The refusal by Thanduxolo Khalipha to accept responsibility for the Goldfields municipality’s collapse has worsened the suffering of residents, amid mounting debt, failing infrastructure, and deteriorating service delivery, the party said.

Provincial DA cooperative governance and traditional affairs spokesperson David MacKay accused Khalipha of misleading council through “hollow reports” and undermining provincial intervention efforts aimed at stabilising the municipality.

infrastructure

“Matjhabeng’s debts have soared to R18.8bn, water and electricity losses are at catastrophic levels, and only 1.2% of the budget has been spent on maintenance. The infrastructure is crumbling, service delivery is in tatters, and the mayor’s focus remains on political survival rather than the needs of the community.

“The evidence before us is damning. Matjhabeng municipality, under the so-called leadership of mayor Thanduxolo Khalipa, has become a textbook example of arrogance, incompetence, and defiance.” 

Khalipa has, for some time, faced accusations of leading the municipality “with an iron fist”, with claims that employees increasingly feel victimised and unprotected.

Concerns around his leadership resurfaced during a provincial legislature sitting where the intervention team deployed to Matjhabeng presented a severe assessment of the municipality’s finances.

Last week, OFM News reported former Free State MEC Makalo Mohale, who heads the intervention team, accused municipal leadership of resisting cooperation with provincial efforts to rescue the struggling municipality.

Financial management

Presenting the report, Mohale said the collapse of financial management remained central to the municipality’s crisis and worsening services.

Matjhabeng’s creditors increased by R3bn while the debtors’ book grew from R8bn to more than R9bn despite the intervention, said Mohale, who also criticised continued spending and alleged irregular appointments linked to the expanded public works programme.

“The municipality was advised to terminate irregular appointments to correct and recover the money and take that money to service delivery. There was a moratorium to say don’t employ.

“We fought with the municipality because, despite the moratorium, they issued posts in excess of 200 in February. We made a lot of noise, they decided to halt, but we don’t know for how long cause they do as they wish.”

Mohale also alleged the municipality had failed to refer matters to the Special Investigating Unit and continued losing court cases related to illegal fees and faulty billing.

Claims

Khalipa, however, rejected claims the municipality was refusing to cooperate with the intervention team. “Chairperson, there is a question raised by this house (legislature) that we are not cooperating. I don’t think I understand when you mean we are not cooperative. What is the meaning of that?” he asked.

A meeting convened by the Free State premier in Bloemfontein had already outlined how the intervention team and municipality should work together, said Khalipa. “We all agreed how we must work, and since that time we have implemented what was decided by that meeting.”

Provincial DA cooperative governance and traditional affairs spokesperson David MacKay. Photo supplied  

MacKay maintained the municipality continued to ignore critical directives despite being placed under a mandatory financial recovery plan.

“Despite the imposition of a mandatory (plan), the mayor and his administration have repeatedly ignored legally binding directives, adopted unfunded budgets, and failed to implement even the most basic reforms,” he said.

“I am compelled to act on the findings of this parliamentary inquiry, which lay bare the appalling state of our municipalities, particularly Matjhabeng and Nala. (Therefore) the DA will advocate the immediate enforcement of consequence management and the appointment of independent administrators in municipalities where leadership has failed.”

ANC MPL and chairperson of the joint committee on public accounts, finance and cooperative governance, Oupa Khoabane, urged Khalipa and senior officials to reflect on the concerns raised during the inquiry.

“We are well aware that this institution, when you came in, was at a level where, when you look at it, you see a crime scene. Your presence in this institution became a paradigm shift from that problematic environment, ushering in a new, whole culture together. Key to that culture was discipline in the institution,” said Khoabane.

Nala municipality

He warned, however, leadership needed to avoid conduct that could further damage the municipality’s reputation.

Meanwhile, McKay said the situation in Nala municipality remained concerning despite some progress under intervention. The municipality is still functionally insolvent. Its collection rate is at 40%, and creditor liabilities have risen to R1.6bn.

Political infighting, vacant critical posts, and dependence on costly external service providers continued to cripple governance and service delivery. 

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg

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