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Models for Professionalisation of Municipal Administrators Phindile Ntliziywana Conference on Local Government Law 19-20 November 2012 Port Elizabeth. Models of professionalisation. Non-statutory Association model Statutory Association model Generic Qualification model
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Models for Professionalisation of Municipal Administrators Phindile NtliziywanaConference on Local Government Law19-20 November 2012Port Elizabeth
Models of professionalisation • Non-statutory Association model • Statutory Association model • Generic Qualification model • Short-term delegation model • Performance Management model • Standard setting model
1. Non-statutory Association model (i) Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants (IMTA) • A professional body for municipal finance officials -formed in 1929 • to enhance the technical ability of municipal finance officials in South Africa • NBMembership voluntary – not a formal requirement for recruitment into office • Registered under section 21 of the Company’s Act as a non-profit organisation
Curriculum • 1929 Curriculum: Diploma curriculum • 1972 Curriculum: partial graduate status • 1980 Curriculum: full graduate status • First 54 yrs exclusively catering for whites • Black local authorities - 1982
(ii) Institute of Town Clerks of Southern Africa (1946) • Aim: promote and improve the technical and professional knowledge of town clerks • curriculum consisted of courses taken at any University for degree or non-degree purposes + Admission Exams • Exemption • Membership exclusively reserved for whites
2. Statutory Association model • The Profession of Town Clerks Act and Municipal Accountants Acts of 1988 – statutory public recognition to IMTA and Institute of Town Clerks • Curriculum still designed by the Institutes • Membership - A legal requirement • Appointment outside the Institutions, null and void. • Unregistered person prohibited from performing municipal accountants functions – criminal offence
3. Generic Qualification model • Profession of Town Clerk & Municipal Accountants Acts - repealed in 1996 and 2003 • Retaining them would perpetuated black exclusion • South African Qualification Authorities Act, 1995 • Single national ministry of education & training, along with a National South African Qualifications Authority • memorandum on the objects of the Profession of Town Clerks Act, Repeal Bill • Skills Development Act, 1998 • SETAs in every sector • Local Government: LGSETA • Skills Development Levies Act-1999
4. Short-term deployment model • Initial response • Quick fix model (National Development Plan) • Project Consolidate (DPLG 2004)- deploy technical expert to selected municipalities • SiyenzaManje (DBSA 2005)- recruits qualified retired experts and skilled consultants (with young graduates) to help with infrastructure, planning and capacity building • Municipal Finance Management Support Programme (NT)- enhancing key financial management capacity
5. Performance Management Model • Performance Management Regulations (2006) • Focus on outcomes rather than inputs • Subjects employment – signing of performance agreement • Aim: • Measuring and evaluating performance • Performance bonus • Correction in the case of substandard performance
6. Standard Setting Model • National Treasury’s competency regulations (2007) • standard setting without external enforcement • Systems Amendment Act (2011) • standard setting with external enforcement
Treasury Regulations • Prescribes minimum competencies of MMs, CFOs, senior managers and other financial officers (including supply chain management officials) • Comprises qualifications, experience, core competencies and competencies in unit standards • Uniform, except wrt financial officers differentiates according to budget size
Key provisions • Reg 13: • Municipal manager must ensure the assessment of competencies - to identify competency gaps • Reg 14: • municipal manager to monitor compliance and to take any necessary step to ensure compliance by 1 January 2013. • Reg 15 and 18(2): • make the continued employment and the conditions of employment conditional on attainment of requisite competencies. • Reg 16: • attainment of the prescribed competency must be included in their performance agreement.
Key provs.... • Regulation 17: • enjoins the municipalities to assist their officials to attain the competency levels. • Reg 18(1): • with effect from 1 January 2013, no municipality may employ officials not meeting the competency levels.
Consequences of not meeting requirements • legal uncertainty with respect to actual legal situation after 31 Dec 2012 • Minister of finance – issued a warning (dismissal), but how does it really work? • Financial and Fiscal Commission – recommended urgent and rigorous enforcement of the Regulations • Circular 60 – ‘continued employability impacted upon’
Consequences.... • Does the contract lapse automatically? • If contractually bound??????? • Should there be a process that trigger regulations? • Are municipality compelled to dismiss/demote managers who didn’t make it? • no specific provisions dealing with external enforcement • Non-compliance with financial management responsibilities, powers and duties – ‘financial misconduct’ • What is clear is that this uncertainty could backfire and undermine the intentions of the Regulations • Officials are exposed to different interpretations • Their failure can be used against them by politicians
Municipal Systems Act: standard setting + enforcement • Focus: MMs and senior managers • Regulates recruitment process • Minimum competencies will be prescribed by CoGTA • Appointment is invalid if: • competencies not adhered to • recruitment process not adhered to
External supervision/support • No suitable candidate? ask MEC to second • If MEC fails ask the Minister • Municipality reports to MEC on each appointment • MEC passes report on to Minister • Violation of the Act? MEC musttake appropriate steps (e.g. court action) • If MEC fails (wrt MM) Minister may
Ethics • MM/senior manager may not be political office-bearer • Focus of rules on ethics: all staff • Staff member dismissed for misconduct? • prescribed moratorium on re-employment elsewhere • Staff member dismissed for financial misconduct? • 10 yr moratorium • External supervision: all ‘disciplinaries’ must be reported to MEC who forwards to the Minister • Minister maintains central database of delinquents
Models of professionalisation • Non-statutory Association • Statutory Association • Generic Qualification • Short-term delegation • Performance Management • Standard setting (with/without external enforcement)
Thank You pntliziywana@uwc.ac.za