The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

A reply to a Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary question has revealed that only 50 out of 278 municipalities have an opposition party member as the Chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC).


Allowing a representative from an opposition party to chair the MPAC, is a clear signal on whether a municipality is committed to transparency and independent oversight over its activities.


The MPAC’s functions include the following:
- any unforeseen and unavoidable expenditure must be reported to it;
- the MPAC must receive proof of the necessary appropriation in an adjustment budget, consider expenditure and make recommendations to the  council;
- any unauthorized, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure by the council, the mayor, executive committee or any political office bearer of the municipality must also be reported to the MPAC;
- the municipal manager must report to the MPAC on all steps taken to either authorize or certify the payment or to recover or write off the expenditure; and
- the MPAC must report to the council on the appropriateness of the any criminal or civil steps taken and report where no further action was taken and why.


The committee therefore has an important oversight role over municipal spending and the exercise of executive authority.


Where the DA governs, in municipalities like Breede Valley in the Western Cape, Midvaal in Gauteng and many local administrations across the Western Cape, including the City of Cape of Town, we have supported the principle of having opposition party member chair the MPAC.


While there is no legislative requirement for the MPAC Chairperson to be a member of an opposition party, the DA challenges ANC-governed municipalities to entrench accountability by not acting as player and referee where councils are big enough to establish MPACs.


I will also submit parliamentary questions to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Richard Baloyi, to determine whether he is considering any legislative changes to enhance oversight and accountability on local government level.
Local government should ensure effective service delivery to all South African communities. A lack of accountability perpetuates a cycle of poor service delivery outcomes.


The only motivation to act as player and referee is to cover up corruption and maladministration.