13 May 2021

Selebi Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) leadership has given the proposed decentralisation policy a green light. 

Speaking during the SPTC special council meeting that was meant to consultg councillors on the proposed policy on Tuesday, SPTC Mayor, Mr Lucas Modimana informed the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Setlhabelo Modukanele that the proposed policy was a step towards national transformation.

He said the policy, which would be tabled before Parliament in July, was a step in the right direction and would help the country come up with strategies to address challenges ‘we are facing as a nation as well as challenges we are going to face after the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Mr Modimana said for the policy to make a positive impact, it calls for the local authorities to increase productivity levels. 

Councillors also commended the local government ministry for the proposed policy, saying it was going to help empower local authorities.

They emphasised the need to fast track the implementation of the policy to enable local authorities to resolve issues or address challenges at local level. 

They said failure to address issues at local level has had serious implications on the development of the country and the nation at large. 

The policy, they said, would also enable the council to generate its own income without hindrance to augment what they got from the government.

Mr Modukanele sais councils were better placed to resolve issues at local level, therefore decentralisation policy was going to empower them to undertake decisions timeously to address issues emanating from their respective communities. 

He said it was imperative for decision making to be nearer to the action point.

Mr Modukanele further stated that the policy would also enhance accountability, thus the mayor at the helm of SPTC would be expected to take responsibility of everything happening in Selebi Phikwe.

The policy, he said, would also help unlock a lot of things and help local authorities come up with new ways of thinking around problems.

Mr Modukanele, who is also MP for Lerala/Maunatlala, said the policy was also expected to address inefficiency. ends