Central SA
North West government extends hand to collapsing municipalities─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 12:09 Fri, 03 Mar 2023

The North West Premier, Bushy Maape, has reiterated the provincial government’s plans to assist collapsing municipalities.
Some of the challenges North West municipalities have been faced with include ageing infrastructure, vandalism, as well as ongoing electricity cuts that have an adverse impact on the provision of water. During his response to the debate of the State of the Province Address, Maape said they are reconfiguring the Premier’s coordinating council where they meet regularly with mayors and municipal managers to make an effective intergovernmental forum. This is also a critical accountability platform for municipalities. He explained that some of the changes that will be implemented include meetings that will focus specifically on service delivery areas, such as housing, water and electricity, among others.
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“We are prepared to extend our hand and to play a supervisory and supportive role at municipalities. But we are also conscious of the constitutional mandate of our government spheres, which are distinct and interdependent. We'll do everything within our power– within the resources at disposal, such as legislative and human material – to prevent the collapse of any municipality in the North West province,” he said.
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Meanwhile, North West municipal residents have been up in arms to express their dissatisfaction with the non-existence of service delivery. DA member of the Provincial Legislature Freddy Sonakile previously stated that the entire Sopa had no tangible solutions to failures created by the government.