SEDIBENG. – The more they shake, the deeper they sink! Placing the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) under section 139 is a move that intends to hide deep wasteful expenditure and maladministration within the ELM.
So said the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) on Tuesday morning. OUTA said that it strongly believes that the section 139 intervention by Gauteng Premier David Makhura, is a political move that circumvents deep wasteful expenditure and maladministration within Emfuleni.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster on Monday, Lois Moodley who is OUTA’s Head of Communications, said that the constitution is clear that national, provincial and municipal budgets and budgetary processes must promote transparency, accountability and the effective financial management of the economy, debt and the public sector.
“The provincial executive, CoGTA and Treasury, receive monthly financial statements from all municipalities and they all have an important oversight responsibility to ensure that municipalities are financially sound. These government structures have a responsibility to ask questions and to ensure financial stability for this municipality, yet failed to do so.
The announcement of intervention and placing Emfuleni under administration merely diverts attention from dealing with deep-rooted corruption within the municipality.” Moodley adds that the ELM is but one of the 87% of municipalities that are suffering from mismanagement, maladministration and municipal capture. ELM is unable to pay long-outstanding debts to both ESKOM , Rand Water and a number of other creditors.
“The municipality is on its knees and has nowhere to turn but to the provincial executive. If we are to trust that this intervention is going to work it is time for the Premier and his executive take action and lay charges against those officials and politicians who were party to the demise of the Emfuleni Local Municipality, ELM.” OUTA will establish a local branch in Three Rivers, Vereeniging, next Tuesday (June 19) where former ANC MP, Dr Makhosi Khoza, will be one of the speakers.
