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Yesterday, Ratings Africa in its annual Municipal Financial Sustainability Index (MFSI) confirmed what North West residents knew all along, informed by their daily lived experiences - that three decades of ANC misrule has basically destroyed the province.

Water, electricity, sanitation and refuse removal services are erratic at best, unemployment is the highest in South Africa at 54%, roads are potholed-ridden death traps and all North West municipalities are dysfunctional.

The average score for North West municipalities in the MFSI is a mere 21 points, the lowest in the country shared with the Free State. The Western Cape average score is recorded at 52 points, the highest. Evidence that confirms the DA’s good governance track record and the only party that is capable to rebuild what the ANC has destroyed in North West.

In short, all North West municipalities are facing collapse, are dysfunctional, unable to deliver services, or maintain or expand on infrastructure to meet service delivery demands. This contributes significantly to economic decline and unemployment as we can see in all small dorpies throughout the province from Christiana to Vryburg, Leeudoringstad to Ganyesa, and Koster to Ventersdorp.

The JB Marks Local Municipality is considered to be the best performing municipality in North West, at a score of 35, but is, at the same time, one of the worst performing in South Africa, one point below the national average of 36. The Naledi Local Municipality scored 7, the worst in the country. Vryburg residents can attest to the misery they are forced to endure because of the ANC’s sustained misrule there.

The MFSI report confirms that the “unabated destruction” of municipalities continue throughout much of South Africa, but that there is hope. DA governed municipalities continue to far outperform all those misgoverned by the ANC.

DA governed municipalities in the Western Cape, like Saldanha which scored 72 points, shares the best performing municipality slot in the country with the DA governed Midvaal in Gauteng. The DA governed George (71), Mossel Bay (70) and Swartland (70) local municipalities take the next three top spots.

The top five best governed municipalities in South Africa are all DA governed. These municipalities can maintain and expand on infrastructure to deliver quality basic services to meet the demands of all residents. It has sustainable financial liquidity that allows the flexibility to embark on outlier and gamechanger development programmes that encourages local economic development and job creation even under the current negative economic environment.

In fact, DA governed municipalities are performing so well that Ratings Africa states in their MFSI report that all other municipalities throughout South Africa “could take guidance” from the DA on how to run “financially sustainable municipalities.” The ANC, however, would never dare accept that the DA delivers.

Ratings Africa’s MFSI report is an evidence-based and independent confirmation that if the people of North West want to rebuild this beautiful province, the only answer is to vote DA in next year’s election because the DA is only party with the policies, skills, capabilities and political will to deliver electricity to very switch, water to every tap and even a job in every home.

Issued by Leon Basson MP - DA North West Provincial Leader