By Nangamso Mabindla
18 August 2004

THE message delivered at a meeting between a provincial executive council delegation led by Eastern Cape premier Nosimo Balindlela and Amathole District Municipality (ADM) representatives was clear: more co-operation is needed between provincial and local governments.

Opening the one-day summit at the East London City Hall on Wednesday, August 18, Buffalo City mayor Sindisile Maclean said he was happy the city was chosen to host the visit.

"Today we'll be discussing issues close to our hearts; things that we want to achieve for our people," Maclean explained. "It's also about interacting with one another and coming up with solutions to the many challenges facing us."

The eight municipalities represented at the meeting were: Amahlathi, Buffalo City, Great Kei, Mbhashe, Mnquma, Nkonkobe, Nxuba and Ngqushwa.

ADM mayor Sakhumzi Somyo said: "We want discuss ways we, as local authorities, can support and facilitate job creation, SMME's contribution to commerce and industry, and also tackle the needs of our communities."

Despite consensus that the municipalities under the ADM are doing well in delivering services to the people, Somyo emphasised the need for partnerships between provincial and local authorities.

"Even though we are doing well we still need to improve in some areas, but it is not possible for us to overcome these challenges alone," he added. "We want to use this visit to open strong lines of communication between us and our provincial counterparts."

One of the biggest challenges faced by the ADM's municipalities is in delivering water and proper sanitation to their people. "We have a 48 percent backlog in delivering water, but sanitation has a 68 percent backlog. We need to discuss proper funding with the province on these issues."

Premier Balindlela said she was impressed with how well the municipalities under the ADM were doing, and added that the legislature would do its best to strengthen ties with municipalities. "I have brought all my MECs here. You need to tell them what your objectives are; then we'll look at the way forward and best practices to achieve those objectives," she said.

She urged municipal officials and councillors to inform the provincial government of the peoples' concerns. "We want to start the people's contract now. We'll listen to your suggestions. Remember you are the ones that know what the people want, it's time we started acting on our promises," Balindlela concluded.