Councillors must be worthy of SA's trust: Ramaphosa

He was speaking at Salga's national conference, saying councillors must be worthy of South Africans' trust.

Ramaphosa says councillors must work for the people they represent and must understand management and finances so this can bleed into the information they provide to people.

"You have a big responsibility on your shoulders. We want councillors that are going to be accountable and responsive. No task must be too great and no resident's concern must be seen as too trivial. Our councillors must be honest, trustworthy and they must uphold the highest standards of ethical behaviour. No councillor must ever again be a councillor who is regarded as chowing the people's money,  or should be regarded as a corrupt councillor," says Ramaphosa.

He stressed the important role local government plays in citizens' daily lives.

"Our responsibility is to ensure that all structures of local government in all parts of our country serve all of our people all the time. That is why we value and cherish an organisation such as Salga, for Salga is answering our citizens' call for a responsive and people oriented local government," says Ramaphosa.