About SALGA
The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) is a public entity established by the Organised Local Government Act (Act 52 of 1997) to assist in the comprehensive transformation of local government in South Africa. SALGA is managed within the framework of the Public Finance Management Act (Act 1 of 1999) and is listed as a schedule 3A public entity. Its main objectives are to:
- Represent, promote and protect the interests of local government
- Transform local government to enable it to fulfil its developmental role
- Enhance the role and status of its members as provincial representatives and consultative bodies of local government
- Enhance the role and status of municipalities
- Be recognised by national and provincial governments to be the representative and consultative body in respect of all matters concerning local government and to make representations to both provincial and national governments in respect of any matter concerning local government
- Ensure the full participation of women in organised local government
- Be the National Employers’ Association representing all municipal members and by agreement, associate members.
SALGA MANDATE
Developmental Local Government is an essential component of the machinery of government.
In accordance with its constitutional mandate, SALGA is obliged to transform the local government sector to one that has the required capacity to make a meaningful contribution to poverty alleviation, economic development and all socio-economic opportunities that the state has geared itself to provide for its people.
SALGA also serves as the representative voice of all 257 municipalities in the country.
For the past 20 years, since its establishment, SALGA has endeavoured to bring focus to its mandate of supporting local government transformation in a complex environment, characterised by a highly diverse and diffuse membership-base of municipalities.
In terms of its amended Constitution, SALGA is a unitary body that consists of a national association and nine provincial offices.
Its mandate rests on six primary pillars:
- Representation, Advocacy and Lobbying refers to representing the interests of members in legislatures and other policy making and oversight structures. It also refers to engaging with various stakeholders, public debates etc. in the interest of Local Government.
- Employer Body refers to being an effective employer representative for members.Employer representation is carried out through collective bargaining (in terms of the Labour Relations Act) in various structures including but not limited to those established in the South African Local Government Bargaining Council.
- Capacity Building refers to facilitating capacity building initiatives through among others; representing member interests in the Local Government Sector Education Authority (LGSETA). SALGA strives to facilitate a coherent, well-co-ordinated capacity building programme for municipal councillors and officials.
- Support and Advice refers to the provision of tools and services that enable municipalities to understand and interpret trends, policies and legislation affecting Local Government and to implement the said policies and plans.
- Strategic Profiling of Local Government refers to enhancing the profile and image of local government as an important and credible agent for the delivery of services. Profiling focuses within South Africa, the African continent and the rest of the world.
- Knowledge and Information Sharing refers to building and sharing a comprehensive hub of Local Government knowledge and intelligence that will enable informed delivery of other SALGA mandates. The knowledge hub is also a useful reference point for all who seek Local Government information.
LEARNING PROGRAMMES
Accredited learning Programmes:
- Integrated Councillor Induction Programme
- Leadership in Municipal Governance Programme
- Municipal Leaders Media and Stakeholder Engagement Programme
- Women Leadership Development Programme
- Senior Managers Induction Programme
Continuous Development Programmes:
- Local Labour Forum Training for Employers
- Performance Management Training
- Job Task Evaluation Training
- Back to Basics-Leadership Development Programme
- Annual Local Government Seminars:
- Local Links Leadership (Seminar Styled) Programme
- Annual Local Government Employment/Labour Law Seminar Programme
- Annual Local Government HR Governance Seminar
- Annual Local Government Performance Management Seminar Programme
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
- Leadership Competency Model Online Assessment Tool
- Municipal Leadership Competency Assessment Centre
- Online Communities of Practice
- E-learning Services