His visit to the municipality, which is under the national government’s care, comes as issues of service delivery and the conduct of the council due to political instability are under the spotlight. Hlabisa is expected to announce the cabinet’s decision on the ailing municipality.

Ditsobotla has become a poster child for municipal dysfunction, making headlines in recent years for political infighting, administrative collapse, and service delivery breakdowns. 

Last month, the civil society lobby group Sakeliga approached the courts to compel the national government to intervene in the dysfunctional municipality.

Sakeliga CEO Piet le Roux has been vocal about what he regards as a constitutional failure by the national executive to intervene under Section 139(7) of the Constitution. This section stipulates when a provincial government is unable or unwilling to adequately intervene in a failing municipality, the national government is obliged to step in.

“Many municipalities are approaching the state of collapse Ditsobotla is in, and it’s really crucial the national executive and president personally take charge and turn these municipalities around. If we do not force them to, we face a cascading collapse across the countryside.

“We’re facing water failures, electricity failures, and multiple mayors locked in disputes – some even resorting to violence. Personal security guards, provincial officials sent to intervene being assaulted, and municipal paperwork scattered by the wind through town. That council has collapsed.”

A political analyst had also warned expulsion of councillors would not bring meaningful change in the ailing municipality. North-West University (NWU) political analyst Prof Kedibone Phago called the expulsion “a two-fold, complex issue”, and strongly questioned whether it would have any positive impact on service delivery or the well-being of Ditsobotla residents. 

Phago also warned the underlying problems in Ditsobotla go beyond internal party discipline, citing long-standing factionalism within the ANC that has spilt into municipal governance.

A week ago, North West Cogta MEC Oageng Molapisi announced that Ditsobotla is being placed under national intervention.

Meanwhile, another North West municipality came under scrutiny during an oversight visit from the portfolio committee on Cogta. The troubled Zeerust-based Ramotshere Municipality is also facing internal political tensions with the provincial government establishing an ad hoc committee to investigate the conduct of councillors. 

This follows contradicting statements from the mayor of the ailing municipality, Dina Pitso and speaker Portia Letshefi before members of the national assembly.

OFM News/Kekekeletso Mosebetsi dg