‘New leadership will turn things around’
The continuing poor state of Ugu's financial management is a grave concern.
DEAR Editor,-
The financial audit of Ugu District Municipality is becoming an unremitting culture. The continuing poor state of Ugu’s financial management is a grave concern. This is despite government’s several attempts promulgated as initiatives to improve local government’s financial management as the engine necessary for service delivery. These initiatives include, among others, the 2014 Clean Audit Campaign, the Local Government Turnaround Strategy and the application of Section 139 of the Constitution.
Significant strides have been made towards the promise of developmental local government espoused in the Constitution, but it is without a shadow of a doubt that Ugu’s finances still face complex challenges. Of grievous concern is that Ugu’s financial management processes and systems are so chaotic that they have a negative impact on good governance, which affects service delivery.
The wave of service delivery protests and the recent audit outcome is disconcerting. This is attributed to, among others, the lack of competencies, lack of consequences for poor performances and transgressions, and the slow response by political leadership in addressing the causes of the poor outcomes.
The emphasis should shift towards embedding a new culture that will influence a real change in the systems that drive municipal finances. It is the responsibility of municipal officials to respect, protect and fulfil the socio-economic rights of the Ugu community through prudent management of municipal financial resources.
A non-negotiable new culture of municipal finance grounded in professionalism, value for money, respect for customers and their rights, commitment, responsibility, accountability and efficient systems of local government, can assist Ugu to achieve the objectives of local government.
The shift towards a new culture of good governance should be driven by high-level thinkers and visionary municipal leaders with a clear strategy. Municipal leadership should deal with the challenges, including the deficit in financial skills. Simply put, the pervasiveness of the municipal financial crisis in Ugu demands a new culture and leadership, and a new vision for conducting the finance business of the municipality. A new leadership, mayor to be exact, is required to turn things around and build an open opportunity society for all.
LEONARD NGCOBO
DA Councillor Umzumbe Municipality
Interim Deputy Chairperson UGU North Constituency
