Premier Zamani Saul on Tuesday announced the decision during a media briefing, saying this comes after several issues including the lack of proper rendering of services.

He says the municipality has been riddled with political and administrative challenges for the last four years. Some of thes challenges at this municipality included the resignation of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 2017 and the failure to approve the 2019/20 budget within the specified timeframes of the Municipal Finacial Management Act (MFMA).

Saul says these events have unfortunately been unfolding at the expense of the people, robbing communities of basic service delivery.

"Municipalities are the closest form of governance to the people, this proximity is strategic for the sole purpose of ensuring that the communities have access to basic service delivery i.e. running water, provision of electricity, refuse removal and sanitation.

"The Provincial Government through the Departments of CoGHSTA and Provincial Treasury have been supporting Phokwane local municipality with institutional capacity on finances and human resources with the aim of ensuring that the communities within that municipalities are provided with the necessary services," he says. 

He also says the municipal manager was removed forcefully without just cause after he was earlier seconded to the position.  

The municipal council is said to have vehemently resisted and legally opposed the provincial intervention. In January, the municipal council again failed to meet and consider a mid-year budget and performance assessment report and the 2019/20 adjustments budget. 

Saul adds that all the necessary processes will be put in place to ensure that by-elections are held.

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