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The Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Mr Parks Tau earlier today led an intergovernmental team on an interventions tracking visit to the Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West Province. 

The Deputy Minister was joined by the MEC of COGHSTA (Acting Premier) , Mr N. Maloyi and MEC of Finance, Ms M. Rosho in the North West as well as the Mayor of the municipality, Cllr T. Nkashe and Speaker Cllr T. Sehemo . 

The multidisciplinary team consisted of representatives from national, provincial and local government spheres in keeping with the dictates of cooperative governance. 

The meeting deliberated on the state of the municipality, financial recovery plan, electricity supply, provision of water and management of the bulk accounts. 

The municipality is still not functioning as expected and is unable to meet its statutory obligations of providing services to communities.

The municipality was reconstituted in January 2023 following a by-election in December 2022, occasioned by the dissolution of the municipality due to persistent political and administrative instability. The municipality is currently under section 139(5) (a) and (c) of the Constitution, which gives the provincial government a mandatory intervention in the municipality. The imposition of mandatory intervention was as a result of stubborn challenges including those related to finances of the municipality. These and many other challenges resulted in the municipality failing to fulfil its obligations as provided in schedule 4b and 5b of the Constitution, Act of 1996. 

The Financial Recovery Plan (FRP) is being implemented in the municipality. This plan is implemented in three phases, namely rescue, stabilization and sustainability phases, however the existence of vacancies in senior management positions is hindering the effective implementation of the FRP.

Notable progress has also been registered in key governance undertakings and structures which includes the establishment of a Section 79 Committee to oversee the implementation of the FRP. The Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) is also functional. 

Furthermore, the Credit Control policy and by-laws were adopted by Council for implementation and enforcement pending gazetting.

Some of the challenges facing the municipality include electricity supply challenges as a result of aging infrastructure faults, vandalism of transformers and load-shedding impact on infrastructure. "To arrest these challenges, the municipality should explore the prioritization of building internal electricity capacity (human, material, equipment, and financial)" said, the Deputy Minister.

In respect of water rationing that is due to inadequate water supplies, the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) has developed a Turnaround Plan that recommends soft management interventions and hard infrastructure programmes. "The District Municipality, which is the Water Services Authority, should implement these interventions speedily, to alleviate the plight of the businesses and residents of Ditsobotla Municipality" insisted the Deputy Minister.

As part of the comprehensive support and interventions package by MISA, a borehole was refurbished and another drilled to assist with providing water. 

Additionally, a switching stations assessment was conducted which recommended the upgrade of the electricity line that supplies the bulk water borehole to reduce power failure that affects the pumping of water.

The engagement presented the municipality with urgent deliverables pertaining to the need to employ competent staff to manage and operate services (water, sanitation, roads, and electricity). 

Moreover, the municipality should conduct a Section 78 (due diligence) assessment for all services to decide on the best mechanism to deliver services as well as prioritize consumer metering and billing. 

The meeting adjourned with a firm commitment to continue such engagements to ensure that the municipality is turned around and functions effectively and efficiently.

Issued by Department of Cooperative Governance