The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Gauteng welcomes the unveiling of the Municipal Economic Review and Outlook (MERO) by the MEC of Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile. COSATU views this development in the province as a right step towards redefining and building a responsive local government.

The cornerstone of MERO – planning, budgeting and service delivery enhancement will go a long way to intervene in poor planning, budgeting and spending by municipalities. MERO as defined provides a province-wide municipal level economic snapshot including GDP data by region, employment, inequality, poverty, education, health, housing infrastructure, and crime, and as a result will enable COSATU to monitor planning, budgeting and spending per municipality to ensure alignment with MERO findings. COSATU will also engage the MEC to get a better understanding of MERO.

The Federation has also noted and welcomes the release of the lifestyle audits of senior managers in the Gauteng Provincial Government by Premier, Panyaza Lesufi. This move by the Premier reaffirms his commitment as per State of the Province Address to conduct second phase lifestyle audits targeting Accounting Officers in GPG departments and entities.

Whilst this action is appreciated and welcomed, COSATU would like to see a fair process of dealing with those who have failed the lifestyle audit. The Premier will be engaged with the view to understand the attitude of those who failed lifestyle audits towards service delivery and whether the failure is related to corruption.

Issued by COSATU Gauteng

Amos Monyela (Provincial Chairperson): 079 493 5002

Louisah Modikwe (Provincial Secretary): 066 182 2402 / 082 297 2659