Transcript EXPERIENCE SHARING OF FORMER EXECUTIVE MAYOR OF …

WOMEN IN LG 2013
CONFERENCE
• EXPERIENCE SHARING OF FORMER EXECUTIVE
MAYOR SOPHY MOLOKOANE-MACHIKA OF THE TIME
SPEND AT THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY OF MADIBENG
CONTENT
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RECEPTION AS WOMEN MAYOR
STRATEGY
GOVERNANCE
PERCEPTIONS AND PROPAGANDA MACHINERY
LESSONS LEARNED
ADVICE TO CURRENT NEW WOMEN EXECUTIVE MAYORS, MAYORS
AND COUNCILLORS
• CONCLUSION
RECEPTION
• WAS A COUNCILLOR IN THE BOJANALA DISTRICT AND WAS TO BE A
MAYOR THERE BUT IN TERMS OF MY POLITICAL PARTY PROTOCOL THEN
WAS SWAPPED WITH THE LOCAL MAYOR
• AS WOMEN AND MOTHER I KNEW I HAVE TO BE THE MOTHER OF ALL, THE
ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF MADIBENG
• WAS A THREAT TO MOST MEN LEADERS IN MADIBENG DUE TO MY PAST
TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• DESPITE BEING AN EXECUTIVE MAYOR WAS FACED WITH THE
APPOINTMENT OF MAYORAL CABINET, THE APPOINTMENT OF SECTION 56
AND 57-MOSTLY ALL MEN LEADERS WANTED TO BE IN THE TEAM, PEOPLE
STARTED HATING ME FURTHER
CONTINUATION
• AS WOMEN MAYOR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THAT
MUNICIPALITY WAS NOT WELL WELCOMED IN THE MENS
WORLD
• UNDERMINING ME AS A WOMEN EXECUTIVE MAYOR WAS THE
TALK OF THE TIME
• HOW AS WOMEN TRIED TO MEET ALL POCKETS OF
MUNICIPALITY
STRATEGY
* DEVELOPED STRATEGY BASED THE HAND OVER REPORT AND
HISTORY BACKGROUND OF THE MUNICIPALITY
_ THE HIGH DISPARITIES e.g. HARTEBEESPOORT DAM BEING THE
SANDTON AND MORE THAN 143 RURAL VILLAGES 4 TOWNSHIPS
_ THE MINING SECT0R AROUND MUNICIPALITY NOT BENEFITING
THE MUNICIPALITY
_ THE FARMING SECTOR, TOURISM SECTOR AND THE
MANUFACTURING SECTOR
CONT….
• DEVELOPED ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY, BY ESTABLISHING FORUMS
• FOR MININGSECTOR ENSURED THAT THE MUNICIPAL IDP
INFLUENCED THEIR SOCIAL LABOUR PLAN AND HELD MONTHLY
FEEDBACK SESSION
• HOW TO CLOSE THE SERVICE DELIVERY GAP
• THE WATER QUALITY ISSUE
• TYPE OF ADMINISTRATION ( THE STAFF AND FINANCIAL ISSUES
• HOW TO HARMONISE THE SITUATION
CONT…….
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THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF ME
PARTICIPARTING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUMMIT, SALGA
AND NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL PORT FOLIO COMMITTEES
AND SELECT COMMITTEES , PRESIDENTIAL MAKGOTLAS
PRESENTED ME WITH VAST EXPERIENCE ACROSS AS A WOMEN
GOVERNANCE
• NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND ALL STAKE HOLDERS AND
COMMUNITY NEEDS
• NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY I SERVE
• ENCOURAGE THEIR PARTICIPATION AND OWNERSHIP OF THE
MUNICIPALITY
• ENSURE THAT THE STRATEGY WAS FUNDED BASED ON A
PROPER PLAN
CONT…..
• * PLANNED TO HARMONISE SITUATION AND TRIED TO CLOSE THE
GAP IN DEVELOPMENT ENCOURAGED AN ALMOST BIAS RURAL
DEVELOPMENT BUT BALANCED ONE
• ADHERED TO COPERATIVE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES DUE THE
INHERITED FINANCIAL SITUATION
• SIX MONTH AFTER INCEPTION MY EXECUTIVE POWERS WERE
TAKEN BACK TO COUNCIL, AND THIS WAS LED BY MALE
COUNCILLORS AND THE NEW ACTING MUNICIPAL MANAGER WAS
APPOINTED
CONT……
• * AS WOMEN EXECUTIVE MAYOR HAS TO OPERATE LIKE A
COLLECTIVE TYPE SYSTEM OF MUNICIPALITY, ALL ITEMS OF
MAYORAL COMMITTEE WILL DO RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL,
AND A NUMBER OF THEM WILL BE DEFFERED BACK AS AN
ATTEMPT TO FRUSTRATE ME
• WE ACHIEVED SOME OF THE GOALS SET
• BEEN FOCUSED AS WOMEN IT DID NOT MATTER WHETHER YOU
HAVE POWERS OR NOT THE MUNICIPALITY CONTINUED TO WORK
HARD
CONT….
• * CONTINUE TO FIGHT FRAUD AND CORRUPTION
• SUSPENDED THE MUNICIPAL MANAGER FOR ISSUES RAISED BY
BUSINESS PEOPLE, COMMUNITY AND COUNCILORS(ALLEDGED
FRAUD AND MALADMINISTRATION ISSUES)
• APPLIED FOR SECTION 139 b INTERVENTION AFTER ADVISING
COUNCIL TO TAKE A RESOLUTION ON MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL
RECOVERY IN LINE WITH MFMA(SEC 64 REVENUE MNG) DUE TO
FACT THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PAY OUR CREDITORS
• WAS BLAMMED BY SOME COUNCILORS BUT FOR ME IT WAS NOT THE
PERCEPTIONS AND PROPAGANDA
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AG’ I SAID MENS WORLD, NO CHALLENGE AT ALL , THEY
STARTED TO DEVELOP PROPAGANDA AND PERCEPTION THAT I
SHOULD BE REMOVED AS A MAYOR DUE TO LACK OF PERFOMANCE
, FRAUD AND MANY OTHERR THINGS
• REALIZING THAT THEY CANT WIN, THEY ORGANISED COMMUNITY
PROTEST MARCHES WHICH LED TO MY HOUSE BEEN ATTACKED
• WITHDREW AND PLEADED FOR THE 20 YOUNG PEOPLE ARRESTED
TO BE WARNED DUE TO FACT THAT THE REAL PLANNERS WERE
NOT ARRESTED
• BUT STILL THEN I LED THE MUNICIPALITY TILL END OF THE TERM
CONT..
• * DEVELOPED FINANCIAL COST RECOVERY PLAN
• REVIEWED SOME OF THE INHERITED FINANCIAL LOANS
• DEVELOPED A NUMBER OF BUSINESS PLANS AND PROJECT PLANS
AND WERE APPROVED BY MIG
• ALL GOVERNMENT DEPTS (eg. WATER AFFAIRS, TREASURY, COGTA,
HUMAN SETTLEMENT ect.). OPENED THEIR DOOR TO ASSIST AND
COGTA COORDINATED THIS WELL
• A NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS ON FRAUD AND
MALADMINISTRATION TOOK PLACE
CONT…
• * ALL ABOUT THE COUNCILLORS BUT I DID THAT FOR THE
COMMUNITY I SERVED TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES, BY PROVIDING
CLEAN WATER , SHELTER, HEALTH FACILITIES AND MANY MORE
• THE ADMINISTRATOR WAS DEPLOYED IN OUR MUNICIPALITY AND
HE ADDED VALUE TO OUR MUNICIPALITY, ESTABLISHED THE
COMMUNITY CONSULTATIVE FORUMS TO DECIDE WITH
MUNICIPALITY WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FIRST, AND MOST
PARTICIPANTS IN THIS CONSULTATIVE FORUM WERE WOMEN AND
THEY ENJOYED BEEN PART OF PROVIDING CHANGE IN THE
MUNICIPALITY
LESSONS LEARNED
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THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS WHERE THINGS
HAPPENED
• A MAYOR AT LOCAL LEVEL REPRESENT ALL GOVERNMENT
SPHERES, SHES PERCIEVED TO HAVE ALL ANSWERS FOR
EVERY THING
• YOU NEED TO KNOW ALL YOUR MUNICIPAL ISSUES, YOUR
MUNICIPAL FINANCES , HOW FAR IS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
MUNICIPAL PROJECT, YOU NEED TO BE AHEAD OF ISSUES
CONT….
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IMPLEMENTATIONS OF CORPERATIVE GOVERNANCE
AND IGR PRINCIPLE
ENJOYED WORKING WITH TRADITIONAL LEADERS
IF PEOPLE DON’T WANT YOU ,YOU NEED TO EMGAGE THEM
POSITIVELY, DON’T ENTERTAIN THEIR FUNNY AGENDAS,WALK
TALL
• IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS A WOMEN THERES NO NEED TO BE
PERSONAL NOR EMOTIONAL BUT EVERY THING NEGATIVE
CONVERT IT TO BE POSITIVE. IT WILL MAKE YOU MORE FOCUSED
CONT……
• * CONTINUES WITH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND READING
AS A WOMEN LEADER
• CONSULT IF YOU DON’T KNOW, SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE
• REMOVE BROKERS WHEN YOU DO THINGS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
BUT BE HANDS ON ISSUES,
• THAT AS WOMAN MAYOR ,PEOPLE ARE NOT LAZY TO ON DAILY
BASES ,TRY TO PULL YOU DOWN, THEY EVEN USE WOMEN AS MEN
CAUSE THEIR AGENDA IS BEYOND THE POSITION ITSELF
CONT…
• * LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS WHERE THINGS HAPPENS
• HOW OTHER MUNICIPALITY ARE DOING ASPECIALLY BEST
PERFOMING, HOW THEY GOT IT RIGHT, PLEASE BENCHMARK WITH
THEM
• MINISTERS DOORS ARE OPEN IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, PRESENT
YOU BUSINESS CASE BETTER TO THEM , MECS AND PREMIERS AS
WELL
• WORKING WITH ALL STAKEHOLDES ENCOURAGING THEM TO DIG
DIPPER IN THEIR POCKECT AND ENHANCE CHANGING LIVES OF
OUR COMMUNITY
ADVICE……..
• * HAVE SELF CONFIDENCE AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
• HAVE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS A WOMEN MAYOR
• CONSULT, AND CONSULT IF YOU DON’T KNOW EVEN ACADEMICS
SOMETIMES
• DON’T BE AFRAID OF ANYONE WHO PLANS TO UNSETTLE YOU,
PLEASE BE STRONG AND STAY FOCUSED
• DON’T BE A VISITOR ON ISSUES , KNOW UR ISSUES UPFRONT
• RUN THE MUNICIPALITY ON A BUSINESS PRINCIPLES
CONT…
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ENSURE YOUR COMMUNITY IS WELL INFORMED INCLUDING
ALL YOUR STAKEHOLDERS(ACCOUNTABILITY)
• POPULARISE YOURSELVE WITH MUNICIPAL LEGISLATIONS
INCLUDING REGULATIONS AND BILLS UNDER DISCUSION
• ALWAYS REPORT THE TRUTH
• BELIEVE IN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT ACROSS
• ENSURE WOMEN BENEFIT FROM MUNICIPAL LAND USE
MANAGEMENT
CONT…
• * SHARPENS YOUR SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES IN
• _ (PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS, CONFLICT
RESOLUTION, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, LISTERNING SKILL,
COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC SPEAKING, BE A STRATEGIC THINKER,
BE ANALYTICAL, BE A MENTOR AND A COACH, SPEED READING
AND TIME MANAGEMENT, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
• _ PEOPLE ARE SHALLOW SO FIRST IMPRESSION COUNTS (DRESS
SENSE)
CONCLUSION
• * WISH TO THANK THE MINISTER FOR GRANT ME AN OPPORTUNITY
TO COME AND SHARE THE EXPERINCE
• WISH TO THANK THE POLITICAL PARTY I COME FROM FOR
INVESTING IN ME AND FOR CAPACITATING ME AND BE WHO I AM
TODAY
• WOMEN OF TODAY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT THANK YOU FOR
CONTINUING TO STEER THIS LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHIP, IT
SHOULD NOT SINK LIKE THE TITANIC BUT SHOULD HAVE AND
ALTERNATE WHEN APPROACHING AN ICE BERG
• I THANK YOU ALL