The Limpopo district and local municipalities’ officials embarked on a specially designed municipal skills programme to increase service delivery. The programme was held at Edu-Park in Polokwane last Sunday.

According to the director of the Wits Business School, Prof Mthuli Ncube, the school, in association with the Department of National Treasury, had teamed up to develop a programme for municipal officials to increase and enhance their management skills at local government level. These skills are critical in the process of service delivery. "This premier programme, a certificate in management development for municipal finance (CPMD), will provide municipal officials with an in-depth understanding of the changing needs of today’s municipal service delivery and how it impacts on the economy," indicated Ncube.

He added that it was Wits Business School’s commitment to work hand in hand with local government to increase skills competency levels. "I am certainly proud of our partnership with government in this effort to improve service delivery at local government level," Ncube acknowledged.

The programme was funded by the Limpopo Department of Local Government.

The municipal managers, chief financial officers and senior officials from various local and district municipalities, such as the Vhembe District Municipality, Waterberg District Municipality, Mopani District, Aganang, Musina, Makhuduthamaga, Fitakgomo and Lephalale Local Municipalities attended the programme.

Asked about the possible impact and challenges that might be addressed in the respective municipalities, one of the students, Mr Jacob Ntuli, who is the budget and treasury officer at Mopani District Municipality, told Mirror that the programme was basically going to address the needs of the unqualified chief financial officers (CFOs) within the budget and treasury sections. "I am happy and feel greatly honored to be part of the programme. This in actual fact will also promote the appointment of competent people in finance. It will address the backlog within the financial administration as well," Ntuli said.

He added that he was quite sure that the municipalities would improve dramatically in terms of financial administration.

The course instructor, Ms Zimasa Koyana, said that the programme was becoming very successful in terms of addressing challenges within the municipalities. "I do believe that, at the end, all municipalities will have skilled personnel at management level. They are getting equipped with tools that will assist them to make things happen," says Koyana.