Government launches Operation Vulindlela II to rejuvenate local municipalities

THE South African government has decided to zero-in on municipalities in a bid to accelerate the implementation of structural economic reforms for inclusive long-term growth in the second phase of Operation Vulindlela.

- SIPHELELE DLUDLA

Operation Vulindlela II, which was launched on Wednesday, will be focused on strengthening local government and improving the delivery of basic services, harnessing digital public infrastructure, and creating dynamic and integrated cities to enable economic activity.

Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms and support economic recovery by modernising and transforming network industries, including electricity, water, transport and digital communications.

The Presidency’s director of strategy Saul Musker said the deteriorating performance of local government was a major constraint on growth as it was affecting businesses and holding back investment.

Musker said the decline in local government performance was the result of both particular factors in each municipality, as well as structural causes that have their roots in the system itself.

He said the reforms proposed in OV II aimed to address those structural challenges, with local government being at the heart of the problem due to a lack of investment in infrastructure and maintenance.

"So the first priority that we've set out is to shift to a utility model for water and electricity services, in future also for waste management, but otherwise termed the trading services in local government, to ensure financial and operational sustainability," Musker said.