Question NW437 to the Deputy President

Reply:

The Department of Cooperative of Governance has identified, through the 2021 State of Local Government Report, 64 municipalities as dysfunctional and needing urgent support. These high-risk municipalities are characterised by, among other things, political infighting, poor and weak decision-making, poor governance and financial management, lack of consequence management, poor collection of revenue, and poor response to service delivery complaints.

As at 24 August 2021, out of the 64 dysfunctional Municipalities, the following 26 were placed under administration:

KZN PROVINCE	Abaqulusi
	Emadlangeni
	iNkosi Langalibalele
	Mpofana
	Msunduzi
	Mtubatuba
	Umkhanyakude
	Umzinyathi
	Nquthu
	Uthukela
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	Kannaland
LIMPOPO PROVINCE	Mogalakwena
FREE STATE PROVINCE	Mangaung
EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE	Amathole
	Enoch Mgijima
	OR Tambo
NORTHEN CAPE PROVINCE	Phokwane
GAUTENG PROVINCE	Emfuleni
	West Rand
NORTH WEST PROVINCE	JB Marks
	Madibeng
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	Emalahleni
	Govan Mbeki
	Lekwa
	Msukaligwa
	Thaba Chweu

Both National and Provincial Teams have already engaged all 64 dysfunctional municipalities, including the 29 which were placed under administration, to develop Municipal Support and Intervention Plans. Upon engagements with all dysfunctional Municipalities, the following short and medium-term interventions were developed, and are currently being implemented:

Short-term interventions as adopted by Cabinet

• Fast-track repairs and maintenance of water infrastructure, sanitation, repair potholes, energise streetlights, attend to sewer spillages;
• All municipalities to upscale their efforts relating to community participation and citizen engagement;
• Fight vandalism and theft of public transport infrastructure in collaboration with sector departments;
• Fight gangsterism and criminal activities in collaboration with SAPS and other departments;
• Operationalisation of the Structures and Systems Acts which coincides with the commencement of the next term of local government;
• Conduct an in-depth assessment of municipalities that are already under section 139 of the Constitution, and deal with areas that need urgent attention by amongst others deploying technical support teams, District Development Model Political Champions to unblock persistent challenges etc.

Medium-term interventions:

• Support municipalities to develop Asset Management Plans using 5% of MIG;
• Restrict land invasion and facilitate housing development; 
• Seek land and housing development opportunities closer to work opportunities;
• Provide equitable, consistent and accessible transport for the low-income groups;
• Support municipalities to ensure that all Senior Managers meet the minimum competency requirements as provided for in the Regulations;
• Appoint and deploy the Rapid Response Team to prioritize the 64 municipalities with high-risk indicators;
• Provinces to intensify support on MPACs to municipalities;
• Facilitate settlement arrangements with ESKOM & Water Boards on debt owed;
• Support municipalities with the improvement of their customer data management, records management and Information and Communications;
• Reduce debt owed to municipalities through “Pay for Services Campaign”.