Local govt elections ‘before end of May’- President Zuma

The local government elections will take place before the end of May, and preparations for the poll are well under way, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.

“The country will hold the fourth local government elections before the end of May,” he told Parliament in his third State of the Nation address.

There had been lots of complaints over the past few months about local government, he said.

The frustrations in some areas resulted in protests, highlighting the problems that existed in this sphere.

“We have to make people’s experience of local government a pleasant one, as it touches their homes and their lives directly, every day.”

Some municipalities were functioning very well, and some councillors were performing their duties as well as they should, he added.

“We have instituted a turnaround strategy for local government, focusing on, among others, the strengthening of basic administrative systems, financial management and customer care,” he said.