According to the Acting Secretary-General of the ANC, Jessie Duarte, there are a further 60 municipalities requiring rapid response by both the national and provincial government to ensure stability. 

Briefing the media on the outcome of the recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, Duarte painted a bleak picture of the state of local government, stating that most municipalities are faced with political, governance, administration and financial management issues. She highlighted that all these have a negative impact on their ability to provide services. 

Her confirmation of the intervention needed from national government comes amidst growing concerns over the state of North West municipalities. Residents in the province have expressed concern over how most municipalities are still failing to provide basic services. 

The Tswaing Local Municipality is amongst those that recently came under fire before the Provincial Legislature, with MPLs questioning its ability to carry out its mandate.

With more than half of municipalities in the North West under administration and still crippled by some of their investments in the now liquidated VBS Mutual Bank, concerns over their ability to provide services are mounting.

The Auditor-General, Tsakani Maluleke, has in her latest local government audit outcome report indicated that most municipalities in the North West and across the country required urgent intervention.

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