Minister of Local Government, Dr. Ponts’o ‘M’atumelo Sekatle, met with heads of mission from the People’s Republic of China, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, the Republic of Ireland, the Federal Republic of Germany and, the Republic of South Africa. 

The briefing meeting was also attended by the heads of the United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF, WHO, FAO, WFP, GTZ and the European Union. 

Dr Sekatle provided a broad overview to historical developments of local government in the country from 1966 to the present. She also outlined the main principles guiding its decentralization programme. 

The decentralization programme needed developing partner assistance in capacity building for district administrators, councilors and council employees, development of infrastructure, support to councils’ development programmes and the establishment of a District Development Fund. The German government has already pledged five million Euros to the latter. 

The diplomatic corps were also briefed on the status of preparations for the local government elections including sensitising the public, chiefs, political parties and NGOs on the concept of local government, its benefits and the various stakeholders’ participation in the whole process. 

They were also told about the preparations in terms of human resources redeployment strategies, the appointment of District Administrators, Chief Executive Officers and Council Secretaries; available infrastructural facilities at district level; budget for the local authorities as well as how it will be channeled to the local councils.

29 March 2005