Chairperson, the North West Provincial Executive Council, on the recommendation of the MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs, resolved at its meeting held on 22 August 2018 to place Ditsobotla Local Municipality under intervention, in terms of section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic.
Accordingly, intervention in the municipality commenced on 1 September 2018 for a minimum period of six months, renewable for a further equivalent period. The aim and purpose of the intervention, as defined in section 139 of the Constitution, are to enable the municipality to recover from the endemic governance and
administration, service delivery and financial management challenges.
These key functional areas are the backbone of a municipality. If a municipality is discovered to be weak in terms of these key areas, it means it is dysfunctional - a situation which inevitably requires government intervention, in order to bring out a desirable turnaround and normality in service delivery implementation.
Regarding the progress report, the administrator presented the intervention report on the municipal council adopted on 18 November 2018. The municipality has managed to appoint three section 56 managers such chief financial officer, director of planning and economic development, as well as director of community services.
The major service delivery progress report related to completion of the water treatment plant, unblocking of sewage, waste treatment plant in Lichtenburg and payment of creditors.
The governance progress report includes the improvement of governance within the municipal council, stabilisation and improvement of governance and administration, provision of
intervention plans and reports, and scheduling of portfolio committees to consider and adopt reports.
In terms of the Constitution and procedural matters, the select committee observed that the national Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, the NCOP, the North West Provincial Legislature and the local municipality were notified of the intervention and substantive matters related to the invocation of section 139(1)(b)of the Constitution.
The select committee also noted a general concern raised by the stakeholders on matters related to a lack of security and involvement of senior management in municipal business.
With regard to recommendations, having considered the oversight visit to Ditsobotla Local Municipality and interacted with the local structures of political parties and a wide range of stakeholders within the municipal area, the committee recommends as follows.
Firstly, the NCOP should approve the intervention in Ditsobotla Local Municipality, in terms of section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution. Secondly, the administrator should fast-tract the process of implementing the municipal turnaround plan in accordance
with the terms of reference, as assigned by the North West MEC for Cogta. Thirdly, the administrator should provide a report on the allegation that senior managers are doing business with the municipality and ensure the implementation of consequence management.
Furthermore, the North West MEC for Cogta should table the water progress report on the status of the intervention at the municipality in the NCOP, including challenges encountered.
Lastly, the Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, in co-operation with the relevant portfolio committee of the North West Provincial Legislature, should in future conduct a follow-up oversight visit to the municipality, in order to evaluate the progress made in respect of the intervention in this municipality. I table this report.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.