WE WILL FIX OUR
MUNICIPALITIES WITH CARING
AND INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE
We believe our municipalities have the responsibility to contribute to building a more inclusive society while caring for the most vulnerable members of our society.
Pro-poor governance
Free basic services: residents in need will have access to an allocation of free basic services. Our allocation to indigent residents will be as generous as possible within our financial constraints. We will also lobby National Government for a greater share of national revenue to provide free basic services sustainably.
Rates policies: we will adopt fair and equitable rates policies that do not place unreasonable financial burdens on our residents, especially vulnerable groups like pensioners and child-headed households.
Improved access to social services: we will ensure that access to clinics, libraries, and recreational facilities in lower-income areas is expanded by increasing the number of facilities providing services. We will introduce mobile facilities where possible to ensure that we can rapidly provide services without requiring significant capital investments.
Extended operating hours at municipal facilities: where feasible, facilities providing social services like clinics and libraries will operate on extended hours and on remain open on weekends and public holidays.
Expanded social support: we will ensure that residents have access to an expanded basket of social support programmes. We will provide treatment and support for infectious diseases like tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, psychological counselling, and assistance with substance abuse at municipal facilities.
Improved access to primary healthcare: in addition to extending clinic operating hours, we will invest in mobile clinics to increase access to primary healthcare in clinics without permanent facilities.
Bulk infrastructure and services for informal settlements: we will provide sanitation, water, electricity, and regular refuse collection to more informal settlements and work toward universal access to basic services. All residents must live in dignity.
Accelerated access to housing opportunities: we will adopt innovative programmes to ensure greater access to housing opportunities, such as site-and-service programmes, and the release of public land for private sector development aimed at affordable housing. We want to ensure that residents of all income groups can access affordable rental stock and own property.
Title deeds: we will reform the process of title deed transfers to ensure that transfers are sped up and that the process is fairer and more transparent.
Caring, inclusive, and socially just
governance
Inclusive municipal planning that drives progress: we will include our residents in our integrated planning and budgeting processes to ensure that we respond to the pressing needs of residents, increasing the opportunity for upward social mobility and economic progress.
Public transport: we will reform public transport to ensure that everyone has access to safe, quality, convenient, and reliable public transport routes aligned to economic and social activity.
Land use management: we will adopt land-use plans that combat urban sprawl and allow for human-centric spatial development through modern geo-informatics systems mapping. This will empower us to make data-driven decisions about future development and resource allocation.
Local labour and the allocation of work opportunities: we will encourage the use of local labour where feasible, and reform the allocation of short-term work opportunities to ensure fair and transparent allocation. We will also implement measures that empower and up-skill beneficiaries of such opportunities, improving their chances of finding permanent employment.
Broadband expansion: we will invest in infrastructure projects that provide access to affordable, high-speed internet, especially to poorer communities. We believe each household should have access to a fair allocation of data at a reasonable price. Additionally, we will create more hotspots providing free data to residents.
Early childhood development: we will expand the scope of our municipalities’ ECD offerings so that more parents have access to quality childcare. We will implement affordability measures to ensure that families are not prevented from accessing these services due to limited means.
Gender-based violence: we will establish shelters and safe houses for victims of gender-based violence and run community-empowerment programmes to address the scourge of GBV. We will also provide sensitivity training for our first responders so that they can better support victims of GBV.
LGBTQI support: we will establish support mechanisms for members of the LGBTQI community that are subjected to discrimination and hate crimes, and actively foster inclusive and tolerant communities.
Youth development
Paid municipal internships: we will launch paid internships for recent university graduates in fields such as chartered accounting, engineering, financial management, law, and public management. These internships will provide the opportunity for young graduates to gain meaningful employment experience and contribute to the professionalisation of the public sector.
Youth development and support: we will provide programmes at Opportunity Centres in partnership with the private sector and other government agencies that provide our youth with tangible support measures allowing them to participate gainfully in the economy. Skills development programmes will be designed to increase the likelihood of employment or entrepreneurship.
Access to extra-mural activities: we will offer extra-mural cultural, academic, and sports activities at our community centres for young people that allow them to become well-rounded individuals.
