JOE GQABI
DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
PROFILE
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
2.
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
3.
4.
4.1
4.1.1
4.1.2
4.1.3
5.
6.
7.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
Overview
Municipalities within the District
Political and Administrative Leadership and Seat of District
Political Representation
SERVICE DELIVERY
Household Infrastructure
Sanitation
Water
Electricity
Refuse Removal
Service Provider
AUDIT OPINIONS
STATE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSESSMENT
Overview of findings on assessment in the Municipality
Governance
Financial Management and Viability
Service Delivery
INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF THE MUNICIPAL
TURN-AROUND STRATEGY
MIG PROJECTS
VULNERABILITY CLASSIFICATION
2
3
4
4
5
5
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
9
9
10
12
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Joe Gqabi District Municipality (formerly Ukhahlamba) is overwhelming rural. Land
issues include access to land and the limited land that can sustain intensive farming.
There are four local municipalities within the district. The government is the largest
employer in the district and social grants are an important component of household
incomes. Water and sanitation backlogs are still prevalent.
The district has low access to infrastructure, with levels of improvement from 37% in
2000 to 46% in 2009. This was mainly driven by an increase in access to electricity, as
well as some improvement in access to hygienic toilets and piped water. While 35% of
households do still not have access to clean water, 20% were still without toilets in
2009.
The audit opinions for the District Municipality and three of the four local municipalities
have improved over time, although only one local achieved a financially unqualified
opinion with findings in 2009/10.
The State of Local Government Assessment found challenges in addressing basic
service backlogs. The provision of water in rural areas remains a priority, with problems
with water supply dams due to drought. In terms of its Municipal Turn-Around Strategy
the District identified the need to increase capacity and funding for water and sanitation,
including upgrading of bulk infrastructure and funding for operations and maintenance.
The provision of FBS also needed to be overhauled, with a lack of personnel and
indigent registers.
Only one of the four local municipalities in the Joe Gqabi District has been classified in
the category of most vulnerable by DCoG in terms of functionality, socio-economic
profile and backlog status.
This profile confirms that infrastructure prioritisation in Joe Qgabi District should focus
on water and sanitation, with both capacity and funding needs to be addressed.
3
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Overview1
Joe Gqabi District Municipality is made up of four local municipalities. Aliwal North, with
a population of 40 000, and on the N6 between Queenstown and Bloemfontein, is the
main commercial and tourism centre. Smaller urban service centres include Steynsburg,
Burgersdorp, Barkly East, Lady Grey, Sterkspruit and Maclear.
The climate is harsh: large temperature fluctuations, unseasonable frost and cold, and
relatively low rainfall mean only less sensitive crops can be grown. Winters are milder in
Elundini, where it is more suitable for crop cultivation. The southern Drakensberg lies in
the eastern part of the district and the land becomes flatter towards the west. The steep
mountain slopes are used for grazing.
The Orange River is the most important source of water in the district. The Gariep Dam
is the largest in South Africa and, together with the Fish River Scheme, is a major
source of water for irrigation. Many places in Senqu and Elundini have a high
groundwater development potential.
Joe Gqabi District is overwhelming rural. The municipalities in the wetter eastern part of
the district are mountainous and have communal land as well as commercial farming.
The municipalities in the west of the district are flat with Karoo type vegetation and
consist mainly of commercial agriculture, which drives the economy, with extensive
farming of sheep and cattle. Subsistence and emerging farmers are to be found in the
communal land areas. Land reform and emerging farmers are critical to a new agrarian
economy. Access to land is still a challenge in the district.
There are only 233 hectares of high potential arable land in Joe Gqabi District. With
limited rain-fed arable land for crop production, irrigation schemes and stock farming
play a significant role in agriculture. Intensive farming only occurs in areas where water
and infrastructure are available. The limited land which can sustain intensive farming,
and land which has been identified as having a high agricultural potential, should be
reserved for farming in order to enhance food security and therefore economic welfare.
It is important that other land uses not expand into these areas. There is some forestry
in the Maclear-Ugie area and a large timber processing plant is being built at Ugie.
There is little agricultural processing in the district. Tourism is growing, although its
impact so far has been small. Unique tourist attractions in the district include the only ski
resort in South Africa, the largest dam in the country, and hot springs.
The government is the largest employer in Joe Gqabi, and social grants are a very
important component of household incomes. The informal sector is relatively small and
mainly concerns the sale of food and household goods. There are processes underway
in the district to develop women, youth and the disabled. HIV prevalence among
Source: Gaffney’s, November 2009: Local Government in South Africa 2009-2011, Official Yearbook:
p 582 - 584
1
4
pregnant women is over 25% and there are numerous initiatives to curb its spread and
effects on communities.
Educational levels have improved but there is still a lack of tertiary and technical
learning facilities in the district. Housing and crime remain serious social issues. Water
and sanitation backlogs are still prevalent in the district. Road access is another critical
issue and the roads need constant maintenance and repair.
1.2
Municipalities within the Joe Gqabi District
The details of the four local municipalities within the District are tabled below:
Table 1: Statistics of the Joe Gqabi District and Local Municipalities
Municipalities within the
District
Joe Gqabi District (formally
Ukhahlamba)
Municipality
Elundini Local Municipality
Area (km²)
in 2009
Area (km2) after 2011
Local Govt Elections
& % change
Population
No. of
Households
Poverty
Rate
25,662 67
25 662 67
-
301 305
88,241
71.17%
5 064 53
5 064 53
-
120 804
34,740
77.62%
6,91108
4,35765
7,329.42
8 911 05
4,35765
7,32942
-
23,166
41,065
115,469
8,019
11,181
34,301
78.65%
53.27%
75.14%
Gariep Local Municipality
Maletswai Local Municipality
Senqu Local Municipality
Political and Administrative Leadership and Seat of District2
1.3


Political Leadership: Executive Mayor: Mr Zibonele Dumzela
Administrative Leadership: Municipal Manager: Mr Zolile Williams
The head office of the District is located in Barkly East.
1.4
Political representation3
Table 2: Local Government Election 2006 / Provincial and National Elections 2009
comparison:
Leading
Parties in
the
Elections
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Local Government Elections 2006
Party
Party Votes
Ward Votes
and %
and %
ANC
DA
UDM
PAC75,765
Other
Totals
75,765
4,928
3,514
1,540
264
86,011
88.1%
5.7%
4.1%
1.8%
0.3%
100%
72,896
4,600
1,900
1,938
3,134
84,468
86.3%
5.4%
2.2%
2.3%
3.7%
100%
Councillor Seats
Party
Seats %
ANC
DA
UDM
21
2
23
91.3%
8.7%
Totals
46
100%
Provincial Elections 2009
Party
Votes and %
National Elections 2009
Party
Votes and %
ANC
COPE
UDM
DA
Other
ANC
COPE
UDM
DA
Other
86,865
11,070
4,783
3,187
4,022
109,927
2
Source: Joe Gqabi DM; August 2011
3
UPDATE Aug’09: DC40 seats - ANC(90%) 9 seats, DA(10%) 1 seat, Total 10 DC40 seats
5
79.0%
10.1%
4.4%
2.9%
3.7%
100%
91,238
11,145
4,955
3,199
3,809
114,346
79.8%
9.7%
4.3%
2.8%
3.3%
100%
Figure 1: 2011 Local Government Election results and seat allocations:
e
The ANC is the leading party in terms of proportional DC40 Seats in Joe Gqabi, with 9
of 10 seats.
6
2.
SERVICE DELIVERY4
2.1
Joe Gqabi District Municipality Household Infrastructure
Household Infrastructure Overview
EC - DC14 Joe Gqabi District Municipality
0.80
0.70
0.60
0.50
Index
0.40
0.30
0.20
EC - DC14…
0.10
0.00
19961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009
Source: IHS Global Insight Regional eXplorer version
Joe Gqabi district has the fourth lowest access to infrastructure amongst districts in the
province. An overview of household access to infrastructure in the district shows an
improvement from a low level of 37% in 2000 to 46% in 2009. The main contributor to
the increase in access is electricity infrastructure.
2.2
Sanitation
With regard to access to sanitation, the district municipality’s household access to
hygienic toilets went up from 22% in 2001 to 56% in 2009. The improvement in access
to sanitation in general in the municipality is mainly due to the increase in the use of pit
latrines with ventilation. About 20% of the households were still without toilets by 2009.
2.3
Water
There are lower levels of access to clean water in the district. Access to piped water
above RDP level increased from 39% to 50% from 1996 to 2009. Similarly, there has
been an increase as well in access to piped water below RDP level and more than 20%
of households are now getting this service. More than 35% of the households do not
have access to clean water.
4
Sources: IHS Global Insight Regional eXplorer version 574 and Municipal Demarcation Board, 2008:
National Report on Local Government Capacity, District and Local Municipalities, MDB Capacity
Assessment, 2007/2008.
7
2.4
Electricity
The increase in electricity connections is the biggest infrastructure achievement in the
municipality. In 1996, household access to electricity connections was at a lower level of
28%. Access has, however, increased over the years reaching 58% by 2009.
2.5
Refuse removal
There has been a slight increase in access to formal refuse removal service from 1996
to 2009 in the Municipality. Access has gone up from 18% in 1996 to 27% in 2009.
Personal refuse removal also went up over the years and in 2009 it had reached 60%.
The district is rural and the low levels of formal refuse removal must be taken in the
context of low settlement densities, where on-site disposal or backyard burning of waste
is sometimes appropriate.
2.6
Service provider
Joe Gqabi district does not have authority and does not perform the electricity
reticulation function. The district, however, has authority and performs potable water
and sanitation functions. The district has no authority but is also performing the refuse
removal, refuse dumps and solid waste disposal function and has some capacity for
these functions.
3.
AUDIT OPINIONS
Table 3: Audit Opinions of the District and Local Municipalities
Municipality
Joe Gqabi DM
Elundini LM
Gariep LM
Maletswai LM
Senqu LM
Audit
Opinion
2005/6
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
Audit
Opinion
2006/7
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
Adverse
Adverse
Qualified
Audit Opinion
2007/8
Adverse
Qualified
Disclaimer
Adverse
Qualified
Audit
Opinion
2008/9
Adverse
Qualified
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
Financially
unqualified
with
findings
Audit
Opinion
2009/10
Qualified
Qualified
Qualified
Disclaimer
Financially
unqualified
with
findings
Source: Auditor-General 2009 and 2011, see www.agsa.co.za
Significant improvement in audit results of Senqu local municipality were registered in
2008/9 and 2009/10. This was against a backdrop of poor audit results in 2005/6,
2006/7 and 2007/8. Those of Joe Gqabi district municipality indicates a poor state of
management of resources, since despite obtaining a qualified audit outcome in 2009/10,
in the last four financial years it was awarded two disclaimers and two adverse audit
results.
8
4.
STATE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSESSMENT
4.1
Overview of findings on assessment in the municipality
4.1.1 Governance
District wide forums such as a Speakers Forum and Mayors forum were established.
The municipality requires assistance with regard to its rules of order. The Speaker and
Chief Whip require capacitating on their respective roles and responsibilities. There is
no sound working relationship between the municipality and the CDWs deployed in local
municipalities.
4.1.2 Financial Management and Viability
Almost 94% of the municipality’s income is in the form of grants. The municipality has a
poor record of audit opinions during the previous five (5) financial years. From 2003/4 to
2005/6 the municipality received disclaimers, an adverse opinion in 2006/7 and a
qualified opinion in 2007/8. The financial system currently in use in the municipality is
posing challenges. A financial bailout in the amount of R20 million was received from
the provincial Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs.
4.1.3 Service Delivery
Additional MIG funding is required to address backlogs in respect of water, sanitation,
electricity and roads. The municipality is currently focussed on a plan to provide water in
the rural areas. The Mount Fletcher water treatment plant requires electricity. Although
rural communities are provided with free basic water, huge backlogs still exist. The
district municipality is assisting local municipalities to update their indigent registers.
Challenges were experienced with the water supply dams in Gariep, Senqu and James
Town, which were empty at the time of the assessment.
5.
INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF THE MUNICIPAL TURNAROUND STRATEGY
The Joe Gqabi District Municipality identified a number of priorities for infrastructure
delivery in the Joe Gqabi Turn-Around Strategy. These relate to water, sanitation and
access to free basic services.
Table 4: Infrastructure delivery in terms of the MTAS
Challenges
Access to water and sanitation
Access to Free Basic Services
Supply chain is under staffed and
this results in supply chain
processes being too lengthy and
delay the implementation
processes
Lack of an FBS unit and dedicated
personnel
Inaccurate Indigent register.
Struggling with cleansing and
9
Municipal funding needs to be
increased
verification of Indigent data.
Bulk infrastructure is in need for
upgrade and refurbishment
Municipal
Actions
Appoint more people to capacitate
supply chain the section
Municipality is looking at other
avenues to access funding
including O & M
Other support
and
interventions
Communities are not yet aware of
FBS.
Meanwhile the FBS unit is not
established, ISD officials are
currently dealing with the
management of FBS.
Investigating other avenues of
sourcing funding
DM is also planning to fine tune
their organogram to cater for FBS
personnel.
ISD officials are currently
conducting FBS awareness
raising campaigns in communities.
National Treasury should review
and streamline SCM processes in
order to accelerate service
delivery
More funds will be requested from
National Treasury to deal with
both Free Basic Water and Free
Basic Sanitation backlogs.
There is a need for a strategy on
how to access unspent
infrastructure funds from National
Treasury
All FBW & FBSan challenges will
be forwarded for the attention of
the Provincial Service Delivery
Improvement Task Team led by
DWA .
Assistance required to access the
Regional BIG from DWA.
6.
MIG Projects
Table 5: MIG projects
Municipality
Project name
Joe Gqabi
DM
Gariep: Steynsburg
- Proposed Orange
Fish Tunnel
Pumping Scheme
Mt Fletcher Bulk
Water Supply
Scheme Phase 2
Senqu: Barkly East
Bucket Eradication
Phase 2
Ukhahlamba DM:
Upgrading of
Sterkspruit Water
Treatment Works
Registered MIG
funds
Total actual
expenditure in
the 2010/11
financial year
Project status
(Registered/design/te
nder/construction)
Project
category (e.g.
water,
sanitation,
PMU)
R 70,995,547.00
R 9,029,081.67
Construction
Water
R 201,249,374.00
R 25,917,355.37
Construction
Water
R 3,128,963.96
R 2,781,608.82
Construction
Sanitation
R 48,265,951.00
R 21,316,618.42
Construction
Water
10
Elundini LM
Maletswai LM
Senqu LM
Ukhahlamba:
Elundini - Ugie
Water Infrastructure
for the Town
Aliwal North Area 13
Bulk Sewer - Phase
2
Lady Grey Bulk
Water Upgrade
Ugie Bulk Sanitation
Infrastructure
Planning Studies 'Eluding Rural Areas
Steynsburg Bucket
Eradication Phase 3
Bucket Eradication
& Sanitation in
Khwezi-Naledi, Lady
Grey
Aliwal North
Treatment Plant Refurbishment
Phase 3b, 4, 5
Jamestown Bucket
Eradication and
Sanitation - Phase 2
Elundini Rural
Water Programme
Mahanyaneng
Access Road
Ntabelanga Access
roads
Lehana Access
Road
Renovation of
Maclear town hall
T83 Matugulo via
Tsikarong access
road
Mount Fletcher
Access roads
Moroga to Sophonia
Mangoloanang East
Access
Rehabilitation of
ugie streets
Renovation of
Mount Fletcher town
hall
PMU
Jamestown
Cemetery
Hospital access
road
Dukathole phase 2
taxi route
The Upgrading of
Roads in Wards
7,8,9 and 12 Phase
2
Upgrading of Roads
and Stormwater
Drainage Wards
R 19,735,578.00
R 1,718,488.13
Construction
Water
R 5,342,890.36
R 5,363,105.54
Construction
Sanitation
R 25,450,044.00
R 9,028,610.63
Construction
Water
R 49,104,611.00
R 2,088,080.64
Construction
Sanitation
R 2,500,000.00
R 248,771.02
Construction
Water
R 24,108,039.00
R 344,838.95
Design & Tender
Sanitation
R 12,147,288.00
R 1,165,985.20
Design & Tender
Sanitation
R 13,694,047.74
R 3,786,464.25
Design & Tender
Water
R 38,550,081.76
R 849,150.06
Design & Tender
Sanitation
R 182,117,245.00
R 42,628,289.29
Design & Tender
Sanitation
R 3,700,000.00
R 2,361,778.40
Completed
Roads & s/water
R 792,000.00
R 153,147.03
Completed
Roads & s/water
R 4,741,297.62
R 2,537,349.30
Completed
Roads & s/water
R 1,900,000.00
R 1,380,258.82
Completed
Building
R 7,671,144.00
R 3,649,639.35
Construction
Roads & s/water
R 1,827,250.00
R 11,995,374.20
R 705,445.95
R 4,683,337.41
Construction
Construction
Roads & s/water
Roads & s/water
R 6,473,303.50
R 1,980,297.60
Construction
Roads & s/water
R 10,915,072.78
R 108,569.15
Design & Tender
Roads & s/water
R 1,170,968.00
R 365,423.04
Completed
No status
Building
PMU
R770104.2
R770104.2
Construction
Cemeteries
R4692828.43
R3644526.19
Construction
Roads & s/water
R4500000
R4500000
Construction
Roads & s/water
R 14,500,000.00
R 9,173,464.96
Construction
Roads & s/water
R 12,000,000.00
R 7,554,719.32
Construction
Roads & s/water
11
1,2,&3 Phase 1
Senqu Lm:Mogesi
School Bus Route,
Sterkspruit
Construction of new
Solid Waste Site
Sterkspruit Taxi
Rank and Hawker
Facility
Project
Management Unit
Source: All MIG projects, 2011 June
R 4,083,024.76
R 1,041,534.14
Completed
R 2,736,000.00
R 128,192.24
Design & Tender
Roads & s/water
Solid
waste
disposal site
R 5,000,000.00
R 307,800.00
Design & Tender
Roads & s/water
No status
PMU
In accordance with the legislation, Joe Gqabi, Elundini, Senqu and Maletswai submitted
their 2011 June MIG projects reports. Except for Senqu, these reports were without the
signature of the accounting officer which is necessary for accuracy and their credibility.
Additionally, Senqu and Maletswai failed to report on the state of affairs in their Project
Management Units. In Joe Gqabi MIG projects are about water and sanitation of which
most are at a construction phase. Roads and water in Elundini are the main projects.
Elundini has a number of projects that have been completed. In Maletswai there are few
MIG projects and all of them are under construction. There are six MIG projects in
Senqu of which four are about roads and water. Only one project has been completed in
Senqu.
7.
VULNERABILITY CLASSIFICATION
The DCoG Municipal Spatial Classification System was designed to develop municipal
profiles according to spatial location, based upon results from indicator sets on
functionality, socio-economic profile and backlog status. Its purpose is to inform a
differentiated approach to municipalities.
The four municipal classifications developed by DCoG are:
Class 1: Most vulnerable (57 local municipalities)
Class 2: Second most vulnerable (58 local municipalities)
Class 3: Second highest performing (58 local municipalities)
Class 4: Highest performing (58 local municipalities)
The four local municipalities in the Joe Gqabi District can be classified as follow:
Table 6: Vulnerability Classification
Local Municipality
Elundini
Gariep
Maletswai
Senqu
Classification
Most vulnerable
Second most highly
performing
Second most highly
performing
Second most
vulnerable
12
From this table it is evident that only one of the four local municipalities in the Joe Gqabi
District fall into the most vulnerable category.
13