The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Premier, Finance, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs chaired by Hon. Aaron Motswana has strongly condemned maladministration, lack of governance and service delivery at Tswaing Local Municipality. This follows a virtual oversight meeting where the municipality was called to account on state of governance and political administration as well as court interdicts between the municipality and several Councillors.
Hon. Motswana said the municipality was called after continued negative publicity over amongst others, counter court interdicts between Councillors including the Mayor and Speaker; collapse on service delivery; failure to pay statutory payments such as South African Revenue Services, medical aid and other deductions; and parallel Municipal Councils which includes two Mayors, Accounting Officers, Chief Financial Offices and Council Sittings. “We received reports that there is no municipality at Tswaing as there are constant disruption of services by the political leadership, and we denounce such behaviour of leaders who has since abandoned their political consciousness and resigned to engage in a tug of war which resulted in the collapse of service delivery and chaotic state of affairs.
“There are multiple court orders between the Councillors including the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs which is supposed to play an oversight at the municipality. We have further noted ill-discipline, anarchy and deliberate violence of legislation and corruption. Public money is used for such court interdicts yet there is no service delivery,” said Hon. Motswana.
He said the Committee has resolved to amongst others, approach the law enforcement agencies in line with the directive of Justice Mahlangu AJ on case no UM 123/20 and Case no UM 97/2021 which both expressed contempt of court by some of councillors. “The Committee further directed the Municipality to submit proof as annexures of events that led to the chaotic state in the municipality whereas communities are left unattended.
The department and the Municipality was informed that no person may be appointed in contravention of Sec 54A of Municipal Systems Act and any transactions done by a person appointed in contravention of the act is null and void and consequently fraudulent.
“The Committee condemned use of public funds to fight personal political battles at courts and disregarding communities of Tswaing. MEC Mmoloki Cwaile should crack the whip and where possible assume the administration of that Municipality. We can’t have leadership that derelict on their responsibilities and arrogate to themselves powers limited to the Constitution and legislation governing local government,” said Hon. Motswana.
He said the Committee calls for the release of Sec 106 report as soon as possible. “The Committee further noted failure to attend by Kagisano Molopo and regard this as a clear contempt of Parliament and resolve to invoke provisions of Standing orders and Powers and Privileges Immunities Act of Parliament. No person would be bigger than the Constitution of the Republic and any institution or person given public monies to use and fails or refuse to account,” said Hon. Motswana.
Source: Government of South Africa