The Randfontein Municipality, indebted to Eskom for an amount of R81 million has managed to strike a deal to pay off the debt over 27 months in installments of R3 million a month.
While this will come as a relief to the residents of Randfontein, who were faced with the possibility of being disconnected as a result of the municipality’s debt, the fact remains that the ANC-led administration in Randfontein is not up to the task of looking after its residents.
Debt has been accumulating in the municipality since 2011 due to low collection rates, inadequate measures taken to combat cable theft and poor financial management.
Of considerable concern is that this huge debt will be carried over to the new municipality when Randfontein and Westonaria merge after the 2016 local government elections.
Jacob Mamabolo, Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) must launch an investigation to probe why the situation was allowed to develop and take action against those responsible.
Local municipalities have become hotbeds for corruption, nepotism and cronyism – driving many into the ground.
Examples need to be made of those responsible, this poor model of governance no longer can be perpetuated in Gauteng.
