MORE than 280 mayors and city managers are attending the South African Local Government Association's (Salga) fifth consultative assembly in Kempton Park from 14 to15 June.

The meeting, held at the Civic Centre, will discuss ways of achieving improved living conditions for poor and marginalised communities - in line with presidential directives issued on 21 May to the country's municipalities.

Also on the agenda are the 2005 local government elections and Salga's national conference scheduled for 27 September.

Salga is a forum of executive mayors and mayors from towns and cities across South Africa and serves as a platform to discuss proposed national legislation and policies affecting local government and debate topical issues to keep abreast with latest developments.

It also acts as a forum for global trends affecting local government, with special emphasis on encouraging mayoral relations in Africa and abroad.

Formulated in terms of South Africa's new constitution, Salga is made up of councillors from each municipality in the country and is headed by a 10-member management committee.

According to a statement from Salga, the session will also give participants the opportunity to reflect on local government gains during the past decade of democracy, with particular regard to the progress of poor and marginalised communities.