The Premier, Dr Phopi Ramathuba visited Thabazimbi on Friday, 4 October to communicate the decision reached by the Executive Council.
In August 2024, the Executive Council placed the struggling municipality under administration as they had been facing serious management issues since 2021.
With the knowledge that the TLM can no longer meet their financial obligations, they have become insolvent and now an administrator will be appointed to oversee the day-to-day activities of the municipality.
This may seem like a bittersweet reality for TLM, but the Premier is adamant that this measure will benefit more than harm ratepayers.
The Premier and her Executive Council intend to restructure the municipality by restoring order and stability and to drive a more effective service delivery program for the people of Thabazimbi.
The Premier said she thought it was important that they pay a personal visit and convey the decision to the councillors.
The Office of the Premier has been inundated with complaints concerning mismanagement and complaints from ratepayers about poor service delivery.
They tried to rectify the problem through mediation, but all attempts failed. When the Executive Council finally decided to place the municipality under administration, the management did not enter a process of communication and arbitration over the decision, instead, they took the Office of the Premier to court.
The municipality lost the court case, as the Premier followed procedure, and everything was done according to the law.
Section 139 (1)(C) will ensure the municipality becomes functional again. A team of administrators will now be deployed to the municipality.
They will include experts from all departments, and she promised that any finding of corruption, theft, or fraud from any member of the council or officials will be investigated and the perpetrators will be found and prosecuted.
The Premier also reiterated that this is not a personal vendetta, but she has to take the side of the poor, and the ratepayers.
She informed all stakeholders that her office was there for the benefit of the people of Thabazimbi.
Although she is unable to be in Thabazimbi for the duration, she wants everybody to be the eyes and ears and to feel free to call her office if any suspicion of maladministration is detected. She will act against any wrongdoing.
