This is despite the bleak picture painted by a multi-stakeholder presentation to members of the Provincial Legislature and delegates from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday in Bloemfontein. 

Responding to questions posed by opposition parties’ members regarding the tangible success of current intervention programmes, the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Thembeni Nxangisa, cautions against duplicating intervention efforts, adding what they can do is beef up and strengthen measures already in place. He elaborates on this progress by speaking on Maluti-A-Phofung first.

The MEC reports the joint task team instituted by the National Cogta Department has made significant strides. He tells those present that Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality’s power utility, Centlec, has been roped in to assist the debt-ridden municipality in rendering services to the community on an intermediary basis. Centlec will specifically assist in the provision of electricity to the area, repair of vandalised substations and the replacement of damaged transformers. The power utility is also expected to connect houses without electricity and review or assess Maluti’s meter system.

Following Maluti’s by-elections in late August, the council managed to elect Masechaba Mosia Lakaje as the Mayor, Tumelo Thebe as Speaker, and Betsi Mofokeng as Chief Whip in early September 2019.

Before briefly providing updates on progress made in Masilonyana and Mafube, Nxangisa veered off the topic momentarily by accusing opposition parties of discouraging residents from paying services due to corruption allegations that surrounded the then Mayor, and current Legislature Chief Whip, Vusi Tshabalala. DA MPL Leona Kleynhans dismisses the allegation, shifting the blame to disgruntled ANC Councillors who were unhappy with the state of the municipality at that stage. 

He refers back to the importance of paying for services in dealing with debt at municipalities.

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