In a written reply to the DA, the Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu, confirms several members of the cabinet have been deployed to district municipalities in various provinces to not only help with Covid-19 interventions but to help them bring political stability and service delivery, amongst others. His confirmation comes amidst concerns over the province’s state of municipalities and their inability to deliver on their obligations. OFM News earlier this week reported on a damning Auditor-General (AG) report about the state of municipalities in the province.

The report by AG Kimi Makwetu indicated no single municipality was able to obtain a clean audit for the 2018/19 financial year and that more than 50% of municipalities remain under administration with not many improvements.

The AG’s North West head, Success Marota, during a briefing of the media on Tuesday said there is a systemic breakdown of financial control in the province with a lack of political will to implement consequences. He said of the 17 municipalities audited, none had a desirable outcome while five failed to submit their financial statements.

Marota said municipalities in the province are not only continuing to bear the brunt of their investment in the now liquidated VBS Mutual Bank, but they are incurring high fruitless and wasteful expenditure, which now stands at R280.2 million compared to the R114.4 million in the 2017/18 fiscal year.

He highlighted North West district municipalities are all in financial distress requiring urgent intervention. Marota said districts are overspending their budgets, lacks financial controls and a culture of accountability. He said this is a clear indication of how local government in the North West is grappling to carry out its obligations.

Meanwhile, Mthembu confirms Minister Gwede Mantshe is the delegate for Bojanala, Minister Nkhensani Kubayi-Ngubane for Kenneth Kaunda, Deputy Minister Obed Bapela and Maggie Soytu for Modiri Molema and Ruth Mompati Districts respectively.

OFM News