03 Apr 2025

Goodhope District councillors have welcomed the proposed Village Development Committee (VDC) regulations and guidelines. 

Currently, the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs is reviewing the VDC regulations and guidelines of 2014. Briefing councillors during Goodhope District special full council meeting on Tuesday, Deputy Council Secretary for operations, Mr Witness Taziba said they held consultations with all 48 VDCs in the district.

In their consultations, he said a number of proposals were presented such as the barring of politically active person or anyone holding a political office from being a VDC member. He said another suggestion was that at least a Primary School Leaving Examination certificate be set as a minimum qualification within the age bracket of 18-65.

In addition, he said all aspiring VDC members should be subjected to competency based interviews to ensure that they were qualified enough to hold office. He said Ipelegeng workers would not be allowed to compete for VDC membership. 

Also, another proposal was the VDC term of office be increased from three to five years and that performance reviews should be introduced for rewards and to be used when one sought re-elections. In addition, monthly meetings should be held. He further said there was a proposal that VDC allowance be increased from P600 to P1 000 per month. 

The deputy council secretary said another proposal was that disciplinary procedures be clearly stipulated to guard against abuse of power whilst one was holding office. In case of disqualification or removal from office or resignation, a suggestion was made that filling of vacancies be done by the council instead of members of the community. For transparency and inclusivity, he said VDC elections should have representation from all wards and nearby lands for fair distribution of ideas and developments.

For his part, nominated councillor, Mr Ketshogile differed with some proposals, saying politically affiliated people should be allowed to stand for positions in VDC. He further said members should be allowed to participate in tendering for VDC works so as to augment their allowances. ENDS