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FOR WRITTEN REPLY
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NO 160 (144*)
Mr MA Matebus (EFF - NC) to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and
Traditional Affairs
1) Whether any interventions were undertaken to solve capacity and
governance problems in the Makana Municipality in Grahamstown,
Eastern Cape (details furnished); if not, why not; if so, what are
the relevant details;
2) Whether these interventions entail the procurement of the services of
private companies; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
(a) to what extent and (b) at what cost?
REPLY:
1. The Eastern Cape Provincial Executive has recently intervened in the
Makana Local Municipality, with a view to resolving the capacity and
governance problems as well as other identified challenges affecting
that municipality. The current intervention is in terms of section
139(1)(b) of the Constitution, and it follows earlier support measures
provided by the province, in terms of section 154 of the Constitution,
since 2013. These support measures were later intensified in April
2014 by the Provincial Department of Local Government and Traditional
Affairs, in partnership with the Provincial Treasury, with the
secondment of officials to act in the positions of Municipal Manager
and Chief Financial Officer in the municipality, but these proved
unsuccessful.
2. From the information we have obtained, an Administrator was appointed
by mutual consent on 1 October 2014, to assist with the fulfilment of
the executive and administrative obligations of the municipality. The
Administrator is a private consultant who contracted her services
through her business that operates under the name and style of Zenade
Leadership Consulting. She is assisted in her duties by a team of
personnel seconded from the provincial government.
(a) She is contracted on a 3-day per week basis, and
(b) Her company will be paid a total amount of R2 Million over a
period of six months for her services.
Apart from the services of the Administrator, there is no intention
to procure other services of private companies in respect of this
intervention. The municipality will, instead, seek the assistance and
support of the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, the province and
national departments, if necessary. The normal procurement processes
for operational goods and services will continue, under the
supervision of the Administrator.