Ethekwini Municipality's failure to submit WSP inexcusable

MEDIA STATEMENT RELEASED BY:
MR PETER SMITH MP
IFP SPOKESPERSON ON PROVINCIAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

February 20, 2007

The IFP is disappointed that Ethekwini Municipality, which is frequently hailed as a model of good governance, has failed to timeously submit to the Local Government its latest Workplace Skills Programme, as required by law.

All municipalities pay a 1% payroll levy via SARS to the LG Seta, 50% of which is returned back to the employer as a mandatory training grant after receipt and approval, by the SETA, of its Workplace Skills Programme.

By failing to submit on time, Durban has forfeited the 50% grant, amounting to some R8m.

The IFP believes this in inexcusable. We believe municipal compliance with statutory skills training obligations is very important and that this is a field that should be brought within the scope of the performance contract of each and every municipal manager whose responsibility it is as accounting officer of the municipality, to ensure that no fruitless and wasteful expenditure is incurred.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr Peter Smith MP: 084 703 6009
Noleen Hendricks: 082 886 9848