GEORGE NEWS - The newly established ward committees for George consisting of 274 ward committee members from 28 wards are undergoing an induction into the council and their responsibilities in a series of orientation and training sessions in the greater George. 

The first induction session was held at the George Civic Centre on Thursday 7 July.

According to Dr Kosie Haarhoff, the deputy director for George Municipality’s Strategic Growth and Development, the committee was established in February this year and the immediate expectation is to ensure that they are functional and effective in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities.

“The legislation for local government obliges municipalities to provide support to the ward committees and to build their capacity,” said Haarhoff. 

“However, the form of this support and the institutional and financial investment are at the discretion of the municipality. To be effective, ward committee members must know and understand their work environment. It is therefore imperative that ward committees are capacitated to fulfil their roles democratically."

He said to ensure ward committees’ meaningful participation in municipal affairs, they need to undergo a comprehensive induction and training programme. 

“The induction will capacitate ward committee members in that they will have a better understanding of the municipal operational environment and their role within a democratic environment. 

"Furthermore, ward committee members would get a better understanding of the intergovernmental framework, budget and resource allocation and community development,” he said.

Speaker pledges his support

Speaker Sean Snyman assured the ward committee members that as their custodian he will ensure that everything runs smoothly.

“I, as the speaker of George, am responsible to ensure that all in our council and administration must be exercised fairly; and as a democratic government, the people must rule and drive the council. Now this is where you come in as the ward committees,” he said.

“The projects that are taking place in your wards - there are rules and regulations. Everything that happens in the administration of the municipality has rules and regulations, from the ward committee funds to the way committees are dealt with and how the stuff gets to the council,” he added.

Snyman assured ward committees that he would play a supervisory role to hold councillors accountable for their duties and institute discipline when deemed necessary. 

“I’m the one that has to keep your councillors accountable, so if there are any issues needing my attention, such as councillors not fulfilling their duties and responsibilities towards you and your wards, it is your responsibility to bring those problems to my attention so that we can investigate and take the necessary action,” he said.

Speaker Sean Snyman

Take up your places says Deputy Mayor 

Deputy Mayor Raybin Figland welcomed the ward committees at the induction. He thanked the ward committees for availing themselves to serve their communities. 

“This is your municipality. I’m glad to hear that the speaker is saying you need to keep your councillors accountable, you voted for them, and they are accountable to you, not the other way round,” Figland said.

“You are the representatives of your community. Take up your places and responsibility as you represent your respective geographical areas and sectors such as youth, sport, safety, arts and culture, business et cetera. 

"From here until the next election, it will be your responsibility to fight for your wards to ensure that there is proper public participation when this municipality deals with the municipal budget and the integrated development plan, among others. You ought to be positive brands and ambassadors for your wards.”

What the induction entails

At the first induction the ward committees were orientated about the municipality’s directorates. 

Directors introduced their portfolio councillors, presented their directorates’ organisational structures, their responsibilities and core business, and gave an overview of their annual budgets.

Other induction sessions that took place on Wednesday 13 July at the George Civic Centre and Conville Community Hall, as well as on Thursday 14 July at the Thembalethu community hall and Pacaltsdorp, covered training in the following areas:

• Functions of local/provincial and national government
• Legislation on public participation and ward committees
• Roles and responsibilities of the speaker, ward councillor, ward committees, and the community
• Ward committee meetings
• Code of conduct
• Overview of the IDP and the role of ward committees in the IDP Process.

Following the induction sessions, the ward committees will start their work, which includes monthly and quarterly meetings, Know your Ward committee campaign, attendance of formal and scheduled community and sector report back meetings, assisting the municipality in service delivery improvement, overseeing development projects emerging from IDP/ward-based Integrated Development Plan, and attend and influence municipal budget meetings and processes.

Dr Kosie Haarhoff said it is imperative that ward committees are capacitated to fulfil their roles democratically.

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