Thirteen of 45 Eastern Cape municipalities are “dysfunctional” and the Bhisho administration will act as “babysitter” for them in the 2015-16 financial year, starting next Wednesday.This was revealed by cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) MEC Fikile Xasa when he delivered his policy speech at the Bhisho legislature last week.
Xasa said it was “not all gloom and doom as 17 municipalities are doing well”. He said 15 of the 45 “have the potential to do well”.
“Cogta will endeavour to support municipalities in collaboration with other sector departments, by sending professional teams to dysfunctional municipalities.
“The department will revise its support programme to these municipalities to deepen and upscale creation and maintenance of a conducive environment.”
The 13 dysfunctional municipalities were Makana, Mbhashe, Ngqushwa, Great Kei, King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD), Mhlontlo, Mbizana, Ntabankulu, Lukhanji, Intsika Yethu, Kouga, Ikhwezi and Ndlambe. Most received disastrous audit reports from the auditor-general, and all 13 were struggling to conduct day-to-day operations.
“The first team will provide support to the OR Tambo district focusing on Mhlontlo and KSD local municipalities. The second team will go to Alfred Nzo to support Ntabankulu and Mbizana. In collaboration with Chris Hani district, we will support Lukhanji and Intsika Yethu, while in Amathole we will offer support to Mbhashe, Ngqushwa and Great Kei local municipalities.
“In collaboration with Sara Baartman district, we will support Ndlambe, Makana, Ikhwezi and Kouga.”
Xasa said the teams would implement a “back-to-basics” strategy, focusing on cutting out wastage, prudent expenditure of public funds, hiring competent staff and transparency and accountability.
“We commit to implement the back-to-basics programme at the local sphere to create conditions for sustainable and consistent delivery of municipal services of the right quality and standard.
“We will investigate various municipalities where there are allegations of fraud and corruption coming from the presidential and the premiers’ complaints hotlines.”
In his state of the province address last month, premier Phumulo Masualle said R290-million would be spent on pumping up performance in Makana, Inkwanca and KSD, and help to pay their Eskom debt.
Xasa said R70-million would be made available in 2015-16 to address the water crisis in the Chris Hani district, where there are challenges in areas around Engcobo, Inkwanca and Lukhanji municipalities. — asandan@dispatch.co.za