This, after their week-long visit to various provinces - where several financially distressed municipalities tabled their reports - draws to an end.

Members of the council from Tuesday on heard how municipalities in the three provinces and countrywide are still struggling to provide services to residents.

OFM News yesterday reported on how the North West is still faced with financial mismanagement, lack of political leadership, and high vacancy rates, among other issues.

This is exacerbated by the R314 million loss they incurred when they invested with the now liquidated VBS Mutual Bank.

The administrator of Madibeng Local Municipality, John Motlogelwa, and Mayor of Mahikeng, Betty Diakanyo, on Thursday both confirmed the financial rut experienced in their respective municipalities, stating that they indeed need intervention from the government.

Whilst NCOP members bemoaned irregular expenditure and incomplete projects, coupled with adverse audit reports by Northern Cape municipalities, those in the Free State expressed great concern at escalating Eskom and water board debts.

Following Eskom's recent attachment of the Maluti-A-Phofung and Matjhabeng Local Municipalities’ bank accounts in efforts to recoup billions owed to the power supplier, the NCOP delegates urged municipalities to upscale debt collection so that they could pay service providers.

Free State municipalities collectively owe Eskom over R12 billion - making it the province with the highest debt and one with the highest number of defaulting municipalities.

OFM News