BUFFALO City is the best local municipality in the Eastern Cape, winning itself a Vuna Award.

The award, which is a symbol of the dedication and commitment of its employees, will boost its status as a potential base camp for the football World Cup in 2010.

On Wednesday, 26 November Buffalo City walked away with a R750 000 cheque at a provincial Vuna Awards ceremony held at East London’s City Hall.

“This award [confirms] the escalation of the municipality to these high levels and comprehensively proves that we are indeed ready to take our rightful position in this country and beyond,” said Samkelo Ngwenya, the municipal’s senior communications and media liaison officer.

“It is rewarding to note that the tireless efforts and long hours put in around the clock by our employees in efforts to bring quality services to our people have not gone unnoticed.”

His words were echoed by a municipal media release, which said City employees were devoted to improving the lives of residents and transforming them from their current unjust socio-economic conditions to positive development and ultimately prosperity.

The award would also count in Buffalo City’s favour in its efforts to become a metro in 2011.

The annual Vuna Awards are an initiative of the Department of Provincial and Local Government, in partnership with the South African Local Government Association, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, and the National Productivity Institute. They are aimed at promoting creative and innovative municipal service delivery, identifying and supporting poorly performing municipalities, building confidence in municipalities and improving the image of local government.

Key performance areas for the awards were in the fields of infrastructure development and service delivery, local economic development, financial viability, municipal transformation and institutional development and good governance, according to the City press release.

“When it comes to service delivery there are challenges, but we are proud to note that our Integrated Development plans seek to address each and every one of these.”

Ngwenya added that after winning this award, Buffalo City was motivated to make the city a place of opportunities that met people’s needs. “We applaud all those who have gone beyond the call of duty and urge them to even go further.