From SALGA to Parliament

From SALGA to Parliament

Xolile George is leading the way

When one thinks of the work of Parliament, the first thing that comes to mind would be Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Presiding Officers. Supporting the work of the MPs, are the people who are responsible for the day-to-day work of running the institution. The former CEO of SALGA, Xolile George, is now tasked with bringing the standards he set at the local government institution to the corridors of Parliament.

The secretary to parliament

In late 2022, Xolile George was appointed as the 6th Secretary to Parliament, marking the first time in half a decade that Parliament would have someone in the role permanently, having earned a great deal of admiration in his previous role. A joint statement, by the Speaker of National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces read:

“Mr George is an administrator who will bring a remarkable and deep knowledge and extensive experience in a range of areas that include intergovernmental and international relations, development economics and political administration interface. The appointment of Mr George will bring the required stability in the administration of Parliament.”

Xolile George, is now tasked with bringing the standards he set at the local government institution to the corridors of Parliament

A leader par excellence

SALGA gave a glowing tribute to Xolile on his departure, highlighting how he’d left the organisation in a better state than he’d found it:

“During his tenure, he put into practice his wide-ranging knowledge of the local government sector and SALGA was glad to have him at the helm for many significant achievements,” they said. These achievements included 10 unqualified audits out of 13, and an average performance rating of 90%.

“Under his leadership, SALGA concluded five [multi-year] conditions of service agreements with unions representing the municipal workforce. George was instrumental in creating an environment of collaboration, openness, and transparency with unions in the sector.”

Not only did SALGA perform better but it gained a reputation for excellence in the country and abroad. He led SALGA to the presidency of a few international governance bodies such as the United Cities of Africa and the United Cities and Regions of the World. SALGA is also represented on boards such as the Commonwealth Local Government Forum and United Nations Advisory Committee of Local Authorities, amongst others.

“His commitment to the principles and values of public financial management saw him being presented with the 2016-2017 Excellence in Public Finance Management Award from the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA),” said SALGA.

xolile’s career

• 1993 - 1994 - Economist and Land Use Planner at Eastern Cape Department of Land and Agriculture

• 1994 - 1998 - Director at Eastern Cape Department of Local Government and Housing

• 1998 - 2003 - Director of Executive Support Services at Amathole District Municipality

• 2003 - 2007 - Executive Director at City of Johannesburg

• 2007 - 2022 - Chief Executive Officer at SALGA

In 2018 he was recognised for his achievements with the Top Empowered Public Sector Leader award and was a finalist in the same category the year before.

“George has left an organisation that is fit for purpose, innovative, agile, resilient, and which can support its member municipalities to enhance the social and economic development of their communities. Under his leadership, SALGA became one of the few public entities that have been able to sustain an enduring tradition of being a beacon of financial management excellence.”

The home of our lawmakers will benefit hugely from the agility, resilience, standards and experience that come with the appointment of Hon. Xolile George to the position of Secretary of Parliament.