COGTA HELPS MUNICIPALITIES TO ENACT BY-LAWS
The Department of
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) hosted a municipal
by-laws summit aimed at supporting municipalities to promulgate by-laws and
enforce them. The two days summit held in Middleburg, Steve Tshwete
Local Municipality
Executive Mayors, Speakers,
Chairpersons of Section 79 Committees on Policies and By-laws, Municipal
Managers, Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and Senior Officials of
municipalities attended it.
During the summit, an assessment
of progress made by municipalities with respect to the promulgation of by-laws,
related to fire control, Land Use Management, Tariffs, Waste Management, Roads
and Storm Water Management, Air quality management, electricity, etc. was made.
By-laws and enforcement thereof form part of government’s effort to promote
good governance. It also forms part of government’s initiative to build a
responsive, caring and accountable local government.
Delegates at the summit
adopted a declaration at the end of the summit to support municipalities for
the promulgation of the by-laws. Part of the declaration states the following:
·
Municipalities
establish a dedicated unit for personnel to focus their attention on
development, publishing and enforcement of by-laws and deal with land invasions
timely and decisively as well as imposing fines to people who damage emergency
services.
·
Municipalities
must develop their policies
together with schemes to avoid situations where commercial activities are
undertaken within residential areas.
·
Municipalities
must review their Debt Collection and Credit Control Policies to include
processes involved in dealing with Estate accounts and Indigent Owners.
·
Municipalities are
urged to customize the existing Fire Brigade generic by-law to address all the
challenges with regards to fire.
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