The Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) visited this municipality to assess whether the request from KwaZulu-Natal MEC for CoGTA, Ms Nomusa Dube-Ncube, was necessary. The MEC has written to the Committee requesting that the provincial intervention that was due to end in September 2014 to be extended to March 2015 to allow for full implementation of the related terms of reference.
Parties such as the South African Local Government Association (Salga), organised labour, ward councillors, traditional leaders and groups representing women and youth agreed that there was a notable progress since the municipality was placed under Section 139 (1) (b) in terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
According to Mr Zamile Sikhundle, an administrator appointed by the MEC to ensure the municipality improved its performance; the municipality has been able to achieve many of the targets set out in the recovery plan.
Mr Lionel Pienaar, a representative from provincial CoGTA, said the intervention in this municipality arose due to, among other things, poor governance systems, saying the municipal council has failed to meet for at least two consecutive quarters. He said even when meetings were held, some councillors would stage a walkout. This failure is a contravention of the Local Government Structures Act No 117 of 1998.
The introduction of the intervention by the MEC led to the development of the terms of reference to guide the turnaround strategy. These terms, according to Mr Pienaar, include an instruction to ensure that Council met regularly and in line with Section 18(2) of the Local Government Municipal Structures Act.
The lack of stability in Council matters, according to Mr Sikhundle, has a negative impact on the running of the municipality because the Council cannot take decisions without forming a quorum. As a result, the municipality found itself receiving a disclaimer audit opinion in the 2011/12 financial year. But, Mr Sikhundle said, this was no longer the case as the municipality received an unqualified audit opinion in the 2012/13 financial year.
Mr Sikhundle also said they were able to fill most senior management positions and are in the process of appointing a chief financial officer.
On the governance matter, the municipality has established an ethics code of conduct and a committee which will ensure Council members behaved in accordance to a standard expected of them.
The Committee welcomed the progress made by the municipality but was not happy that the municipality did not prioritise economic empowerment of women and youth. It said the rural nature of the municipality should prompt the leadership to devise strategies that would promote job creation and business opportunities for young people and women.
Committee Chairperson Mr Jihad Mohapi wanted the municipality to ensure that all its programmes were aligned with the National Development Plan.
The Municipal Manager, Mpumeleo Mkhatshwa, said his municipality had plans to continue working smarter even beyond the provincial intervention. "We want to ensure that we continue where the administrator would have left off so that we can achieve a clean audit come the next financial year," said Mr Khatshwa.
The Imbabazane Mayor, Ms Phindile Strydom, echoed these sentiments and said the buy-in displayed by all role players was a sign that great things are possible for the municipality.
As the municipality is one of the seven sets of municipalities that are going to be merged in the next financial year, Mr Pienaar believes the extension of the intervention from September 2014 to March 2015 would help ensure a smooth transition.
By Temba Gubula
22 October 2014
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