NCOP intervenes to ‘rescue dysfunctional Edumeni’
COGTA will co-ordinate the monthly Steering Committee meetings to monitor the implementation of the resolution of the Provincial Executive Council to coordinate and support the municipality.
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) held a meeting last Friday at the Council Chamber to discuss in detail the apparent collapse of the Endumeni Municipality. In the spotlight were the Council and its committees, the suspension of the Municipal Manager and administrative instability, service delivery and financial viability.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) resolved to intervene at Endumeni Municipality on December 5, 2018, due to the municipality’s failure in a number of areas including financial weaknesses, governance, and service delivery failures.
Endumeni Municipality has seen a fair share of instability over the past 12 months including instability in the management sector.
According to James Mthethwa, who led the NCOP delegation: “It is unusual to see a municipality acknowledging all their faults and wanting to clean up”. Mr Mthethwa was further impressed that the Council had asked for intervention.
Mandla Nkosi, whom COGTA appointed as Endumeni Administrator, said: “The municipality’s main challenges are the billing system and debt collection (rates and service charge).” He also mentioned that even Councillors owe rates, but he did not divulge names. Acting Mayor Mdluli added that ‘it is very disappointing to find Endumeni in such a state but the municipality is committed to working with COGTA to achieve a clean and functional municipality’.
“This would not have happened if all councillors worked together for the good of the town,” Acting Mayor Mdluli said. “We also welcome public criticism so we can be diligent in improving the town”.
The committees of the Council have been unable to provide oversight over the administration particularly with the reference to financial management and service delivery programmes.
Following the tabling of the forensic report (into widespread corruption) on October 4, 2018, the Council has not been able to consider and process the report, in particular recommendations. The forensic investigation identified various instances of irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, procurement irregularities, conflicts of interest, fraud, theft, maladministrations, and non-compliance with relevant legislation.
“On the basis of serious challenges prevalent at the municipality, the Provincial Executive Council authorised by the MEC of COGTA will appoint a suitably qualified person to implement the recovery plan approved by the municipal council, ensure the implementation of findings arising from any investigations into fraud, maladministration or fraud,” Mr Mthethwa said.
A Ministerial representative has been appointed to turn the situation around. COGTA will co-ordinate the monthly Steering Committee meetings to monitor the implementation of the resolution of the Provincial Executive Council to coordinate and support the municipality. Members of the Steering Committee include a representative from COGTA, Provincial Treasury, and SALGA amongst other stakeholders.
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