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At a recent Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality council meeting, the Municipal Public Accounts Committee report on the investigations into R6 billion irregular expenditure in prior years was withdrawn with no explanation, leaving the council in the dark as to whom to hold responsible for the irregular expenditures.

Financial reports are filed months late, in violation of the prescripts of the Municipal Finance Management Act. The latest financial information presented to the council was delayed by four months. As the municipality is in a dire financial state the lack of financial reporting is exceptionally dangerous to accountability.

Currently the municipality labours from a lack of leadership. The Municipal Manager, Patric Mothamaha, is out on bail for corruption and on special leave. The Chief Financial Officer, Jemene Mazinzo, was put on special leave by the Speaker due to what he termed ‘irregular actions.’ The Director of Infrastructure, Basie Ungerer, was put on special leave when as acting MM he was considered to have assisted the CFO in irregular activities involving employing a bodyguard for the CFO. These members are on special leave with full pay and none has had internal disciplinary actions conducted against them.

The municipality previously decided to appoint a senior manager who could not pass various assessments to be considered for the post. The municipality was unable to seek concurrence from the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mxolisi Dukwana because of the lack of competence by the candidate. The MEC and COGTA sent a circular refusing the concurrence. However, the council resolved to send a second letter and inexplicably increase the responsibilities of the senior manager. The dysfunctional Maluti-a-Phofung municipality simply cannot afford to appoint senior managers who do not meet the minimum competency requirements.

The inability to ensure good governance has a direct impact on the lack of service delivery to the community. The DA has raised the issue with the MEC to find a solution to the failure of the municipality to govern.

Issued by Alison Oates - DA Councillor Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality