Deputy Minister Hangana
Local Government Laws Amendment Bill passed
On 26 March 2008, the National Council of Provinces passed amendments to the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill that were proposed by the Select Committee on Local Government and Administration.
Deputy Minister N Hangana opened and closed the debate. In her speech she listed the policy intentions of the amendments contained in the Bill, which serve to:
• specifically improve fiscal alignment, planning and budgeting
• promote the uniform interpretation and application of the law
• enhance performance management in local government
• further refine and remove impediments in the implementation of municipal property rates
• promote practices in good governance
• ensure alignment among legislation pertaining to local government
In his comments, the Chairperson of the Select Committee, Hon Sicelo Shiceko, indicated the need for the NCOP to undertake full and in-depth discussion of the outcomes and findings of the White Paper process currently underway. In her final remarks the Deputy Minister indicated that the Bill, with the amendments of the Select Committee, will now be referred to and deliberated on by the Portfolio Committee on Local Government of the National Assembly before it is finally presented to the National Assembly for approval.
The dplg has noted with satisfaction that all parties unanimously voted in favor of the Bill in the NCOP.
(The Select Committee's proposed amendments may be found in Parliament's Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports No 37-2008-dated Tuesday 25 March 2008).
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