The lack of revenue collection, escalating debts, and high vacancy rates are amongst some of the pressing issues set to be discussed.

The province, with more than half of its municipalities currently under administration, made headlines when Advocate Jerry Motau's forensic report ‘The Great Bank Heist’ revealed that four of its municipalities lost billions invested with the VBS Mutual Bank.

Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu, in his latest 2017/18 local government audit outcomes report, further confirmed that the R1.6 billion loss in investments made with the now liquidated bank significantly weakened the financial position of municipalities in the North West, leading to many failing to provide services to communities. The meeting with Kegakile is expected to outline the current state of local government and chart a way forward.

Makwetu in a report tabled earlier this week focusing on national and provincial outcomes, also stated that the North West is amongst the provinces with huge financial risks and high irregular expenditure of about R3.2 billion.

He said high levels of irregular expenditure and widespread non-compliance with supply chain procedures had become typical of a number of departments and that greater efforts are needed to overall improve the audit outcomes of the province.

OFM News