SECUNDA – The provincial executive council has decided to lift their foot off Govan Mbeki Municipality’s throat.
This was decided after receiving a progress report on the intervention at the Govan Mbeki Municipality in accordance with section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution of South Africa.
In light of the positive developments at the municipality, the executive council resolved to uplift the intervention and provide support to the municipality in accordance with section 154(1) and section (155)(6), of the constitution.
This is according to the Exco statement after its virtual meeting held on Wednesday, 12 May.
They initially decided to interfere when the then CoGTA MEC, Mr Mandla Msibi, revealed that there was an increase in irregular, unauthorised, fruitless and wasteful expenditure with no consequence management.
He said at the time that there was political interference with governance and normal operations of administration with indications of serious violations of the local government legislation.
Some councillors and officials were implicated in acts of gross wrongdoing.
Mr Msibi said there were factional in-fighting and that the council was not united, solid and sound on the direction of service delivery.
The non-functioning of MPACs, the Disciplinary Board and the S79 Disciplinary Committee of council that were supposed to probe and act spontaneously on allegations of wrongdoing by councillors and officials, added to the concern on the functionality crisis.
The staff morale hit bottom due to rampant fraud and corruption that was not met with action and law enforcement.
Interference in administration also resulted in skills drainage as some valuable officials either opted to resign or have been rendered redundant within the administration.
Mr Msibi then also said the intervention came at the right time because the municipality was not in good shape as then mayor, Ms Thandi Ngxonono, had resigned and the municipal manager and the CFO were suspended.
The speaker of Govan Mbeki Municipality, Ms Fikile Nyembe, said on Monday that the council was not aware of the upliftment of section 139(1)(b) report from the Executive Council.
The report was posted on the Mpumalanga Legislature’s website and on the municipality’s Facebook page.
