The oversight visits by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) to the Free State municipalities of Masilonyana and Nketoana have uncovered a disturbing picture of how these municipalities are failing both financially and administratively.
The two municipalities’ leadership simply disregard legislation and provincial authority.
Masilonyana has received a disclaimed audit opinion for a full decade. This means that the Municipality’s financial management and systems have been entirely insufficient for ten years.
Infrastructure is collapsing and service delivery has ground to a halt, while more than R190 million in conditional grants (received from the national fiscus) remains unspent. In addition, third-party deductions such as pension and medical aid contributions have been in arrears for years, even though these amounts are still deducted from employees’ salaries.
Nketoana owes its creditors approximately R1,7 billion, while overdue debtors amount to R1,5 billion. Ten months have lapsed since the Municipality’s largest creditor, Eskom, was last paid; and the utility has indicated that it intends to cut the Municipality’s electricity supply.
Service delivery has virtually come to a standstill in both municipalities. In Masilonyana, millions have been spent on sewerage works in Brandfort, but dilapidated infrastructure prevents it from being commissioned.
In Nketoana, boreholes in towns such as Petrus Steyn, Arlington and Lindley are not operational due to vandalism and cable theft, leaving communities without reliable water supply.
It is, furthermore, extremely concerning that Nketoana claims that only 15% of households experience water shortages, while the Human Rights Commission (HRC) recently found that the Municipality is failing to fulfil its statutory obligations as residents do not have adequate access to clean water.
Masilonyana’s poor governance was clearly demonstrated when it appointed an unqualified Chief Financial Officer, Mr Amos Mokoae, despite warnings from the provincial COGTA Department. The Department was forced to take the Municipality to court to have the appointment set aside.
These oversight visits revealed a general trend in the Free State where ANC-controlled municipalities increasingly operate without discipline or accountability.
Municipalities act unlawfully and they fail their residents.
With the upcoming local government elections, residents have a golden opportunity to exercise their right at the polls and vote for the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) that will bring about genuine improvement.
Freedom Front Plus Public Participation: The party encourages public participation in governance.
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