OPINION| Joburg committed to efficiency, getting value for money

By Tebogo Moraka

“A capable state must start where people live and work,” exclaimed President Cyril Ramaphosa during his state of the nation address (Sona) in February.

A lot of focus by the president and the national government has been on local government. Following soon on his words after his Sona speech, the president visited Johannesburg, amplifying how important the city and local government is in building a capable state. The visit by both the national and provincial governments underscored the importance of Johannesburg as still the economic powerhouse. 

Building a capable state starts with acknowledging that if local government works, then the country works. It speaks to building internal capacity in municipalities, reinvesting in basic infrastructure development, looking into the funding models of municipalities, stabilising finances, improve revenue collection and getting value for money.

Johannesburg, like many other municipalities across the country, faces similar challenges of limited funds, revenue