They will account to the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements on the state of municipalities in the province and give a progress report on those placed under administration.

The MECs’ briefing will take place amidst the Local Government Week programme, where issues plaguing municipalities across the country have been taken centre stage.

OFM News previously reported that the programme, held by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), has put the spotlight on how municipalities remain in dire need of intervention.

A presentation before the two bodies by the Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu on Tuesday painted a bleak picture when he said municipalities across the country are in a vulnerable financial position largely because of a breakdown in their financial controls and lack of accountability.

Whilst only 20 municipalities of the country's 257 municipalities have been able to attain a clean audit, none of the municipalities in this province were able to obtain a clean audit.

They have suffered a great loss due to their investment in the now liquidated VBS Mutual Bank.

Over 50% of them remains under administration, with not many improvements according to Makwetu.

OFM News