The District Council recently adopted its Integrated Development Plan for the next financial year. The District Municipality derives its mandate and goals from Section 83 (3) of the Municipal Systems Act of 1998, which – after thorough consultation with the stakeholders of the District Municipality, have been translated into operational terms by defining specific objectives which Council aims to achieve, as indicated in the table hereunder.

The District Priority Initiatives relate as follows with the Strategic Focus Areas of National Government:

During the strategy and project phases of the IDP, the district undertook a rigorous approach in prioritising its strategic initiatives and projects in order to ensure that the budget was informed by these initiatives and projects. The top ranked initiative was the Local Municipal Support and Capacity Building, whilst the 2010 priority initiative was high on the ranking because of the nature in which the event will leave legacy projects in terms of socio-economic development of the district. The district and through its partners has committed itself with resources to ensure that the event is a success.

The strategy map is used for communicating the business model of the district municipality, and equally seeks to present the strategic choices that management and Council had made in order to achieve the vision and mission of the municipality.

Infrastructure Development and Services focuses on continuous innovation through evaluation and undertaking feasibility studies on existing and future infrastructure development and services in the district. Infrastructure provision is no longer the main function of the district as the function has been devolved to local municipalities. Capital Projects and Municipal Services Monitoring is focused on ensuring that projects and services in the district are delivered on time, within budget, and required quality and standards.

To promote economic growth the district aims to pursue Public-Private-Partnerships that will contribute to sustainable development of the region. The district shall support local municipalities in identifying potential partnerships and facilitate the formalisation or establishment of such partnerships for the benefit of communities. Ehlanzeni is endowed with tourism potential and economic opportunities in agriculture, mining and manufacturing. Priority initiative Tourism and Local Economic Development is focused on unlocking tourism potential and economic opportunities for investors, entrepreneurs and businesses to take advantage of, and support the district’s underlying objectives of growing the economy, creating jobs and reducing poverty.

The 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup presents opportunities for the region in terms of its contribution to the economy in the short term. The event will equally provide long term benefits to businesses that intend to operate even after the event. The district intends to promote the region by taking advantage of the soccer event to market investment potential and its tourism sector.

IDP and Budget Compliance and SDBIP Adherence priority initiatives aim at strengthening financial governance in the municipality. This is to ensure that financial resources are used prudently, and priority projects are implemented in the most economical, cost efficient and effective manner thereby promoting the “value for money” principle. The district intends to develop a Multi-Year Plan of 5 – 10 years that will assist with long range planning especially with budget planning for the district as a whole. Prospectus and Business Plans will be prepared where required to lobby for additional resources from investors or businesses to support development initiatives and priorities in the district. This will also provide opportunities for public-private-partnerships to the district.

Local Municipal Support and Capacity Building will focus on ensuring that all municipalities in the district have the necessary institutional support and capacity to deliver services. This priority initiative aims to strengthen municipalities to perform their functions and deliver on the local government mandate. The district aims to implement a sound Performance Management System, improve Communication internally and externally, and promote its programmes and those of local municipalities through Marketing and Branding.

Training and Development of Staff remains the cornerstone to service delivery. The district will continue to invest in its human capital through continuous learning programmes and skills development.

Stakeholder Participation and involvement in district programmes is critical for good governance and ensuring that democracy becomes embedded in organisational processes of the district. This initiative aims to resuscitate and strengthen the current organisational structures to ensure that stakeholders are part of the district vision and strategy implementation.  Inter governmental relations in the municipality and other spheres of government are critical in ensuring alignment and harmonisation of programmes across the district and province. This priority initiative aims to ensure that stakeholder structures are effective and contribute to the integration of government programmes in the district.
Striving towards its vision of becoming the “best performing district municipality of the 21st century”, the diligent pursuance of this strategy will enable Ehlanzeni District Municipality, as well as all five local municipalities within its district area, to make a difference to the quality of life of their communities.  

Please click on the links below to access the detailed Integrated Development Plan for 2009/10 and other documents relating to the Ehlanzeni District Municipality strategy:

• IDP 2009-10.pdf(4.7MB)
• EDMUpdated Framework Plan Draft 2009-2010.pdf(806KB)
• Draft IDP [5 Year Strategy] for 2010/2011.pdf (18MB)