Parliamentary committee visits Inkosi Langalibalele Municipality
The main objective was to oversee and get opinions of stakeholders on various matters within our municipality after reaching a disclaimer audit opinion last year
The Select Committee on the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), including the National Council of Provinces, came to town last week Friday.
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In the Estcourt Town Hall, municipal management, council, unions, business people and members of the public got seated for a stakeholder engagement meeting. The main objective was to oversee and get opinions of stakeholders on various matters within our municipality after reaching a disclaimer audit opinion last year.
Mayor Jabulile Mbele welcomed everyone and began by explaining the history of Inkosi Langalibalele Municipality. She briefly spoke on the merger of the Imbabazane and Umtshezi local municipalities, and how the municipality was placed under administration.
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The mayor, political parties and other representatives all shared the same sentiments that the Administrator, Thandolwethu Manda should stay for the next six months. Mr Manda also presented a progress report, which the parliamentary officials scrutinised.
Mr Manda spoke the officials through, while referring to a slideshow, which of the goals have been achieved thus far and what time period other areas of focus require in order to achieve a qualified audit opinion this year.
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After the meeting held, the officials will decide on whether the Administrator can continue to intervene, based on opinions from the meeting, the progress report and much more.
A member from the business forum said: “I am not sure how to respond to the intervention when in the last four months this is my first time meeting Mr Manda, but it would have been nice to have input.”
One of the parliamentary officials asked what the Administrator was doing about the 41 litigations the municipality has, the councillors who owe the municipality money, the water and sanitation issue as well as the security company being overpaid.
A report from Mr Manda is expected in response to these questions. Inkosi Langalibalele Municipality and the parliamentary officials will continue engaging before they reach a decision.
