MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) in Mpumalanga, Mr Mandla Msibi has implored Municipalities to identify open land for development purposes. Mr Msibi was addressing a virtual meeting of Executive Mayors, Speakers and Chief Whips. Mr Msibi says it is the responsibility of Municipalities to develop plans on how open land will be utilized as a measure to prevent invasion.
Mr Msibi says failure land invasion has a rippling effect in the delivery of services. “We have taken a view that Municipalities must identify open land within their jurisdiction and demonstrate how they will utilize it to prevent invasion. Failure to do so is a recipe for invasion that give rise to service delivery protests. You cannot provide services to an unplanned settlement,” Mr Msibi said.
Currently, Municipalities are conducting reviews for their draft Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and budgets in preparation of the 2020/21 financial year which starts in July. Legislatively, Municipalities must conduct public consultations with communities as part of public participation in accordance with Section 16 of the Local Government Municipal Systems’ Act of 2000. Mr Msibi says the preparation of IDPs for the new financial year is an opportunity to include the land development plans before their adoption. “We expect Municipalities to flag their land development plans in the IDPs. Without these plans the IDPs may not be accepted as credible,” Mr Msibi warned.
Land invasion is prevalent in areas under the jurisdiction of Traditional Leaders. Mr Msibi says the Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the South African Police Services (SAPS) to work together in dealing with the perpetrators of land invasion.
Ends.
Issued by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Contact Person: Mr George Mthethwa
Contact number: 083 302 2774 / 013 766 6572