Development Chamber Activities

Overview

The work of the Development Chamber during 1998/99 continued to concentrate its efforts on improving disadvantaged persons' access to resources. The housing and infrastructure projects aim to improve delivery of social infrastructure, whilst negotiations on local government, social security, a national disability policy and the transformation of the construction industry aim to initiate the structural changes required to improve socio-economic development.

Completed work

Housing

Nedlac's involvement in efforts to enhance housing delivery started in 1997 with the development of a special report on housing. The report analysed existing housing subsidy schemes and identified barriers to accessing credit. Following this report, Nedlac undertook to involve itself in efforts to improve housing delivery.

The negotiations that culminated in the Jobs Summit Housing agreement were characterised by the positive engagement of all stakeholders. The Nedlac parties held fifteen meetings, making substantial and detailed contributions towards the finalisation of the Housing agreement.

The parties committed themselves to a National Presidential Lead Project on Housing (NPLP). The NPLP will be used to pilot affordable mass housing delivery and alternative forms of tenure and rental. Lessons generated by the NPLP will be incorporated within the National Housing Strategy.

Memorandum of Understanding on Service Tariffs

The non-payment of tariffs has been a source of conflict in many communities throughout South Africa. Further, the non-payment of tariffs limits the abilities of local councils to invest in and sustain physical infrastructure. In an effort to address these challenges, the Nedlac parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Service Tariffs in May 1998. The Memorandum of Understanding constitutes part of the Masakhane Campaign and therefore promotes the payment of service tariffs by local communities. In particular the agreement advocates cost sharing strategies that would result in the reduction of costs for the service consumed. In addition the MOU makes provision for those who cannot pay to have access to lifeline assistance.

Public Works Programmes

The Presidential Jobs Summit recognised that the greatest challenge facing South Africa is job creation. However the effects of the significant policy and legislative changes that have been implemented in the last four years are only likely to be felt in the medium to long term. Accordingly, micro level programmes such as the Community Based Public Works Programme could play a valuable role in encouraging communities to get involved in job creation efforts and at the same time kick-start local economic development.

Government, business, labour and community recognised that whilst these are short-term relief measures, their longer-term impact on growth and equity could be enhanced. During 1998, Nedlac concluded an agreement on Public Works Programmes to maximise the returns of these interventions. In particular, Nedlac identified some of the problems and obstacles in the effectiveness of the existing Community Based Public Works Programme and made a series of recommendations to enhance the creation of sustainable employment. Many of these recommendations were included in the Presidential Jobs Summit Agreement.

ONGOING WORK

Infrastructure Database Project

The national Masakhane Campaign Workshop agreed that a project assessing recipients' experiences of infrastructure delivery should be undertaken. The Development Chamber drafted terms of reference and in November 1998, appointed researchers to undertake the study. Representatives of the community, business, labour and government have met regularly with the researchers. This has ensured that the study has drawn on the collective experience of the Nedlac parties.

The project has three components:

• A review of patterns of infrastructure investment in South Africa.
• An assessment of the mechanisms of infrastructure delivery.
• A 3000-household survey in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Northern Province.

This project will provide a comprehensive assessment of the extent of and people's experiences of infrastructure delivery. Further, the project will provide a platform of baseline data that will facilitate the improvement of infrastructure delivery. The project will be completed by the end of August 1999.

Masakhane Awards

The Masakhane Annual Awards were initiated on 28 June 1996 to promote the Masakhane campaign at the local government level and to encourage and assist local government to initiate development. Hundreds of municipalities are involved in the Annual Award programme. The evaluation criteria centre on the extent to which local governments involve the community, deliver services, improve revenue collection, integrate local communities, and develop the local economy.

In addition to the Municipal Awards, the President has made available R1 million to be awarded to communities that have taken initiative in promoting local economic development.

Nedlac's constituencies participate on an adjudication panel that nominates winners for both the municipal and Presidential awards. The collective experience of the constituencies, in the areas that comprise the evaluation criteria, provides a valuable resource to the adjudication panel in making recommendations to the President.

Local Government

The White Paper on Local Government recognised the urgent need for the transformation of local councils to ensure that they are more responsive to the needs of local communities. The Municipal Systems Bill provides for the development of institutions, procedures and processes essential to developing the governance capacity for handling this new role.

The Nedlac parties will be discussing the Municipal Systems Bill during 1999.

White Paper on an Integrated National Disability Strategy

This White Paper aims at contributing to the promotion and protection of disabled people's rights. The White Paper proposes the development of specific policies and legislation to give effect to the recommendations contained within the White Paper.

Nedlac constituencies will be involved in the development of such policies during 1999 / 2000.

Transformation of the Construction Industry

The construction industry is an important vehicle for the delivery of infrastructure and job creation. The Department of Public Works, in collaboration with the Departments of Transport, Water Affairs and Forestry, Housing and Constitutional Development, released a White Paper aimed at enhancing the construction industry's performance.

The Nedlac parties participated in the Minister of Transport's reference group that formed part of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team responsible for the drafting of the White Paper. This process reflects the growing involvement of Nedlac in the earlier stages of policy formulation. Nedlac constituencies are currently reviewing the White Paper to assess the extent to which their positions have been taken into account. Negotiations will be entered into only if constituencies feel that their concerns are not sufficiently addressed by the White Paper.

National Development Agency

The National Development Agency (NDA) funds Non-Governmental Organisations that undertake programmes aimed at facilitating poverty alleviation, entrepreneurship and local economic development. Nedlac receives regular report backs from the NDA on progress in implementing these programmes.

Social Security

In the context of high unemployment as well as low levels of income, social security is an essential component of ensuring households' ability to survive.

At the Development Chamber's first policy session in January 1998, the Minister of Welfare indicated that the chamber should take up the issue of social welfare. Following the conclusion of a Jobs Summit agreement on the importance of social security, a joint task team composed of members of the Labour Market and Development Chambers has been convened. The task team is to assess the functioning of the current social security system with a view to developing and implementing an effective, comprehensive social security system.

Delegates to the Development Chamber (including alternates)

Business

A. Lamprecht (convenor 1998/9)
A. Napo (convenor March 1999)
K. du Toit
S. Sultana
M.Tomlinson
J. Kotze
L. Coetzee
I. Van Aardt
A. Gqamane
J. Fennie
M. Sello
C. Niewenhuizen

Labour

R. Howard(convenor)
T. Kgasi
R. Makwane
S. Mabaso
T. Morale
H. Mbana
E. Nduzulwana
S. Mkwebane

Community

G. Jack (convenor)
T. Loate (convenor)
F. Lagadien
T. Kubheka
S. Shezi
P. Horn
P. Nkosi
E. Phiri

Government

B. More (convenor)
S. Schalklen
B. Marrian
C. Olver
M. Makhura
M. Z. Nxumalo