A DELEGATION of ten students from the Kehl University of Applied Sciences in Germany (also known as the Mayor’s Forge) visited Kouga Local Municipality last week as part of their educational tour of South Africa.
Facilitated by the Special Programmes Unit within the Office of the Executive Mayor, Mishka Pillay and Sandiso Mlonyeni, and led by Professor Fieguth Gert, the two-day visit aimed to provide the students with practical insights into public administration, complementing their academic studies with real-world experiences.
The group had the opportunity to engage with key municipal figures, including Deputy Executive Mayor, Timothy Jantjies, and Deputy Municipal Manager, Dawie de Jager, who discussed the workings of local government and the distinction between the administrative and political arms of the municipality.
Eugene Goliath, Manager of Public Participation, presented the Integrated Development Plan and Public Participation processes. Presentations on renewable energy, information technology, tourism, early education systems, and committee services, as well as a presentation from the administrative officer in the executive mayor’s office, were part of the programme.
A tour of the human resources office and call centre, as well as a site visit to Malan Growers in Patensie, were part of the packed itinerary.
Jantjies welcomed the exchange of knowledge, saying, “It is inspiring to see future leaders taking an interest in governance beyond their borders. Learning from each other strengthens both our democracies.”
The students’ interests ranged from comparing recruitment processes in the German and South African public sectors to exploring how educational systems support youth from households with limited academic resources. They were also keen to learn about the political options available to mayors in Baden-Wu¨rttemberg and South Africa.
Before they arrived in Jeffreys Bay, the delegation spent a week in Cape Town. Professor Gert emphasised the importance of exposing students to different ways of doing things.
“I love to irritate them by offering them a new view of what they know. Here they can find that certain aspects of the South African Constitution and public administration are better than in Germany. I also want to show them the friendliness and openness of the South African people and the colourful society of South Africa,” he said.
The course the students are following compares South African and German administrations, with each student focusing on a specific issue. Topics of interest include the management of kindergartens, the impact of COVID-19 on school development, and municipal auditing practices.
“It is all connected to local and regional authorities because after completing their studies they would work in the authorities either as administrative workers or as mayors,” Gert added.
