of land, funding, waste management facilities, unemployed youth, to name but a few. In response to all the questions posed by delegates in relation to the land issues, Mayor Booysen responded by saying: “We probably need to host a land summit in the near future to cover the issues of land per area”.
Eden DM Speaker, Cllr Mark Willemse, gave an outline of the day’s programme. Speaker Willemse said: “Today we are here as municipalities to understand our different roles and how we fit into each other’s roles. We need to work together in a spirit of cooperation in order for service delivery to be at its optimum”.
On day 2 of the Forum, Governmental Sector Departments presented the various services which they deliver to the communities within the Eden District. These Departments include: The Department of Agriculture, South African Police Services, Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Department of Community Safety, Department of Human Settlements, Department of Education Department of Transport and Public Works etc. Delegates used the time availed to them to pose questions. The need for drug rehabilitation centres, additional SAPS services or satellite offices, additional ambulance services etc. were amongst the issues raised. Limited funding to roll out projects and the effects of water shortages etc. were also mentioned.
Executive Mayors, Executive Deputy Mayors and Councillors as well as Senior Officials, representatives from sector departments and ward committee members were amongst the guests who attended and participated in the discussions that will contribute to the planning of IDPs for the 2018/19 financial year.
During the first break, delegates used the opportunity to interact with Sector Departments. In the picture Cllr Ann Windvogel from Eden DM is conversing with Mr Clyde Lamberts, Manager of Agriculture – Eden Coastal.
The event was successfully organised by the IDP Section of Eden District Municipality led by Mzukisi Cekiso and directed by Speaker of Eden DM, Councillor Mark Willemse.
Mr Kosie Jansen, Oudtshoorn Ward Committee Member, raised the need for a drug rehabilitation centre in Oudtshoorn. With him are Mr Mzukisi Cekiso, Eden DM IDP Manager (back) and Mr Bennie Arendse, Oudtshoorn Ward Committee Member (front).Eden DM officials (from left) Mr Samkelo Mangaliso (Performance Management), Ms Ilse Saaiman (Performance Management), Ms Melanie Wilson (Economic Development & Tourism), Ms Landiswa Ntango (Economic Development & Planning), Mr Mzukisi Cekiso (IDP Manager and Organiser of the event), Ms Lauren James (Risk Management), Mr Bandile Mbalo (IGR) with CFO of Knysna Municipality, Mr Mbulelo Memani (back, 3rd left).
Representatives of The Haven Mossel Bay received the Santa shoe-boxes from representatives of the IDP Managers’ Forum.
The IDP (Integrated Development Planning) Managers’ Forum, representing all municipalities in the Western Cape, meets once every three months. The Western Cape Provincial Government is responsible for co-ordinating and arranging all activities in consultation with IDP Managers.
About two years ago the Forum unanimously adopted and agreed to do a social responsibility outreach as IDP Managers in the municipal area that hosts the meeting.
This Forum rotates to all the municipal districts, hence each municipality will eventually have the opportunity to host the forum.
The responsibility is on the host municipality to identify an organisational need and in collaboration with the organisation establish its specific short-term needs. The social responsibility contribution is a freewill offering by IDP Managers as a demonstration of the willingness and commitment to uplift the poorest of the poor.
The social responsibility contribution outreach went to the Mossel Bay Haven for the Homeless. The handover was done on Friday, 2 December, at the Garden Court Hotel. As it is December, “Santa shoeboxes” for this worthy cause were made and filled with gifts and necessities for the haven residents.
The following participated in the initiative: Nadia McDonald from the Western Cape Provincial Government Integrated Development Planning Directorate; Garry Olivier from the Mossel Bay Haven; Jody Beukes from the Mossel Bay Haven; Celeste Domingo – IDP Manager from the Eden District Municipality; Tertia Kannemeyer, IDP Manager Kannaland Municipality, Natalie Speelman from the Mossel Bay Haven; Eben Phillips, IDP Manager Knysna Municipality; Rudolph Wessels from the Haven; Simphiwe Piti, IDP Manager Central Karoo District Municipality; and George van der Westhuizen, Manager: Planning and Strategic Services, Mossel Bay Municipality.
