Source: Govt benchmarks service delivery for councils – herald
Nokuthula Dube
LOCAL authorities will now be required to provide potable water within 500 metres of every household in urban areas and within a kilometre radius in rural areas, under new Government-imposed minimum service delivery standards.
In addition, refuse must be collected twice weekly in high-density suburbs, while potholes on tarred roads must be repaired within seven days of being reported.
The new benchmarks, contained in the Minimum Service Delivery Standards for Local Authorities framework developed by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, are designed to restore basic public services such as water provision, waste management and road maintenance across all 92 urban and rural councils.
According to the framework, water must be supplied through either a direct connection to properties or from improved sources within a reasonable walking distance — defined as within 100 metres in urban areas and within 500 metres or a 30-minute round trip in rural communities.
Improved drinking water sources include piped systems, boreholes, protected wells, springs, rainwater harvesting and delivered or packaged water.
“In urbanised areas, local authorities should ensure piped water schemes or treated borehole/spring water,” reads the document.
“All urban water users should enjoy adequate, continuous, readily accessible, safe, hygienic, sustainable and affordable domestic water and sanitation services provided by accountable, efficient, co-ordinated, funded and capacitated institutions.”
Local authorities must also respond immediately to breakdowns in water infrastructure and resolve complaints within 48 hours.
To facilitate this, councils are expected to maintain a stock of essential spare parts to repair common faults promptly.
On waste management, councils are now required to collect refuse at least twice per week in high-density suburbs and a minimum of once per week in other urban areas.
Solid waste that is not recycled at the point of generation must be removed using designated refuse trucks or skip bins.
Every property, including those in settlements at growth points, should have a solid waste containment facility.
“In order to reduce and prevent communicable diseases, local authorities should ensure that all solid waste that is not reused/recycled at the point of generation is being collected at least once per week by appropriate refuse trucks or via skip bins conveniently located in the vicinity.
“Local authorities should maintain records of solid waste collection and endeavour to stick to published refuse collection timetables.
“Local authorities should also have up-to-date solid waste management by-laws.”
On road maintenance, potholes on surfaced roads must be repaired within seven days of being reported, a clause aimed at tackling the deteriorating state of urban infrastructure.
“All types of roads should be in good condition, trafficable, and free of potholes or deformities to ensure smooth travel for drivers and passengers,” the framework reads.
It adds that roads must meet the Southern Africa Transport and Communications Commission (SATCC) standards.
These standards include maintaining a Visual Condition Index (VCI) of at least 55 percent — a measure of road surface quality based on visible defects such as potholes and cracks.
For gravel roads, the wearing course (top gravel layer) must be no less than 50mm thick to protect the public from excessive dust and erosion.
Additionally, all controlled intersections must have functional traffic lights and proper signage, while storm-water drains should remain unblocked to prevent flooding.
Local authorities are also expected to maintain updated drainage masterplans and prevent cultivation within road servitudes, which often disrupt drainage channels.
To ensure accountability, the Ministry of Local Government will assess council performance through quarterly inspections and scorecards that rank local authorities based on their compliance with the minimum standards.
“Councils that consistently fall below the benchmarked standards will be flagged for remedial action,” the framework warns.
“This may include technical support, corrective measures, or, in extreme cases, administrative sanctions.”
Sanctions will range from budgetary penalties to Government intervention in the affected councils’ operations.
While acknowledging operational challenges — including obsolete equipment, skills shortages and limited funding — the framework places the responsibility for service delivery squarely on local authorities.
It encourages councils to seek innovative solutions, including partnerships with development agencies and the private sector, to bridge resource gaps and meet their obligations.
“Local authorities must explore partnerships with development agencies and the private sector to bridge resource gaps,” it reads.
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