By Nangamso Mabindla
3 June 2004

SPEAKERS at the opening of the Institute of Local Government Management's (ILGM) three-day conference in East London to improve local government in South Africa agreed on Wednesday that the past ten years had to be addressed in order to plot a successful future.

At least 350 of the 700 invited guests attended the opening day of the conference, which aims to expose local government managers to top national and international practices and to promote quality and customer-focused service delivery.

Welcoming guests which included local government personnel from the United Kingdom, Australia, Namibia, deputy executive mayor Des Halley said the city was proud to have been chosen to host the prestigious event which would generate R1.5 million for Buffalo City.

Emphasising the challenge of job creation, Halley said: "Local government has come a long way; we've had successes in the past ten years and we're looking forward to our future challenges."

ILGM President Kenny Leluma concurred, while Lindiwe Msengana- Ndlela, director-general of the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG), said local government should focus on setting long-term goals for the benefit of the citizens. "The theme, 'Reflection: 10 years gone, many years ahead,' describes our country but we should look at what we want to achieve in the next ten years. In that way we will be setting ourselves realistic goals," he said.

Msengana-Ndlela said local government's core responisiblity was service delivery and she hoped the conference would develop a framework to enable local government to meet this challenge. "Local authorities also need to work with the DPLG and the ILGM to overcome obstacles faced at local government level," she added.

Eastern Cape MEC for Local Government, Gugile Nkwinti, echoed her sentiments, and urged delegates to face the future with courage.

"I wish you well in you endeavour to tackle issues facing our country and local government," he said.