Authorities » Gert Sibande

» Vision

The Vision of the Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM) is as follows: "striving to excel in good governance and quality infrastructure".

» Mission

It is the Mission of the Municipality to focus on the following aspects in order to achieve the Vision:

• Municipal Infrastructure Development
• Economic and Tourism Promotion
• Community & Stakeholder Participation
• Efficient Systems & Administration
• Human Development

» Corporate Values

Implementing the above, the Gert Sibande District Municipality subscribes to the following corporate values:

• Accountability
• Customer Focus
• Responsiveness
• Excellence
• Service Oriented

Abbreviations

GSDM | Gert Sibande District Municipality

GSDM is demarcated as D30 as per the Municipal Demarcation Board, and is one of the three (3) District Municipalities that constitute Mpumalanga Province. Map 1 below provides a graphical presentation of Gert Sibande District Municipality. The District Municipality is bordered by Ekurhuleni Metro to the west and Sedibeng District Municipality to the south west respectively both in Gauteng Province, Ehlanzeni District Municipality to the north east and Nkangala District Municipality to the north respectively both in Mpumalanga Province, Amajuba District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal Province to the south east, and Swaziland to the east.

» Vision

The transparent, innovative and developmental municipality that improves the quality of life of its people.

» Mission

To provide a transparent and accountable government by rendering affordable and sustainable services and encouraging economic and social development through community participation.

• Area: 5559.39 square kilometres
• Population (estimated): 187,936 (2001 census)
• Location of Head office: Carolina
• Towns within the Municipal Boundaries:
• Badplaas, Carolina, Eerstehoek, Lochiel

» Physical Address

28 Kerk Street
Carolina

» Postal Address

Private Bag X719
Carolina
1185

Tel: 017 843 1055
Fax: 017 843 1631
Website: http://www.albertluthuli.gov.za

» Vision

To be a friendly, economically viable place providing a better life for all people, uplifting previously disadvantaged communities to enable them to become important role players in the development of Dipaleseng.

» Mission

• Dipaleseng Municipality will ensure a better life for all through efficient and effective service delivery
• LED strategies to enhance job creation
• Developing and implementing a proper communication strategy
• Promoting prompt payment for services, and competent and skilled staff.

• Dipaleseng Municipal Motto: Per Arde A Ad Astra
• Area: 2615km squared
• Population (estimated): 38 617
• Location of Head Office: Balfour
• Towns and Settlements within the Municipal Boundaries: Balfour, Dasville, Greylingstad, Grootvlei, Val, Willemsdal

» Physical Address

Cnr. Joubert & Stewart Streets
Balfour
Mpumalanga

» Postal Address

Private Bag X 1005
Balfour
2410

Tel: 017 773 0055
Fax: 017 773 0169
Website: http://www.gertsibande.co.za

» Vision

To lead in service delivery and economic development

» Mission

Championing an integrated service delivery and sustainable economic growth with stakeholder involvement

• Municipal Motto: Transparency, Accountability, Consultation, Excellence
• Area: 2958.9km squared
• Population (estimated): 221 747 (2001)
• Towns and Settlements within the Municipal Boundaries: Bethal, Bethel East, Bethelrand, Charl Cilliers, eMbalenhle, Emzinoni, Evander, Kinross, Leandra, Leslie, Roodebank, Secunda, Springbokdraai, Trichardt, Winkelhaak

» Physical Address

Central Business Area
Town Council
Secunda

» Postal Address

Private Bag X 1017
Secunda
2302

Tel: 017 620 6000
Fax: 017 634 8019
Website: http://www.govanmbeki.gov.za

» Vision

To be the leading, people centred municipality excelling in economic growth, development and governance

» Mission

• Transparent and accountable governance
• Accelerated customer focused affordable service delivery
• Creation of a conducive environment for economic development and growth
• Sustainable infrastructural development and maintenance
• Enhance community participation in the affairs of the municipality
• To initiate ground breaking innovations in the way we conduct our business

»Lekwa LM

• Local Municipality of Lekwa Municipal Motto: Deo Favente
• Area: 450 km squared
• Population (estimated): 103 263 (2001)
• Location of Head Office: Standerton
• Towns and Settlements within the Municipal Boundaries: Bettiesdam, Elmtree, Holmdene, Maizefield, Meyerville, Morgenzon, Platrand, Roberts Drift, Standerton, and Stanfield Hill.

» Physical Address

Cnr Beyers Naude and Mbonani Mayisela Streets
Standerton

» Postal Address

PO Box 66
Standerton
2430

Tel: 017 712 9600
Fax: 017 712 6808
Website: http://www.lekwamunicipality.org.za

» Vision

A customer-driven, tranquil and model municipality of excellence.

» Mission

The Mkhondo Municipality is committed to creating an institutional environment geared to provide quality services to all its customers.

• Municipal Motto: Stabiliter Progrediens
• Area: 4 868 km squared
• Location of Head Office: Piet Retief
• Towns and Settlements within the Municipal Boundaries: Amsterdam, Nysspruit, Berbice, Bergen, Braunschweig,Commondale, Dirkiesdorp, Iswepe, Moolman, Panbult, Piet Retief (Mkhondo), Wittenberg

» Physical Address

Civic Centre
Mark Street
Piet Retief

» Postal Address

Private Bag X 1005
Balfour
2410

Tel: 017 826 2211
Fax: 017 826 0330
Website: http://www.mkhondompu.gov.za

» Vision

Through its committed people, Msukaligwa will be the best municipal service deliverer and will continually better itself in order to transform and develop the delivery system to meet the challenges of sustainable development and improved well-being.

» Mission

We commit ourselves to:

• Directing all its resources, systems and capabilities in a cost effective, transparent and accountable manner to ensure effective and efficient administration and economic growth focused on addressing the needs of the community we serve as envisaged in our IDP.
• Doing everything within our capacity to reach the goals as set out in the IDP plan.
• Serving the various stakeholders within the Msukaligwa Municipal area as effectively and efficiently as possible with emphasis on development with all available resources.

• Municipal Motto: Stabiliter Progrediens
• Area: 6020 km squared
• Population (estimated): 124 319
• Location of Head Office: Ermelo
• Towns and Settlements within the Municipal Boundaries: Breyten, Kwazanele, Ermelo, Wesselton, Chrissiesmeer, Kwachibikulu, Davel,Kwadela, Sheepmoor, Camden, Lothair,Silindile and Warburton.

» Physical Address

Cnr Church & Taute Streets
Ermelo
2350

» Postal Address

PO Box 48
Ermelo
2350

Tel: 017 801 3500
Fax: 017 819 3210
Website: http://www.msukaligwa.gov.za

» Vision

Pixley Ka Seme is credible, affordable, well-developed and the best municipality.

» Mission

We will deliver affordable and quality services, in accordance with our IDP. This will be achieved through community participation, trained and motivated staff, rapid economic development and a tourism friendly environment.

• Area: 5227,98km squared
• Population (estimated): 80 737 (2001)
• Location of Head Office: Volksrust
• Towns and Settlements within the Municipal Boundaries: Amersfoort, Daggakraal, Perdekop, Volksrust, Wakkerstroom

» Physical Address

Cnr. Joubert & Laingsnek Street
Volksrust

» Postal Address

Private Bag X 9011
Volksrust
2470

Tel: + 27 (0)17 734 6100
Fax: +27 (0)86 630 2209
Website: http://pixleykaseme.local.gov.za

»Abstract

Understanding and appreciating population dynamics and growth patterns including distribution is vital to understanding the directions, volume and quantity of goods and services required to meet the needs of the population. This ultimately finds expression in terms of freight goods demanded as well as conveyed from one region of the district to the other.

The Provincial mid-year population estimates for 2006 by Statistics South Africa is 3, 508, 000 for Mpumalanga Province. The population for the GSDM area, therefore accounts for 25.63% of the total population of the Province; the Nkangala District area for 29.09%, and the Ehlanzeni District for the remaining 45.28%. Throughout the Gert Sibande District more than half of the population (52.76%) and nearly two thirds of the households (62.04%) reside in urbanized areas.

An interesting fact to note is that nearly a third of the households (29.67%) reside on farmland, which increases pressure on local municipalities to provide services herein upon reaching agreements with farm owners, which has also proven to be a daunting task in most areas across the country. People residing in rural areas more often do not have ownership where they reside, which in turn disqualifies them from housing subsidies and proper services. A proper study and strategy for formalizing rural settlements is therefore needed within the GSDM, area. The District is home to 985 632 people who constitute 25% of the Mpumalanga Province total population, with an average population density of 30.12 per km2. District's population distribution per Local Municipality is depicted in the table below.

There is a wide range of community facilities and services available within the GSDM.

The focus of the District is not only on the number and spatial distribution of such facilities, but also on the nature and quality of services provided in such facilities to optimise their functionality, and thus accessibility of services by all the communities.

In addition to these facilities, District also adopted the concept of a Thusong Services Centre, formerly Multi Purpose Community Centre, to provide a comprehensive range of services under one roof in an effort to provide all residents in the GSDM area one-stop access to services within their proximity (10 KM).

Table 1: Community facilities in Gert Sibande District Municipality

As per the depiction on the table above there is a fair amount of community facilities distributed across the District, yet. In the light of the increased population and the emanating facility demands that accompany such growth, there is still much that needs to be done so as to ensure equitable distribution of these services and thus meet all the service delivery needs of the local populace.

Key Issues pertaining to Community Facilities include among others the following:

• Equitable distribution of facilities across the District as per the spatial dynamics;
• Efficient use of these facilities by communities; and
• Coherent approach to construction of these facilities among all stakeholders.

The Disaster Management Act, Act No 57 of 2002 stipulates that Disaster Management Centres be established at National, Provincial and Local government levels. The Act also specifies that an integrated and coordinated Disaster Management Policy Framework and other Disaster Management Plans, focusing on the prevention and reduction of the risks of Disasters, mitigating of the severity of disasters, emergency preparedness, rapid and effective response to Disasters and post-disaster recovery be put in place by all three spheres of government.

According to the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act: Section 84(j)

Fire fighting services serving the area of the District municipality as a whole, which includes:

• Planning, co-ordination and regulation of the fire services.
• Specialized fire fighting services such as mountain, veld and chemical fire services;
• Co-ordination of the standardization of infrastructure, vehicles, equipment and procedures;
• Training of fire officers.

The District in partnership with its constituent LMs performs the function of planning, monitoring, evaluation of the services and delivery mechanisms within its area through the Disaster Management Forum. Funding is partly provided for some capital and operational needs, training and support for Volunteer cops.

The recent veld fires which caused destabilizing disruption, loss of life and financial implications thereof and the contribution of the traffic related accidents on (specifically along N17) calls for extensive preparation and support across the District.

The Disaster Management Act compels the District and its seven constituent LMs to collectively harness their emergency response during or prior and after the occurrence of disasters.

Table 1: Disaster Management Capacity

During the 2004/2005 financial year, the GSDM has conducted a risk assessment within its area of jurisdiction in order to

ascertain all risks and potential hazards that are likely to happen and may constitute disaster if they are not considered, reduced, mitigated or prevented.

The following are some of the possible and potential hazards which are prevalent within the District

• Air pollution
• Flooding (storm water and natural)
• Veld fires
• Explosions at industrial plants
• Road accidents
• Dam failures
• Hazmat spills

GSDM has and will continue to capacitate its constituent municipalities to harness their ability to cope and be ready to adequately respond and mitigate disaster by donating fire engine trucks and graders for road maintenance. Although the LMs are not fully equipped including in the areas of Human Resources, they try their outmost best to respond timeously to issues such as veld fires, floods, dam failure and road accidents.

The following among others were identified as Key Issues that must be addressed so as to effectively manage, mitigate and prevent disasters:

• Integrated Institutional capacity
• Disaster Risk Assessment
• Disaster Risk Reduction
• Disaster Response and related Recovery
• Lack of traffic personnel and their resources
• Lack of fire fighters personnel
• Lack of disaster management personnel in LMs
• Inadequate response vehicles
• The development of disaster policy framework, disaster management plans and contingency plans for LMs as well as GSDM.