The party has firmly opposed dissolving the council of the ailing municipality again arguing such measures fail to address the structural issues that plague the municipality.

The DA formally requested the national government to invoke Section 139(7) of the Constitution to place Ditsobotla under national administration. On Friday (10/1) Member of the Provincial Legislature CJ Steyl announced the DA had written to Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, and President Cyril Ramaphosa to take decisive action to restore governance and service delivery in Ditsobotla.

“Provincial interventions since 2000 have been dismal failures,” Steyl said, referencing the 2022 dissolution of the Ditsobotla Council as evidence of ineffective provincial oversight.

Despite recent commitments from the North West Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs to collaborate with stakeholders to address municipal challenges, Steyl criticised provincial efforts as insufficient.

“Repeated engagements by the provincial and national portfolio committees of Cogta and Scopa have not yielded any positive impact.” He attributed the failures to ANC political instability, factionalism, and widespread corruption.

“Ditsobotla’s financial situation is dire, with liabilities exceeding assets and service providers refusing to respond to job orders due to non-payment. Essential infrastructure for water and electricity has collapsed, leaving residents in prolonged outages and further fueling violent protests. Residents are desperate and angry, enduring the terrible consequences of failed governance compounded by further damage to infrastructure during protests.”  

The DA has urged the President and relevant ministers to:

• Conduct an independent financial assessment of the municipality.
• Develop and implement a funded recovery plan.
• Stabilise the municipality’s administration.
• Perform an independent skills audit of senior and middle management.
• Conduct a forensic financial audit.

Steyl called for the removal of unqualified municipal officials and the prosecution of those implicated in corruption, alongside asset forfeiture measures to recover public funds.

Ditsobotla was recently criticised when health facilities were flooded due to non-operational stormwater systems, leaving patients and healthcare workers stranded.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg