Addressing mayors, municipal managers and other senior municipal managers in the province, Mothibedi Kegakilwe said the time has come for turnaround strategies to be implemented and the state of municipalities to be improved. 

Kegakilwe has expressed his disappointment with the financial rut that municipalities across the province are in and has vowed to play an effective oversight role over the department’s programmes to ensure that services are provided. 

This, as the province has 15 municipalities under administration. 

Four of the municipalities in this province earlier this year made headlines for their investment in the now liquidated VBS Bank. 

The Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, the Mahikeng Local Municipality, Madibeng Local Municipality, and Moretele Local Municipality invested over R300 million in the VBS Bank.

Kegakilwe added that it is of great concern that more than half of municipalities in the province are unable to generate income and are dysfunctional.

The provincial government previously said financial distress, instability and collapse of service delivery were amongst some of the pressing issues as to why they placed the municipalities under administration.

Kegakilwe has nonetheless highlighted that municipalities in the province have to become a key focus to enable service delivery.

OFM News