Question NW1977 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
09 June 2023 - NW1977
Ceza, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether she is responsible for consequence management measures against administrators in local government; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what consequence management measures has she put in place against administrators and officials who have not delivered on their specific roles relating to (a) financial recovery plans, (b) implementing turnaround plans, (c) ensuring the provision of essential services and (d) dealing with (i) financial mismanagement and (ii) lack of good governance for troubled municipalities such as the (aa) Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West, (bb) Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in the Free State and (cc) Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape?
Reply:
I do not have such a consequence management responsibility to deal with the Administrators, except if the Minister has directly appointed an Administrator, especially in instances of the invocation of Section 139 (7) of the Constitution.
(aa) Ditsobotla Local Municipality in North-West has been placed under Section 139(1)(c) of the Constitution by Provincial EXCO, the municipality was dissolved and re-constituted on the 9 January 2023. Provincial Treasury has currently placed the municipality under section 139(5) in terms of Mandatory Financial Recovery Plan, a Provincial EXCO Representative assumed responsibilities on 1 April 2023, the MEC CoGTA has also seconded an Acting Municipal Manager.
(bb) The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in the Free State Province has been placed under Section 139 (7) of the Constitution during April 2022 and is led by National Treasury.
(cc) The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape has been placed under Section 139 (7) of the Constitution on 6 April 2022 and is led by National Treasury.
The honourable member is advised to direct the question to the National Treasury as the lead for Section 139(7) interventions.
End.