Mhlaba Memela

Mhlaba Memela

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) has welcomed the establishment of a parliamentary team to assess the state of service delivery in municipalities.

Salga chairman Amos Masondo, who is also Johannesburg's executive mayor, said the groundbreaking move would assist in bringing to the fore the real causes of the recent service delivery protests while also reflecting on the complex challenges that face municipalities.

The initiative, coupled with another being undertaken by the South African Human Rights Commission, will go a long way in finding appropriate interventions and sustainable responses to this unfortunate situation, he said.

"We hope that the assessment exercise by the parliamentary team will assist in contextualising these issues, and facilitate further aligning and integrating government's efforts to accelerate service delivery," Masondo said.

He urged municipalities, communities and other stakeholders to participate in the initiative.

National Council of Provinces spokesman Nolizwi Magwagwa said the council would visit different provinces to get feedback on issues raised during this year's first provincial week in May

"Members of the council will meet with various role-players and structures in their individual provinces, including members of the provincial legislature, the provincial executive and representatives of local government," Magwagwa said.