Kouga Municipality has won a Vuna Award for its performance during 2010/11.
The awards, an initiative of the Eastern Cape Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, were presented at a ceremony inPort Elizabeth on 14 February 2012.
The Department’s spokesman, Mankeli Ngam, says municipalities were assessed for making progress in basic service delivery, economic development, deepening democracy, practising good governance and managing finances.
“Information to enable the Department to assess performance was gleaned from annual municipal performance reports, audited financial statements, Municipal Infrastructure Grant expenditure reports and municipal audit reports,” he says.
Kouga won R35 000 with the award. The first prize of R45 000 went to the Maletswai Municipality in Aliwal North.
Kouga Executive Mayor Booi Koerat this week dedicated the award to the staff of the municipality, stating t the award recognised their dedication to taking service delivery forward despite tough financial constraints. “The year 2010/11 was fraught with financial and leadership challenges but despite this Kouga’s staff kept their eye on the goal – creating a better life for our people – and scored significant success,” Koerat says.
“The award recognises the progress they made in the key performance areas of basic service delivery, good governance and public participation, institutional transformation and organisational development, and local economic development. The new Council is proud to have such a dedicated workforce.
“It is this workforce that will help us overcome the financial challenges we inherited, so that Kouga once again becomes the top municipality in the Eastern Cape.”
Kouga’s district municipality, Cacadu, also received recognition at the awards ceremony, for continuously maintaining an unqualified audit outcome.
