Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - September 26, 2004
These challenges include:
* How best to improve the performance of governance systems - this relates to the need to develop strong leadership to handle conflict management, and to more clearly define the roles of councillors and senior management; * How best to improve the financial performance of municipalities - often this relates to the inability of municipalities to raise revenue through rates and tariffs. This is generally a result of inadequate financial systems and poor consumer relations; and
* How best to improve service delivery - while emphasis is placed on the provision of new infrastructure, there is often insufficient attention given to the long-term operation and maintenance of services. The provision of water supply and sanitation are good examples of a focus on delivery. A lack of these services is regarded as endemic to states of poverty - and exacerbates the problems of vulnerable groups, especially those affected by HIV/Aids and other diseases.
Salga has set a range of target dates for the provision of basic water supply to all South Africans (2008); the provision of adequate and safe water to all schools (2005); and to all clinics (2007).
Targets for sanitation include: the provision of a functioning basic sanitation facility for all South Africans (by 2010); and adequate and safe sanitation for all schools (2005) and clinics (2007).
While the achievements since 1994 in delivering low-income housing have been widely acknowledged, the housing backlog - which now stands at about two million units - continues to rise. Across nine cities, the number of households without formal shelter increased by 28.5% between 1996 and 2001.
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