The provincial Department of Local Government revealed today that it will provide support and corrective action to the ANC-led municipalities of Beaufort West, Kannaland and Laingsburg. This follows the results of the MFMA 2019/20 Audit Outcomes, as interrogated at today’s Standing Committee meeting.
These audit outcomes and the governance track record at these municipalities confirm that the ANC in the Western Cape is a complete stranger when it comes to service delivery and caring for the best interests of residents. Whilst the ANC bemoans their perceived lack of accountability, the party’s hypocrisy was on full display for all today as not a single ANC MPL attended this very important briefing.
In terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), the Department of Local Government – with the Provincial Treasury – is required to monitor the progress of the implementation of the Audit Action Plan in a municipality in which concerns were raised by the Auditor-General report. This is aimed to ensure that accountability ensues in a Council and that service delivery is restored at a municipality.
MPP America says: “The 2019/20 Audit Outcomes show the need for the Provincial Government to step in and assist ANC-led municipalities. Beaufort West, for instance, is the only local government in the Western Cape to have a disclaimed outcome – the worst possible rating.
The Department has refined a Section 154 support package and the National Treasury has requested the development of a Financial Recovery Programme (FRM). In Laingsburg, the Province will continue providing Back-to Basics programmes which include bespoke support packages to improve service delivery for residents.
However, it was Kannaland Municipality which required the greatest intervention. Constant instability in the Council and several illegal decisions led to urgent court proceedings against the municipality. The Executive also decided to intervene in terms of Section 139 (5) of the Constitution and an independent administrator was elected to implement the FRM. Even the national Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs labelled Kannaland as dysfunctional in its state of local government barometer.
This is why the provincial Department is seeking to enhance its municipal monitoring processes. We share the goal that audit outcomes must improve in the future, regardless of party affiliation, so that residents benefit from the best possible service delivery. Moving forward, I will be asking Minister Bredell as to what progress is being made with respect to further refining these monitoring and evaluation processes.”
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