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Midvaal moves into top
5% on Municipal Productivity Index
The
Midvaal Local Municipality has moved up 10
places in the annual Municipal Productivity
Index placing it within the top 5% of all
local governments. The index is an annual
assessment by a local government research
institute, Municipal IQ, and measures the
ability of individuals and firms to operate
productively in their respective municipal
areas.
The
index measures five factors: poverty levels
and the municipal response to poverty;
access to minimum levels of municipal
services; economic intelligence and
infrastructure used by residents to
participate in the economy; financial
governance and expenditure levels by a local
council; and the vacancy rates in a
municipality. These factors have a direct
impact on the vibrancy of a local economy
and indicate what assistance the
municipality offers to residents and
businesses.
The
study ranks the 9 large metropolitan
councils as well as the 226 smaller local
municipalities. Midvaal was ranked 6th
out of 226 local municipalities and when
combined with the scores of the metropolitan
areas Midvaal obtained 13th place
overall. The previous study, conducted in
2010, placed Midvaal at 23rd
place overall.
According to Midvaal Executive Mayor, Cllr
Timothy Nast, the study again proves our
commitment to growing the local economy,
reducing poverty levels and increasing job
opportunities for local residents.
“We
have consistently focussed on keeping
tariffs low whilst at the same time
improving infrastructure. I am extremely
proud that our efforts are recognised in the
fact that Midvaal moved up 10 places into
the top 5%! Furthermore all of the top 9
smaller municipalities are controlled by the
Democratic Alliance and proves that
DA-controlled local governments provide
better services, better productivity and
increased economic growth,” said Nast.
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