The Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, accompanied by Cabinet Ministers, will visit the Metsweding District in the Gauteng province on Thursday, 8 December 2005. This is part of the Municipal Izimbizo programme, an integral part of Project Consolidate, and will focus specifically on interacting with elected representatives in local government, senior municipal officials and members of Ward Committees.
Project Consolidate, a hands-on local government support and engagement programme, was launched in October 2004. It is targeted at 136 municipalities throughout South Africa that need support to enhance service delivery and good governance. Since the launch of the Project, Government has been focusing on the service delivery challenges and capacity constraints that are facing individual municipalities. This was informed by a detailed assessment of challenges according to each province and the municipalities concerned.
In the context of Project Consolidate, the President, the Deputy President and Cabinet Ministers are pursuing the Municipal Izimbizo programme, whose objective is to support municipalities in the achievement of these key performance areas and to deepen local government transformation.
Metsweding District has urban and peri-urban localities, but it is largely rural. Most of the land is privately owned, which poses some challenges.
It accounts for 159 891 people of Gauteng and has 44 392 households. Males make up 52,42% of the population while females make up 47,57%. With regard to education 37, 30% of the population had either no schooling or only up to the level of primary education.
Kungwini is the only local municipality in the District identified for support under the auspices of Project Consolidate. The municipality will be supported in the areas of Corporate Governance, Municipal Debt Billing Systems, Municipal Management, Local Economic Development and Performance Management.
The Municipalities are facing challenges with regard to upgrading and maintaining existing infrastructure and to address backlogs in water, sanitation and infrastructure. Other challenges are with regard to providing basic services in new housing projects and new townships.
ï§ Good Governance and Community Participation.