Having held their local elections in 2021, and now under a coalition government led by the Patriotic Alliance, things seem to have worsened in the municipality.

This week, mayor Boitumelo Lethoko revealed before the North West Legislature Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts that the balance in the municipal bank account is zero, which has led to a total collapse of services in the municipality. She said the situation is so dire that the municipality cannot even afford to buy a simple thing like toilet paper.

It’s understood that workers have also abandoned the municipal offices, however, Lethoko said the municipality is trying to pursue the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the provincial Treasury for finance as the municipality will only receive their equitable share in July 2023.

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Job Dliso, chairperson of the Provincial Public Accounts in North West, raised concerns over the continuous deterioration of services in Ditsobotla despite the bi-elections that were held in December 2022 to elect a new municipal council.

He warned that employees will not be paid their salaries in May and June because there is no funds for that, or to deliver basic services.

"With the creditors bill standing at R4,4 billion against the budget of over R500 million, which is also non-existent, it simply means that the municipality is dormant," he said.

"We have observed a deep-rooted culture of corruption and maladministration that emanated from many years of lack of accountability, and it is still rearing its ugly head to this day."

OFM News