The J.B. Marks municipality has been ranked as the number one municipality in the province by ratings agency, Ratings Afrika.
Ratings Afrika assessed the financial sustainability of the 100 biggest municipalities in the country.
The analyses are based on the fiscal year ending in June 2019.
According to Ratings Afrika, the financial sustainability of local municipalities, unfortunately, continues to deteriorate rapidly. This has a disastrous effect on the quality of life for most South Africans and the economic activity of the businesses located within the municipal areas.
Willie Maphosa, the municipal spokesperson, has welcomed the report.
“The financial stability of this municipality has never been in doubt.
However, as satisfied as we are with the rating, we will remain grounded and will not allow it to go to our heads. We need to keep on working hard and improve, especially in relation to the auditor general’s reports. These reports are the government’s standard-bearer,” said Maphosa.
André Duvenhage, a political analyst at the NWU, believes that, while many might think this is an achievement, the rating says more about the province than the municipality.
“In my opinion, J.B. Marks is in the worst state I have ever seen it. The once beautiful city is dilapidated. It is very sad, especially if you are one of the older residents.
We remember the city as one of the best in South Africa, with its historic character and unique atmosphere.
If J.B. Marks is the best, then it shows how bad things are in the rest of the province,” Duvenhage said.
According to Leon Basson from Ratings Afrika, J.B. Marks now ranks 29th in the country.
“When we started the index in 2011, Tlokwe (Potchefstroom) achieved the third place but, unfortunately, it fell from grace a long time ago,” Basson said.