Parties agreed to take Municipalities on administration
During the ANC Lekgotla in February, seven municipalities were identified to be in dire need of special attention.
BUSHBUCKRIDGE – The ANC and the DA have welcomed the provincial government’s decision to place both Emalahleni and Bushbuckridge local municipalities under administration, in terms of Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution.
In a statement issued by the ruling party, it stated that, “the organisation supports the provincial government’s response to the challenges facing both Emalahleni and Bushbuckridge. These municipalities deteriorated to the lowest level. The ANC strongly requests councillors and the communities at large to support this decision for improved service delivery and administration.”
The DA, on the other hand, said it trusts that the intervention will return proper service delivery to residents, pay specific attention to water and electricity, supply infrastructure, waste removal, billing and revenue-collections systems, as well as to address the continuous faction fighting within the local ANC at Emalahleni.
“This intervention follows months of DA pressure on the provincial government to intervene, particularly in terms of the Witbank water crisis. Emalahleni has been subjected to investigations by both the Human Rights Commission and Public Protector, and comes at a time when the DA has begun seeking legal action against the municipality to oblige them to deliver services.”
“The DA declares its willingness to work with the administrator during the six-month period and offers our full cooperation to address residents’ service-delivery concerns,” said the party.
During the ANC Lekgotla in February, seven municipalities were identified to be in dire need of special attention.
They have changes ranging from political management, maladministration and financial mismanagement.
The provincial government will administer them for a period of not more than six months.
