Chairperson, I will read one statement for all the Orders. In an effort to make things happen where we live, Naledi local municipality was dissolved in terms of section 139(1)(c) of the Constitution with the implication that there are no public representatives or councillors as we speak.
The department has severally implemented section 154, that of provincial and national support. In spite of that, there were no improvements at all. Instead, there was a deepening of the crisis in that municipality. We had the situation of administrative incapacity, financial mismanagement, disclaimers and divisions amongst councillors and amongst officials.
There is also a sub judice factor which led to the murder of the mayor, who was buried just this Saturday; and the attempted murder of the municipal manager.
This has been brought to the attention of the provincial MEC, and they have been tasked with having the matter investigated by the Hawks. Precisely because of the serious nature of this matter, we hope we will receive a progress report in this regard.
Therefore, Chair, the committee recommends the approval of the dissolution of the municipality and that within three months there should be a municipal election in that area, as dictated by the law.
We would also want to see the situation being monitored regularly in order to avoid many political, legal and other financial factors that might hamper the dissolution of Naledi.
I now move on to the others. In the case of Umhlabuyalingana municipality, this is a section 139(1)(b) matter. It is not a dissolution but the assumption of executive authority as a result of the failure of the municipality to perform its executive duties.
Amongst other things, that municipality failed dismally in terms of all the council's objectives of governance, service delivery and strategies. The council does not even know how to account for the smallest payment that has been made to it.
We are therefore saying, in the light of the observation by the committee, with regard to the manner in which the councillors there have accepted the situation, that they are ready. They say any form of assistance from national and provincial government will be accepted. They have accepted their mistakes.
That was the first time we saw leadership open up in that regard. So with that background, we are saying the Council must approve section 139(1)(b). The administrator there must fast-track the appointment of section 157 managers, even though we are running out of time.
Of course, there must be a quarterly report to this House, that the SA Local Government Association, Salga, should, indeed, do its work, by training councillors in that area, and not only councillors but the officials who lack capacity in that regard.
In terms of this other municipality, Indaka municipality, the situation is more or less similar. I am talking of municipalities in the hinterland, in the remote rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. The situation is the same, though there is a special focus on supply chain management which has not been adhered to. The other issue is that it also suffers from disclaimers and the council does not have a turnaround strategy. Municipal governance is also a challenge in these municipalities.
What we observed, which we said would have to be investigated by the provincial legislature and the MEC, is that when we met the people, the stakeholders, everyone who stood up praised the mayor, and yes, there was a dissolution. It was as if it was a planned tactic - that when Parliament comes, everyone must stand up and praise the mayor, irrespective of the dissolution.
However, we were with the legislature, which will investigate why that type of communication occurred. We therefore recommend the approval of section 139(1)(b).
We also say the administrator there must fast-track the question of a labour-retention strategy. There must also be a quarterly report to this House. Salga must do its work in terms of capacity-building for both councillors and officials. We further say that the NCOP, after approving the report, must send it to stakeholders as the stakeholders there requested information on the decisions from the NCOP.
Follow-up meetings have to be held after completion of the dissolution in that area. Furthermore, the MEC for co-operative governance must monitor the situation thoroughly, and provide resources. In most cases, section 139(1)(b) is executed, but without resources in this regard.
So, we therefore call for the approval of the decisions on the three municipalities, in terms of section 139(1)(b); and that of Naledi, in terms of section 139(1)(c), with regard to dissolution. However, there are best practices that we have learned in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The manner in which the MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs consulted in this regard was best, precisely because all the people in each municipality were involved.
It is, therefore, an approval, not only by the leadership, but together with the community. The communities were involved and they approved the section 139(1)(b) decisions in almost all these three municipalities. We are saying this is one of the best practices that some of the provinces have to learn.
The other thing is the way in which the legislature of KwaZulu-Natal supported the committee. From day one, the chairperson of the co-operative governance portfolio committee in this regard was with the committee until the end and, therefore, they have all the facts that the people raised. Let me rest my case. So be it.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report on Oversight visit to Umhlabuyalingana Local Municipality be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
KwaZulu-Natal did not vote.
Report on Oversight visit to Umhlabuyalingana Local Municipality accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Question put: That the Report on Oversight visit to Indaka Local Municipality be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
KwaZulu-Natal did not vote.
Report on Oversight to Indaka Local Municipality accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Question put: That the Report on Oversight visit to Okhahlamba Local Municipality be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
KwaZulu-Natal did not vote.
Report on Oversight visit to Okhahlamba Local Municipality accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Question put: That the Report on Dissolution of Naledi, Local Municipality be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
KwaZulu-Natal did not vote.
Report on Dissolution of Naledi Local Municipality accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.