COGHSTA places Mogalakwena Municipality under administration
This was announced during a council meeting held at the Council Chambers on Wednesday, 18 December.
MOKOPANE – Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) MEC, Basikopo Makamu has placed the Mogalakwena Municipality under administration in terms of section 139 (1b) of the Constitution of South Africa.
This was announced during a council meeting held at the Council Chambers on Wednesday, 18 December.
Read more: Mogalakwena Municipality under administration: process started
The Constitution reads: “When a municipality cannot or does not fulfil an executive obligation in terms of the Constitution or legislation, the relevant provincial executive may intervene by taking any appropriate steps to ensure fulfilment of that obligation.”
Korny Dekker, DA Councilor, said that the DA welcomed the fact that Makamu finally decided to place the municipality under administration. Over the past year there has been an in-depth investigation by Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) and it has come down to many irregularities including the unofficial appointment of more than 300 workers, there is also a concern that a complaint against the Deputy Manager of Corporate Service was completed within 2 weeks while previously there were complaints against workers that took longer than 2 years. It was also noted at the meeting that suppliers were paid without even checking or finishing projects.”
Bosveld approached Malesela Selokela, Head of Communications of the Municipality for comment who confirmed that the municipality is under administration.
The duration of the intervention is expected to last 12 months, subject to review depending on progress, said Spokesperson for the MEC, Molebatsi Masedi.
