Deputy President Paul Mashatile has reassured South Africans on the nature of the Land Expropriation Act. Mashatile addressed the South African Local Government Association’s (SALGA) National Executive Committee Lekgotla in Cape Town, Western Cape today. “There are those who are scared, of course, because they interpret this Expropriation Act as giving the government just unfettered
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has reassured South Africans on the nature of the Land Expropriation Act. Mashatile addressed the South African Local Government Association’s (SALGA) National Executive Committee Lekgotla in Cape Town, Western Cape today.
“There are those who are scared, of course, because they interpret this Expropriation Act as giving the government just unfettered powers of land grab. That’s not the case. This is a proper law that is going to ensure that things are done properly. But that almost all our people must have access to land to be able to be productive.”
On matters of local government, the deputy President noted that a coalition framework has been developed and handed over to COGTA, to better equip the state in addressing challenges seen in coalition municipalities.
“This framework has been handed over to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs as a basis for the development of the Municipal Structures Amendment Bill 2024, which some call the Coalitions Bill, which is managed now by COCTA, and will be submitted to Cabinet for approval and to be introduced to Parliament in this coming session.”
The deputy President brought up the issue of local government funding, acknowledging the role that government entities need to play.
“At the beginning of the new administration after independence, there was a particular view on municipalities and the kind of revenue base we thought they have. And that must have informed the issue of how we manage the sharing of revenue in terms of the national fiscals. That needs to be reviewed now that we know the reality.”
To better address the funding owed to municipalities, Mashatile brought into focus what he calls a one-stop solution, where money owed by governmental organs will be subtracted from their budget and paid to the municipalities owed.
Original Story by www.sabcnews.com
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