This is according to the DA. The party says the merger between the Tlokwe and Ventersdorp Municipalities in 2016 has still not addressed water, electricity and sanitation challenges plaguing communities. The party’s Cilliers Brink says residents in these towns are subjected to a bigger municipality that still fails to improve service delivery and its financial status. Brink highlights that the DA is opposed to the ruling party’s proposal in parliament to reduce the number of municipalities in the country. His statement comes amidst growing concerns over the state of local government in the North West, as well as countrywide.

OFM News has recently reported on how opposition parties have raised their concerns at the state of North West municipalities following Cabinet’s approval of the withdrawal of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT).

The newly elected Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee to oversee the Section 100 intervention in the North West, China Dodovu, last week said more still needs to be done to stabilise municipalities in the province as they are still plagued with financial mismanagement, irregular expenditure, high vacancy rates and the inability to generate revenue.

He said municipalities in the province are still crippled by these challenges, including their investment in the now liquidated VBS Mutual Bank.

“There is no evidence that bigger municipalities will lead to better service delivery or improved financial management. Experience has shown that if a dysfunctional municipality is collapsed into a less dysfunctional one, the outcome is usually a bigger, highly dysfunctional municipality,” added Brink.

OFM News