MEC for Cooperative Governance, Thembeni Ngxangisa, tells the Provincial Legislature during his 2019/20 budget vote speech that heads will roll, should these senior officials fail to adhere to this.

He says his department has met with the leadership of the The Independent Municipal & Allied Trade Union (IMATU) and South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) to try and reach an amicable solution to challenges faced by municipalities.

He adds that three troubled municipalities in the province, which includes Masilonyane, Mafube and Maluti-A-Phofung, are still placed under administration.

Ngxangisa further says he is still going through a detailed legacy report which includes some of the serious challenges besieging the said municipalities and others in the province.

This as the AG report painted a bleak picture with regard to the fiscal status of all municipalities in the province that failed to achieve a clean audit during the AG's 2017/18 State of Municipalities report.

In his report, Makwetu said he noted that a significant number of municipalities in the FS were amongst those that submitted their financial statements late, had a total breakdown of financial controls, showed poor leadership response to issues faced by the municipalities, and are characterised by a lack of capacity and instability.

Ngxangisa says the AG's report in these municipalities is worrying and leaves a bitter taste. He says his department will not financially assist any municipality due to the department's already exhausted budget meant to help and assist municipalities in the province.

According to Makwetu, a total of 74% of the municipalities across the county did not adequately follow up allegations of financial and supply chain management misconduct and fraud.

During the State of the Province Adress (Sopa) in July, premier Sisi Ntombela said serious measures of intervention will be instituted by the provincial government at different municipalities following a damning audit report by the Auditor-General (AG), Makwetu.

Ntombela lamented the performance of these municipalities and said their performance is below the expectations of communities.

OFM News