SECUNDA – The Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) believes that the collective effort of the residents and the municipality can redeem the municipality from its current financial status.
The municipality has been grappling with serious financial constraints, including the Eskom and Randwater debts which are collectively more than a billion Rand.
This has resulted in poor service delivery which led service delivery protests.
Residents recently complained to Mr David Mabuza, deputy president, about the service delivery problems in the area, including power cuts and their crisis with sewage.
Mr Mabuza was in the area for the South African National Aids Council (Sanac) Plenary District Outreach Programme on HIV prevention.
Locals used that meeting to voice their frustration and to display their dissatisfaction with Ms Thandi Ngxonono, executive mayor, by booing her.
Mr Mabuza promised that he will return to address the community before Christmas.
GMM has also been listed as one of the five struggling municipalities in the province that were, at some point, considered to be placed under administration.
MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mr Mandla Msibi, introduced the Section 106 investigation for the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality to the council during a special sitting in Secunda.
Section 106 (1) (b) of the Municipal Systems Act, 32 of 2000 states that if the MEC has reason to believe that a municipality in the province cannot or does not fulfil a statutory obligation, or that maladministration, fraud, corruption or any other serious malpractice has occurred or is occurring in a municipality in the province, the MEC must designate a person or persons to investigate the matter.
He tabled the terms of reference for a forensic investigation during an extraordinary council meeting held in the council chambers on Thursday, 22 November.
The terms of reference include non-implementation of council resolutions, the abuse of municipal property and assets, advertisement of tenders without following legislation and awarding of bursaries without following procedures.
Mr Benzi Soko, chief of staff and acting head of communications, said everyone is aware that the municipality is facing a series of challenges, but through collective efforts, these problems can be overcome and defeated.
He said if GMM collapses as doomsayers wish, it will take everyone down with it – both individually and collectively.
Also read: Investigation will look at maladministration, fraud and nepotism
“We are calling on all and sundry to give their undivided support to these initiatives.
“We are calling on all residents and business owners to come to the party by paying their municipal accounts and outstanding debts.
“What we need is positive energy from each and everyone. We have had a lot of negative energy.
“Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is unborn, the future does not exist, but the time is now for all of us to think out of the box and think as if there is no box at all.”
He said the Revenue Enhancement Committee is in super-gear in its quest to improve the GMM revenue collection capacity.
Mr Soko said the committee has a permanent meeting scheduled every Wednesday to deliberated plans for immediate implementation.
He said this initiative is amplified by Operation Ruthula which is marshalled by DD Revenue, Mr Jakes Mahlangu and his team of committed officials.
He said these are practical endeavours which are aimed at turning the tide in the revenue front.
Locals have taken their frustrations to the social media and they often flood the municipality’s Facebook page which complaints. They have voiced their dissatisfaction about a lot of things in the area. However Mr Soko was adamant that things are going to be better.
