The municipality is amongst those grappling with the supply of basic services such as water, electricity and refuse removal, amongst others. It falls under the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality which recently came under fire for its investment in VBS Mutual Bank. The Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality is amongst the four North West municipalities that are currently under investigation for investing over R300 million in the now-liquidated VBS Bank.

The Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality was found to have invested R150 million, of which R100 million was from the Regional Infrastructure Grant (RIG). R25 million was from the Equitable Share-Free Basic Services and R25 million was from the Building Fund.

The Naledi Local Municipality made headlines just weeks ago when community members in Vryburg and surrounding areas were up in arms over the lack of water supply. This resulted in roads being barricaded with burning tires. They demanded that the mayor and municipal manager should vacate their offices on the grounds that they fail to adhere to needs of the community and that they are implicated in the irregular issuing of tenders.

Mkhize’s visit to the North West comes just a day after he announced that investigations into all municipalities implicated in the VBS Mutual Bank looting are going to be intensified.

He has announced that the state of municipalities, and the money they lost through the VBS investment, is amongst the issues still receiving his attention and that the governing party is taking action to ensure that individuals implicated are brought to book.

OFM News