Statement on the outcomes of the inaugural Inter-Ministerial Committee on Service Delivery at District Level chaired by Deputy President Mabuza

Deputy President David Mabuza today, Tuesday, 03 September 2019, chaired the inaugural meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Service Delivery at District Level, at Tuynhuys, Cape Town.

The first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, took place against the background of sporadic incidents of violent protests, looting, burning of shops and trucks and other acts of criminality across the country, particularly in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

The IMC on Service Delivery at District Level was established by President Ramaphosa following the directive to implement a district based approach to fast –track service delivery and to ensure that municipalities are adequately supported and resourced. 

The IMC on Service Delivery will provide political oversight and serve as a catalyst to oversee the implementation of measures to accelerate service delivery at local level through targeted support to municipalities.

Amongst other key responsibilities, the IMC on Service Delivery at District Level, will ensure the following:
· Alignment of infrastructure development plans and operations with national, provincial and district plans as well as intensifying the implementation of pipeline infrastructure projects in the identified priority districts and metros;
· Policy coherence and unlock bottlenecks to fast-track service delivery;
· Safety and Security assessment which provide early warning and quick response mechanisms to areas where there are service delivery problems;
· Upliftment of economic development and investment through revitalization of township and rural economies; and
· Development of an action plan to deal with service delivery challenges.  

The committee includes the Ministers of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs; Basic Education; Employment and Labour; Health; Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation; Police, Small Business Development, State Security as well as Transport.

In this regard, the IMC had the opportunity to evaluate the state of readiness for the official launch of the Service Delivery Model at District level that is planned to take place this month in the Eastern Cape Province.  
 
Furthermore, the meeting received a presentation from the Statistician-General, Mr Risenga Maluleke on the State of Service Delivery at District level, which analyses the magnitude of service delivery challenges with regards to the provision of safe and reliable water, adequate electricity supply, adequate sanitation and decent housing.

The IMC on Service Delivery at District Level will convene monthly, to access progress achieved in the implementation of the District-based service delivery model. The committee will also work tirelessly towards unblocking service delivery challenges mostly in depressed municipalities.

Deputy President Mabuza lauded the committee for the critical leadership it is providing to shape, coordinate and implement targeted interventions towards improving the quality of service delivery. 

He further expressed his concerns regarding the increasing destruction of public and private property which took place in recent days. “Our state cannot be tested to that extreme. Such unbecoming behaviour cannot become a normal phenomenon. All organs of the state and spheres of government must work together to provide collaborative solutions”, said Deputy President Mabuza.
 
The Deputy President also strongly condemned acts of violence, destruction of property and targeting of foreign nationals in Gauteng and the burning of trucks in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.  

“We are a nation founded on the values of Ubuntu as espoused by our founding father, President Nelson Mandela, who taught us the virtue of our common humanity and that we should always resist the temptation of being overwhelmed by hatred”, said Deputy President Mabuza.


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Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria