On the 9^thof July, the Department of Cooperative Governance hosted the 2^ndannual Integrated Urban Development Grant (IUDG) Seminar at Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni. The aim of the seminar was to provide progress on the implementation of the Integrated Urban Development Framework  (IUDF), discuss and provide roadmap on the IUDG roll out process and also  discuss roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the IUDG process

The Deputy Director General of Cooperative Governance  Mr Fosi highlighted  the importance of the annual IUDG Seminar particularly in responding to the priority of Spatial integration, human settlements and local government stipulated by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the  State Of the Nation Address (SONA 2019)

The  annual seminar champions IUDF’s policy lever 4: Integrated Urban infrastructure, particularly looking at the short-medium term priorities namely; - Consolidate & coordinate infrastructure funding

• Institutionalise municipal long-term infrastructure planning.
• Strengthen intergovernmental planning,
• roles and partnerships
• Widen sources of finance for urban infrastructure

During the seminar, the first 7 municipalities in the country to develop Capital Expenditure Frameworks (CEFs) got to exhibit their CEFs which highlight their 10 year long-term financial plans and how they plan to prioritise their projects.

The 7 Municipalities are

1. City of uMhlathuze
2. Drakenstein Municipality
3. Mogale City
4. Polokwane Municipality
5. Ray Nkonyeni Municipality
6. Sol Plaatje Municipality
7. Stellenbosch Municipality

An emphasis was made that capital expenditure frameworks should not only be a compliance exercise but should steer a change in management and so breaking away from the silo mentality in municipalities

Not only is it important to break away from the silo mentality, project preparation is also key in achieving success within our municipalities.

Key steps in project preparation:

1. Long term planning
2. Project life
3. Procurement procedure
4. Execution
5. Operation
6. End of life

At the end of the successful seminar this is what some participants had to say:

“If implemented correctly the Capital Expenditure Framework is a gem" Mapula Mamabolo from Polokwane Municipality

"Re-imagine it, plan it and implement it!. The CEF allows us to do that, achieve Integrated development"  Shireen DeVisser from Stellenbosch Municipality

"The  IUDF is not a programme but an approach which #WholeOfSocietymust use to respond to the challenges of urbanisation" Mr Fosi, DDG Cooperative Governance