Country’s leaders to
meet in Buffalo City
By Tabisa Mntengwana
19 May 2009
THE country’s cabinet ministers, executive mayors, mayors, Speakers of council, councillors, and other municipal officials will gather in Buffalo City for a two-day imbizo next month.
The National Members’ Assembly (NMA), hosted by the South African Local Government Association (Salga), which is chaired by Johannesburg’s executive mayor Amos Masondo, will be held at East London’s Premier Regent Hotel on 10 and 11 June.
Salga expects at least 1 000 delegates to attend this event, which will be opened by Buffalo City Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku. Speaking about the gathering, Faku said it was a very important event for the City and would give a boost to the economy.
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 meeting comes hot on the heels of national and provincial elections, held on 22 April. “It is envisaged that local government will be obliged to reposition itself to effectively implement the wider policies and programmes of the government at large in accordance with the mandate entrusted by the electorate,” reads the website.
Companies will be able to exhibit at the NMA meeting, giving them an opportunity to show their products to a large number of local government decision-makers. “In addition, a sponsorship opportunity exists.”
Faku said it would expose the municipality’s rich culture and other tourist attractions such as the beach front, the shopping malls and heritage sites.
With a mandate from the Constitution, Salga helps in the wholesale transformation of local government from the pre-1994 regime to democracy.
Its roles include enhancing provincial local government associations as provincial representatives and consultative bodies on local government; raising the profile of local government; and ensuring the full participation of women in local government.
For more information about the NMA meeting and booking exhibition space, contact Puleng Maluleka or Emelda Pheko on 012 369 8001.
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