17 February 2004

BUFFALO City councillors were commended for their strong performance and 100% pass rate on a development training programme run in partnership with the South African Local Government Association Eastern Cape (Salga EC).

On Friday, 197 Eastern Cape councillors received certificates for completing an accredited councillor development training programme at a graduation ceremony in the East London City Hall. According to a report in the Daily Dispatch, of the 197 graduating councillors, 33 were from Buffalo City, which received a 100 percent pass rate.

Kosi Msimka, Salga Eastern Cape's operations manager, told the Buffalo City website that the merit award was given in recognition of the councillors' commitment, attendance and submitting of reports before deadline.

Zukisa Faku-Hobana, the city's speaker, said in an interview with the Dispatch that winning the award had come as a surprise to the municipality. But, she said, the secret to their success was discipline.

"As speaker of the council, I made sure that all our councillors attended all the lectures, and wrote and submitted assignments."

The programme, launched in June 2002, was run in partnership between the Housing and Local Government Department, the South African Local Government Association Eastern Cape (Salga EC), the Development Bank of Southern Africa's (DBSA) development fund, Border Technikon and consultants Vantage.

Last year, Buffalo City won the R1-million for the cleanest municipality in the Amatole District and clinched the provincial and national Vuna awards.

Source: The Daily Dispatch