More than 500 newly elected councillors in the Northern Cape attended the integrated councillor induction programme (ICIP) that was presented in all five districts.
“We are charged with a huge responsibility, which is to lead and serve our communities across the length and the breadth of our province,” said Unondumiso Buda, mayor of the Frances Baard District Municipality, who officiated the opening at the Moremogolo Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Campus in Galeshewe on 10 January.
The programme aims to prepare the new and re-elected councillors after last year’s municipal elections to ensure they understand their leadership role, and to expose to and familiarise them with legislation in local government. It also gave them an understanding of key municipal processes and insight into developmental local government.
The programme was executed by the South African Local Government Association (Salga) as part of its role to develop the skills of leaders in the local government space.
The induction curriculum, presented over five days, included the code of conduct for councillors as local leaders, ethical leadership, sound financial management and clear definitions of oversight roles for councils, governance structures in councils and their roles, as well as accountability committees such as the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC).
The provincial director for operations in Salga Northern Cape, Madeleinne Brandt, visited the different districts during the inductions.
She reflected on the commitment of Salga to empower councillors during their leadership period to ensure quality output of service delivery.
“This is just the beginning of support programmes in the Northern Cape,” she said.
