In many municipalities, the important ward committee system is neglected and largely dysfunctional. It appears to be the case in Mafube also. In seems as if in many instances ward committees have become nothing more than extensions of political parties; easily subjected to manipulation. The functions of ward committees as envisioned in local government legislation are not taken seriously by the community or by the municipal councils. Within Mafube, it appears that ward committees either function in secret or do not exist at all.
In the view of mafube business Forum (MBF), our municipality needs to open up the process of decision-making and include innovative local platforms to facilitate participation of all stakeholders. Ward Committees must be accessible for the community and must ensure that all role players can relate to the process and the issues at hand, and are able to make their input into the processes of the committee;
Ward Councillors and their committees must adopt the principle of transparency to promote openness, sincerity and honesty among all the role-players in a participative process and promote trust and respect for the integrity of each role-player, and a commitment by all to the overriding objectives of the process in the interest of the common good.
The decision through which public policies promote the interests of the society must ultimately be taken by the people themselves. Ward councillors must be held accountable for the functioning of their respective ward committees.
(Source: Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Municipal Ward Committees, Notice 26799, government Gazette of 24 June 2005) Visit our offices at 18A Church Street, Frankfort on Mondays to Thursdays from 08h30 to 16h00 and Fridays 08h30 to 12h00. Call or send a WhatsApp message to Marina on 079 145 4295. Visit our website www.mafubebf.org and follow us on Facebook.
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