Empowering local governance: Seasonal School for Councilors returns to WC

Today, the Department of Local Government (DLG) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) are hosting the continuation of the Seasonal School for Councilors in the Western Cape. This collaborative effort, established over two decades ago with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Western Cape Government and the HSF, is dedicated to strengthening governance, promoting accountability, and addressing financial misconduct within local authorities.

Building on the success of past sessions, the Seasonal School is focusing on the theme of "Consequence Management: Financial Misconduct" for the 2024/25 financial year. This theme was chosen based on valuable feedback from Councilors and concerns raised by the Auditor-General, highlighting the importance of addressing critical issues affecting municipalities.

The Seasonal School comprises two distinct sessions, each tailored to Councilors from specific district municipalities:

• Session 1: June 13-14, 2024, in George, for Councilors from Garden Route and Central Karoo District Municipalities.
• Session 2: June 19-20, 2024, in Worcester, for Councilors from Cape Winelands, West Coast, and Overberg District Municipalities.

The primary goal is to equip participants with knowledge, insights, and skills related to financial misconduct procedures, accountability, and legal principles. Through engaging sessions and expert-led discussions, Councilors will gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and solutions for effective governance within local authorities.

Dr. Sandra Greyling, Acting Chief Director of Municipal Performance Monitoring and Support expressed her enthusiasm: "We are excited to continue our collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Foundation in delivering impactful training sessions for Councilors. By focusing on consequence management and financial misconduct, we aim to empower Councilors with the necessary tools to promote transparency, integrity, and efficiency within their municipalities."

The training was well-attended by councillors from Garden Route and Central Karoo municipalities.