Parliament, Thursday, 16 April 2026 – The Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration (Traditional Affairs, Human Settlements and Water and Sanitation) has strongly condemned the continued failure of Nketoana Local Municipality to provide safe, drinkable water to its residents, particularly vulnerable communities.
The committee concluded its stakeholder engagement at the Rietz Town Hall following the Free State Executive Council’s invocation of Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution.
Committee Chairperson Mr Mxolisi Kaunda did not mince his words: “The provision of clean water and adequate sanitation is a basic constitutional right. Subjecting communities to unsafe and contaminated water is not only unacceptable, but also a direct violation of their fundamental rights.”
The committee expressed serious concern over the municipality’s delayed response to findings by the South African Human Rights Commission, which had identified gross violations of residents’ rights to access basic services. Despite being given three months to submit a remedial plan following the report’s release on 19 November 2024, the municipality only adopted its response more than a year later.
“This inordinate delay reflects a culture of indifference and a lack of urgency that continues to cripple service delivery,” said Mr Kaunda. “Such nonchalance is enabled by the absence of consequence management against officials who either fail to perform their duties or act in contravention of the law.”
While the committee has noted the eventual adoption of the plan, it has made it clear that its true value will be measured through implementation, not promises.
The committee also raised alarm over chronic instability in senior management. In the past eight years, Nketoana has had six municipal managers, while five chief financial officers have served in the last decade, with the position vacant for two of those years.
“These positions are central to governance and financial oversight. This level of instability inevitably undermines accountability and effective administration,” Mr Kaunda said.
Financial management remains a major concern, with the municipality having received disclaimer audit opinions for seven consecutive years. The committee has instructed the Municipal Public Accounts Committee to urgently investigate financial misconduct, including double payments, irregular procurement processes and other forms of maladministration.
Governance failures extend to the political leadership of the municipality. The committee criticised the non-functionality of the executive committee, which has not been convening, effectively paralysing decision-making and oversight.
“The absence of a functioning executive committee renders the municipality practically dysfunctional and incapable of providing leadership,” the committee stated.
Equally troubling is the collapse of council operations, with repeated walkouts, failure to reach quorum and councillors neglecting their responsibilities without accountability. The committee has called on political parties to enforce discipline and ensure that councillors fulfil their obligations to residents.
The committee further emphasised the urgent need to stabilise local labour forums to promote cooperation and resolve disputes before they escalate.
On the financial front, the municipality’s growing debt burden is deepening its crisis. Nketoana reportedly owes Eskom approximately R1 billion, a liability that has already hindered potential economic investment and job creation in the area. At the same time, increasing non-payment by ratepayers continues to strain municipal cash flow.
The committee warned that without decisive intervention, the municipality risks further deterioration, to the detriment of its residents.
The committee will now proceed to the North West to conduct oversight at Ditsobotla Local Municipality, which was placed under national administration in September 2025 due to ongoing instability, service delivery failures and financial distress. The visit will assess the effectiveness of the intervention and progress towards restoring governance and service delivery.
Download the full programme here: https://tinyurl.com/bdfuz2ep
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, MR MXOLISI KAUNDA.
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Name: Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
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