The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform this month launched an e-Audit system to better assess the performance of spatial tools in municipalities.
The e-Audit system is an online, menu-driven questionnaire and survey tool. The department says the purpose of the system is to help it conduct surveys to assess the state of the Spatial Development Frameworks (SDF), Integrated Development Plan (IDP), Geographic Information System (GIS) and Land Use Management Systems (LUMS) of all municipalities across the country.
“After each survey has been conducted, the department will be able to draw reports and determine the status of all municipalities in terms of SDF, SDF technical, IDP, GIS and capacity.”
The department adds that with the help of the system, it will be able to assess the availability, success, challenges and failures of spatial planning tools in municipalities. It will also allow for the comparison of different municipalities' performance.
“The e-Audit system will assist the department to determine which municipality is the most efficient and select the one that has an acceptable performance, and also identify areas in which the municipalities are failing and provide assistance accordingly.”
There will be a survey running at the end of every quarter. Every municipality will be expected to complete the survey, according to the department.
Whenever there is a survey that needs to be completed, an e-mail will be sent to the municipalities that need to participate in the survey, and this e-mail will have a link in it to connect to the e-Audit Web site.
“The system will help us coordinate and assist municipalities that are most in need. It is important that these surveys are done and that all municipalities give honest answers to all questions so that the municipalities that require assistance can be identified,” says the department.
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