​11/10/2016: SALGA has let South African Local Government down 
 
The efficacy of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) has been questioned for some time. SALGA was established to empower local government councillors, and to act as their spokesperson in the national arena.
 
Out of its very nature, that means that SALGA must represent all local government councillors in a manner consistent with democracy.
 
Over the years, SALGA has, in my view, strayed from its mandate. It has become bloated and top-heavy. It has spent too much money on nice-to-haves and on projects of dubious utility.
 
There is much that suggests that it has become an instrument for the deployment of cadres of the majority party in our country. This was starkly illustrated by the recent Gauteng provincial executive of SALGA.
 
Given these developments, and following discussions with our voting partners in Council, the City of Johannesburg will provide no further funding for SALGA.
 
Specifically, the CoJ will not fund or contribute to the SALGA national congress, to be held later in the year in Johannesburg. To do so when many of our residents are living in conditions of poverty and inequality would plainly be wrong, and we cannot justify providing such funding to SALGA.
 
Everything we do must be done in the best interests of our residents.
 
Cllr Herman Mashaba
Executive Mayor
City of Joburg
 
Media Enquiries:
 
Gabu Tugwana
Mayor’s Spokesperson
011 407 7375
082 495 5673