JOHANNESBURG - Preparations are underway in municipalities across the country ahead of the Local Government Elections in November.
Municipal managers will gather in Johannesburg to discuss how sustainability can be maintained during and after the elections.
Service delivery during this transition period should remain uninterrupted into the new terms of office.
According to the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) CEO Sithole Mbanga, the meeting is an opportunity for municipalities to share knowledge and experiences on managing the transition.
"As the elections take place, services do not stop," he says.
"A disaster could happen somewhere, and someone has to be in government," he adds.
Mbanga says municipalities will also be responsible for ensuring that the elections take place.
After the elections, new councillors will need to be onboarded, and this must be done seamlessly.
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He adds that municipalities must ensure outgoing councillors leave their books in order.
"This is because, immediately after the elections, they are no longer councillors," he says.
"So, it is important that municipalities and municipal managers stay ready."
Mbanga says work is under way to prepare municipalities that may not yet be ready for the transition.