By Tabisa Mntengwana
10 June 2009

MORE than a thousand of South Africa’s senior decision-makers are in Buffalo City for the National Members’ Assembly (NMA), taking place at East London’s Premier Regent Hotel on 10 and 11 June.

Over the two days, participants will discuss current topics involving local government, including the global economic crisis, the devolution of housing, municipal finance strategies and centralising primary health care.

Chaired by Johannesburg’s executive mayor, Amos Masondo, the NMA is organised by the South African Local Government Association (Salga). Masondo is the chairperson of Salga.

According to a press statement issued by the City, the assembly also “presents a significant human resource pool at the disposal of our top ambassadors who can pull from their counterpart’s experiences”.

Buffalo City Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku will welcome guests during the gathering, which features cabinet ministers, executive mayors, mayors, Speakers of council, councillors and municipal officials.

Sharing her views about the imbizo, Faku said it was a very important event for the City and would give a boost to its economy. “It will not only boost the local economy but will expose the City’s rich culture and other tourist attractions such as the beach front, the shopping malls and heritage sites.”

According to the Salga website, the NMA meeting is expected to be a watershed. Its structure and content will, among other imperatives, be determined by national priorities, especially in the area of municipal service delivery.

The NMA will also present the 2008/2009 financial statements, adopt Salga’s business plan and the budget for the 2009/2010 financial year as well as the review of Salga’s financial performance. Other issues to be discussed include restructuring the electricity distribution industry, community development strategies, municipal institutional development and the remodeling of organised local government.

The meeting comes hot on the heels of national and provincial elections as well as the State of the Nation address. For the municipality, it is an opportunity to interact with and benchmark itself against other cities and to learn from their experiences.

Pointing to its positives, Buffalo City’s press statement also says it is a well-governed city that is home to world-class expanding manufacturers and is financially stable with an annual budget of more than R3-billion.