NELSPRUIT – This week the premier, Mr David Mabuza announced that he would allow the municipal managers, chief financial officers (CFOs) and mayors of the municipalities who had received disclaimers in their audit opinions from the Auditor General a chance to offer mitigation factors on why their services should not be terminated.
Last week Mabuza threatened to take action against the municipalities, which included Bushbuckridge and Thaba Chweu, regarding their poor performance.
He had summoned these leaders to a special meeting following their voluntary written commitments that they should be released from duty with immediate effect if their municipalities received the disclaimers.
“We have devoted the resources and time in the municipalities; we must be able to say what worked and what did not, if it is a matter of capacity we must say where we need to find it.
“It is my understanding that all those tasked with intervening have a story to tell. We came up with a clear plan, but coming here I do not get an indication on how we have failed. We are at a crossroads, you have to stand up and explain why you have all done so or who has failed us,” said Mabuza.
Mr Zibonele Mncwango, spokesman for the premier, explained these processes could easily be bypassed or expedited. “It is the prerogative of the ANC to deploy leaders in government, recall and also redeploy them whenever it deems fit to do so.
“Leaders in the local government are therefore no exception; the ruling party can always summon and redeploy them through its internal processes.”
“It is in this regard that as champion of Operation Clean Audit, Premier Mabuza is also utilising the government platform to ensure that the local one performs since it is at the heart of service delivery not only for the people who voted for the ANC, but the public in general.
“Based on its assessment on the strength and weaknesses of the leaders it has currently deployed in the local government, the ANC can effortlessly recall and reposition them to where their abilities would add value, by following relevant municipal procedures since the municipalities are under its control.”
