New beginning for Mogalakwena?

MOKOPANE - The municipality must strive to do better by interacting more with its community and responding faster to queries regarding delivery of basic services, Mogalakwena Mayor, Malesela Parks Sebatjane, said when he delivered his State of the Municipality Address at the Park Hotel this week.
Sebatjane said this was one of the recommendations by the National Council of Provinces during a recent oversight visit. He added that during the visit, Mogalakwena municipalty showed its commitment to focusing on strengthening good governance, institutional efficiency and increasing the pace of service delivery.
On the political turmoil of the past year the Mayor added that the municipality is determined that the local labour forum will contribute to the municipality’s healing process with regards to human resource issues. “A stable institution is in the best interest of all, more so to the people of Mogalakwena municipality.”
Sebatjane elaborated on the various community outreaches focusing mainly on service delivery related matters.
The summary of Mogalakwena Municipality’s budget for 2015/16 is as follows:
The total budget is R1 082 246 405. The capital budget is R409 888 680 and the operating budget is R783 557 725.
“The future of our municipality is tied to our unwavering commitment, hard work, and forging of human solidarity with the people of Mogalakwena and the private sector partnerships,” concluded Sebatjane.

Here's the entire speech:

STATE OF MUNICIPAL ADDRESS BY HIS WORSHIP
CLLR M.P SEBATJANE
PARK HOTEL, MOKOPANE
28TH JULY 2015
Honorable Speaker of Mogalakwena Local Municipality, Cllr. Matsemela,
Executive Mayor of Waterberg District Municipality, Mme
Tlotlanang Mogotlane,
Mayors present,
Traditional Leaders,
Speakers and Chief Whips present,
Members of the Executive Committee,
Leadership of the ANC Waterberg Region
Colleague Councilors,
Leaders of other Political Parties,
Acting Municipal Manager and Municipal Managers present,
Senior Management of Mogalakwena Local Municipality,
Representatives of Business Organisations,
Distinguished guests present here, Members of the Media present, Ladies and gentlemen.
Good Evening,

Thobela,
Avuxeni,
Selotshile,
Madam Speaker
It is always a humbling honour and privilege to be afforded the opportunity, on behalf of the collective Executive Committee, to address Council and the people of Mogalakwena Municipality.
This occasion occurs only a month and eleven days after far reaching deployments in Council were made by the ruling party to strengthen governance and the delivery of services to our people.
The overall reception of the changes by the people of Mogalakwena is indeed a humbling source of inspiration which should motivate us to always do the best for our people.

To date we have met with traditional leaders, leaders of civic and business formations, the youth, and veterans of the liberation struggle, leaders of minority parties in the Council as well as senior management of government departments within the area of our municipality.
In that regard we will continue to meet and source the inputs of those we have not met yet.
We have also had interactive sessions with the leadership of the two unions that meet the prescribed threshold for recognition in the Municipality, SAMWU and IMATU.
It is our determination, as the employer that the local labour forum will also contribute to the healing process regarding urgent human resource issues because a stable institution is in the best interest of all, more so the people of Mogalakwena Municipality.
Madame Speaker
During the same period we hosted the Provincial EXCO meet the people, led by Premier Mathabatha, in ga-Taueatsoala village where our people were afforded opportunity to raise pertinent issues on a whole range of service delivery related matters for attention by both local and provincial government.

Two weeks later on Mandela day, 18 July 2015, we hosted the
Premier at an old age facility at ga-Michel, Nomalema and Nongchimudi Primary schools to dedicate 67 minutes and more with our people in Mahwelereng township making a difference to the lives of those least fortunate amongst us and to raise the importance of life-long learning to our youth.
Last week Thursday, we hosted an oversight visit by the delegation from the National Council of Provinces led by Chief Whip.
The NCOP delegation interaction with our Council and the public in Bakenberg was indeed worthwhile.

The NCOP delegation expressed their impression that the municipality is focusing on strengthening good governance, institutional efficiency and increasing the pace of delivery of services.

However, the NCOP further advised that we can do much better by interacting more with our and responding faster to queries regarding delivery of basic services – raised by communities.

Madame Speaker
In our unrelenting quest to forge human solidarity for development of Mogalakwena Municipality we will invite and meet with prominent sons and daughters from this municipality who are doing well in a variety of sectors at the provincial and national level to source their wisdom and contributions.
We will do so because we are fully aware that we are not the sole custodians of all the expertise we need to attain the immediate and long term goals we have set in our strategic plans.
Madame Speaker
We are highlighting the state of our municipality in the last week of the Nelson Mandela Month during which our people and the international community dedicated their energies to help those in need.
They are doing so to honour the sacrifices and contribution which Madiba and his generation of selfless patriots made in pursuance of the just struggle against political, social and economic exclusion of the majority by the minority and to the rebuilding of our nation and forging social cohesion in South Africa and the world.
Madame Speaker
This occasion happens in the year which is dedicated to the Freedom Charter that recommit the people of our municipality and the country in general to live by and ensure that our developmental discourse finds expression thereof.
The strategic plans and programmes contained in our Integrated development Plan (IDP) which is aligned to the Provincial and National development plans must assist us to realise the people’s as ideals enshrined in the Freedom Charter.    
This is an appropriate and wonderful opportunity to pause and reflect, an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the aspirations of those who came before us, the heroes and heroines of the struggle that ushered in the South Africa we have today. 
Madame Speaker
The State of the Municipal Address we present today is a product of the public participation forums undertaken for the 2015/16 IDP and budget sessions in accordance with applicable legislation and Council approval processes.
We commend Council and the administration that regard.
Madam Speaker,
Allow us to outline the highlights of this address by touching on the following key service delivery points:
Electrical services
Mogalakwena municipality has a licence to supply electricity to an area of 2 800m², with ESKOM accounting for the bigger slice.
Out of 79 396 households within our municipality, 71 163 are electrified which constitutes 91% with a current backlog of 9%.
To this end we are, in collaboration with ESKOM, embarking on a programme to reduce that moving target significantly by 2020.

To achieve our set target, we are glad to report that Eskom has confirmed that they are currently constructing Borutho substation which will increase the distribution capacity of our infrastructure in town, the adjacent peri-urban settlements, industrial areas and mining operations.
All going according to schedule the substation is programmed to be completed in 2018.
We continue in our efforts to electrify residential extensions in all our 178 villages, as tenders have been awarded to electrify news houses in the following villages:
Blinkwater,Vergenoeg, Lekhureng, Tiberious, Senita,
Rebone,  Taueatsoala  Moshate,  Phola Park, Hans,
Tshamahanzi, Rietfontein, Grasvlei, Mushuka, Ga-Mathekga,
Ga-Molekoa, and Kaditshwene

Madam Speaker,
We are pleased to report that Electrification process in the above mentioned villages has kicked off.
Significant progress is also been made to upgrade the municipality's Eskom distribution to 50MVA which will allow growth in areas around Mokopane for in the next 10 years giving us a breather to plan ahead.
In our effort to increase the distribution capacity of our electricity infrastructure, we have successfully replaced a 30 year old 11kV switchgear in the municipality's main substation (North substation) during the 2014/2015 financial year.
In addition, the development of our medium to long term Energy Master Plan is in progress to ensure readiness for our future electricity programmes and projects.
We have also increased human resource capacity with appointment of four electricians and one handyman to meet the current services demands.
However the challenge is with regard to our spent of 6% of our income generated from sale of electricity service which in terms of NERSA licencing condition must be spent on refurbishment and maintenance of ageing infrastructure.
We will review the status quo and consider same during our mid-term budget adjustment to ensure that we indeed meet NERSA regulatory directives.
Madame Speaker
In our efforts to reinforce commitment to contribute to reducing incidents of crime especially in the night, we have successfully installed 103 high mast lights in our peri-urban and rural communities.
This year (2015/16) we will install additional 26 high mast lights to value of R6.5m.
Our electricity networks supplying the heavy industrial areas in Mokopane will also be strengthened through installation of a fourth feeder to extensions 5 and 6.
However, we regret to indicate that electrical projects planned for 2014/15 were delayed due to the unfortunate situation that occurred during the period November 2014 until February 2015.
We have carried those projects to be implemented in the current financial year. The second phase of electrifying houses for 2015/2016 financial year will be implemented as planned.

 Water services
Madame Speaker       
Mogalakwena Local Municipality is the Water Services Authority for the municipal area as well the Implementation Agent for the Water and Sanitation projects approved by the Department of Water and Sanitation for implementation in Municipality.
The Master Plan covers the area from Pruisen (a farm to the South-East of Mokopane Town and ends at Breda Village, approximately 100km to the north of Mokopane Town).
As the water service authority, we been implementing the Master Plan since its approval in order to fulfil our readiness to receive, purify and reticulate water from Flag Boshielo Dam.
The total implementation cost of the programme is R 1 783 billion funded from the Regional bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG)of which R 613 million has been spent on the 45% progress we have made by end of June 2015.
The programme has draw-off points from the main bulk supply pipeline where the following infrastructural developments will be implemented:

• Erection of the Water Treatment Works at Mokopane
High Reservoir,
• Water Treatment Works at Sekuruwe Village,
• Mine developments to the west of Tshamansi Village and
• Mining developments to the west of Sekuruwe Village.
Our plan is to complete the project by December 2019 and then provide 79 396 households with water of which 65% fall within the indigent category.

In addition the supply system will provide water to Mokopane Town and 38 villages and networks mostly for street level standpipes and limited low use yard connections.
In 2014/15 we completed a mini water scheme project connecting to the bulk pipeline covering the following villages;
• Tshamansi, Magongoa, Ga-Mokaba, Kgobudi, Machikiri, Mmalepetleke and Sekgoboko
Other mini water schemes cluster projects are still at construction and tender stages respectively.
An amount of R121 million from the Regional Bulk
Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) has been allocated for the 2015/16 financial year. Projects to be implemented include the following:
• Sekuruwe Cluster
• Maala perekisi and Phafola Cluster
• Seema Cluster and
• Piet se kop pipeline
Madame Speaker
Of utmost importance is that we need to expedite efforts, in collaboration with the Provincial government, to obtain approval from the Department of Water and Sanitation to source the currently unused 5ml water allocation from the Doorndraai Dam to supplement our current supply in Mokopane and adjacent peri-urban settlements.
Failure to do so before March 2016 will plunge a serious portable water supply challenge.

Further, we need to obtain a firm commitment (date) from the department of Water and Sanitation regarding delivery of bulk water from Flag Bolshielo dam to Mogalakwena municipality (Pruizen) otherwise the infrastructure we are laying out will be fruitless.
We are, however remain optimistic and resolute that the above stated solutions are attainable.
Our reliance on underground water in the medium to long term is neither sustainable nor cost effective.
However, the existing water schemes will be synergised with the new infrastructure to ensure sustained supply at all times.
As part of our water conservation and demand management we have commenced with installation of meters in Mahwelereng and extensions 14, 17, 19 and 20 financed from RBIG and MIG. That programme will assist to reduce waterlosses and improve our cost recovery efforts.
Madame Speaker
To us sanitation is dignity, the availability of sanitation facilities does not only improve the dignity of people but also enhances their healthy living.
The current backlog is at 42% equivalent to 32 436 households that still need the VIP toilet system. This trend requires that more of our future funding be directed to sanitation services.
Mokopane Town Sewer Plant is running at full capacity.
We are therefore currently in the process of refurbishing the facility through installation of mechanical aerators to replace the old system, a standby generator already installed and old pumps are replaced.
To increase our sanitation services capacity, we have appointed a contractor to build an additional 10ml sewer plant at Masodi. The new plant will off-load pressure from the existing plant in town and cater for the entire peri-urban settlements and the envisaged mining operations.
Madame Speaker
The new sewer plant will not only restore dignity to our people in Sekgakgapeng, Moshate, Mahwelereng and Masodi.
They will be relieved from the inhuman conditions subjected to them by the erstwhile Potgietersrus Council as they had to endure perpetual stench from the oxidation ponds.
This Council will decommission the oxidation ponds on completion of the Masodi sewer plant.
Regarding rural sanitation a contractor is now site for construction of 500 VIP toilets for 2014/15 to be provided to beneficiaries in various villages within the municipality which should be completed by end October this year.
District municipality provided additional 75 VIP toilets which have just been erected at Dipichi Village.
For the 2015/16 financial year the municipality has budgeted for another 500 VIP toilets, again with the district municipality contributing an additional 70 units.
Solid waste management services
Madame Speaker
Our municipality has only two approved landfill sites, located in Mokopane and Rebone township. There are challenges at the existing landfill sites which necessitates that we develop a sustainability plan.
The letjema waste management programme has been introduced resulting with creation of temporary jobs for the youth, however ongoing review and monitoring is necessary.
Housing
Madame Speaker
The department of COGHSTA allocated 970 housing units for the 2014/15.
327 houses completed and handed over to respective beneficiaries.
643 houses are still under construction due to delayed in finalisation of foundation design. It is expected that the houses will be completed by end of the current calendar year.
With regard to the 2015/16 housing allocations, we have submitted the priorities and sites for development and are awaiting confirmation of units by COGHSTA.

Road and storm water

Madame Speaker
Our municipality has a road network of approximately 1 205km covering its area of jurisdiction, 453 km are surfaced through funding of priorities in the IDP.
Ten (10) km will be surfaced in 2015/2016 through MIG allocation.
A portion of the 752 km balance will be re-gravelled in 2015/16 utilizing internal plant.

Phase one of the N11 widening of 25 km, from mokopane town to north, by SANRAL will commence in the second quarter of 2015/16 financial year.

Consultations with stakeholders and private property owners who may be affected have started.

Madame Speaker
Mogalakwena Local Municipality (MLM) is embarking on a clear strategic and sustainable approach to delivery of Bulk Services.
The municipality has therefore embarked on clustering of small projects into larger projects to be more cost effective and ensure future efficient maintenance and operation.
Our strategic decision to develop infrastructure master plans is now breeding intended results thus improving our readiness to accommodate the envisage massive development opportunities in the Municipality.
To this end we are gratified to state that the Master Plan development process is at an advanced stage.

The following is the status quo;

Master plans development
Service Master Plan Development
Bulk Water Services
 Completed

Internal Water Reticulation (mainly rural)
 Currently being developed

Wastewater Services
 Completed

Roads and Storm water
 Draft stage

Electricity
 Currently being developed

On site Sanitation for rural areas
 Completed at Macro level

Water Conservation and Water Demand Completed at Macro level

Institutional efficiency

Madame Speaker

Human resources

It is common cause that the municipality experienced instability in the past which adversely affected administrative efficiency.

The current situation is that only two of the seven senior management position are filled.

Efforts are underway expedite the filling of all vacant positions. We can confirm that this municipality will appoint competent staff that meet minimum requirements for the job.

We will also engage on processes that will boost morale of staff because we value all our employees.

Finance

The municipality has in the past five years achieved four (4) unqualified and one (1) qualified audit reports. This happened due to adequate internal controls and competent senior staff in finance department.

At the moment we are in the process of finalizing financial statements for the 2014/15 audits.

Madame Speaker

In the 2014/15 financial year we projected to collect 85% of our revenue, however due to the disturbances experienced, our collection was 65.9% as at end June 2015.

We are currently reviewing our billing system to improve the collection rate in the current financial year.

Our efforts will also include measures to reduce the existing debt through engagements with our rate payers.

In that regard we will also improve our indigent register to ensure that deserving households are captured.

In the last two weeks of the 2014/15 financial year the municipality experienced financial fraud amounting to R5.7m. A case was opened with SAPS and investigations are ongoing.

In addition the incident was reported to Provincial Treasury and office of the auditor General and internal measures were taken to prevent recurrence.

Governance

Stability has been restored, the Executive and Council are meeting in accordance with the prescribed schedule. However there is room for improvement with regard to the work of council committees.

Conclusion

Madame Speaker

We are glad to present the summary of our budget for 2015/16 as follows;

Total budget: R1 082 246 405
Capital budget: R409 888 680
Operating budget: R783 557 725

The future of our municipality is tied to our unwavering commitment, hard work, and forging of human solidarity with the people of Mogalakwena and the private sector partnerships.

Thank you!
Re a leboga!
Hi a Khenza!