Deputy minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Parks Tau has held an outreach in Free State to zoom in on issues facing eight municipalities.

Various mayors, along with municipal managers, were tasked with presenting the state of their municipalities in the presence of Tau, Acting Provincial Premier, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, and MEC of Cogta and Human Settlements, Ketso Makume, among others. Tau stated that the primary goal of the outreach effort is to support municipalities in improving their ability to provide services.

He urged all municipalities to incorporate and put into action the District Development Model and to swiftly execute vital projects that would significantly help communities in need, especially those living in the dysfunctional municipalities identified within the province. The Moqhaka Local Municipality was the hosting municipality in Kroonstad.

Representatives of the municipalities outlined the challenges they are facing. Photo supplied

Representatives of the Ngwathe Local Municipality, Mafube Local Municipality, Masilonyana Local Municipality, Tokologo Local Municipality, Mohokare Local Municipality, Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, and the Metsimaholo Local Municipality outlined the challenges they are facing. 

“Given that municipalities play a critical role in delivering services, the ongoing problems in this area have led to the deterioration of most municipalities.”

This decline is primarily a result of mismanagement, embezzlement, and corruption, with some struggling to meet basic obligations like paying their employees or providing essential services like waste removal and clean water. These difficulties have prompted nationwide discussions involving provinces, municipalities, and various stakeholders to identify sustainable solutions that can ensure the efficient and effective operation of municipalities.

The Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Parks Tau. Photo supplied

The State of Local Government report reveals that South Africa currently has 66 dysfunctional municipalities, with 11 of them located in the Free State. The national government expresses apprehension regarding the condition of local government and its persistent inability to offer enduring and high-quality services to the public. Several factors contribute to this ongoing failure, including:

• Council instability and inadequate supervision.

• Insufficient administrative capacity and a lack of technical expertise.

• An inability to effectively utilise conditional grants, resulting in under-spending and a lack of value for money.

• Inadequate maintenance and repair of infrastructure.

• Inefficient revenue collection and management.

OFM News