Non-compliance of local municipalities is probed
Noncompliance to legislation, lack of consequence management and failure to adhere to payment plans are among the contributing factors that caused the troubled local municipalities, Govan Mbeki, Thaba Chweu and Dr JS Moroka to collapse.
These were the findings of the oversight committee of the National Council of Provinces (Ncop) which visited these three municipalities for a performance assessment.
Led by the chairperson of the select committee of cooperative governance and traditional leaders, China Dodovu, and Cogta MEC Mandla Msibi, the financial status of the municipalities, governance, audit outcomes and service delivery matters were among the key issues that the committee focused on during the visit.
“We observed the tendency to ignore legislation in the municipality (Govan Mbeki). We also noted that it has failed to submit financial statements to the Auditor-General (AG). The Eskom debt escalated into millions of rand. This is a serious cause for concern. Where was the leadership when all of this occurred?” asked Dodovu during the sitting in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality.
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Cogta briefed the committee about the decision to invoke Section 106 of the Constitution last year as an intervention to deal with allegations of maladministration and as a measure for clean governance in Govan Mbeki.
The committee was also informed about the suspension of the municipal manager as a consequence management.
In Thaba Chweu, it expressed concern about the municipality’s inability to improve the state of the roads and the relapse in the audit outcomes.
“We have noted the service delivery protests. The roads are in dire straits. This will chase away potential investors that Thaba Chweu urgently needs to improve the economic status. This municipality is a tourist destination, however, if you fail to improve the road infrastructure, they will go elsewhere to save their vehicles,” Dodovu said.
Msibi told the committee about the steps being taken to address financial mismanagement in all municipalities, including Thaba Chweu. “We have adopted a zero tolerance towards unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure (UIFW). We have turned down for condonation of the expenditure. We are demanding accountability where the UIFW has occurred,” Msibi said.
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In Dr JS Moroka, the committee brought to light the dire financial straits of the municipality and the safety concerns that resulted in the AG not performing audit duties.
“This municipality will totally collapse if no urgent action is taken to support it. Whoever owes Dr JS Moroka, must pay. This will address the delay in the payment for services that are severely affected by this. The poor economic conditions here will perpetuate crime. The audit outcomes are not inspiring. Cogta must extend the administration period as a constitutional imperative set out in Section 139,” Dodovu emphasised.
