Local govt must prepare for growing needs of communities: Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa says local governments need to look into the future to ensure they're able toprovide the appropriate services to urban communities.
"The growth of informal settlements in most urban areas is testimony to the rate of urbanisation and the inability of our citizen towns to respond effectively," Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa told delegates at the SA Local Government Association national assembly in Durban yesterday that government needs to be proactive to ensure cities and towns are not over-burdened by rapid urbanisation.
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He says officials need to anticipate what is going to happen to ensure services are delivered, jobs are created and housing needs met.
"In some of the larger metropolitan areas - health services and schools are overwhelmed. Criminality has become rife, housing is scarce and despite the progress made - millions go without even the most basic services. Being ahead of the curve and preparing for the inevitable overpopulated areas that the cities are going to be - we need to be planning and seeing what the future [holds]," he said.
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