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The administrative five-member team appointed to rescue the Mangaung Metro Municipality from the doldrums is expected to turn it around in six months.
This according to Kopung Ralikontsane, director-general six-month period of resuscitation of the municipality is the least envisaged by for the Free State government.
His expectations were spelled out in a media statement issued by the Mangaung Metro on Monday (27/01).
The members of the team are Adv. Mzwakhe Mofokeng (Office of the Premier), Masechaba Sesing (provincial Accountant General), Dineo Mokheseng (provincial Department Of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs), Ernest Mohlahlo (acting head for Public Works and Infrastructure) and Thomas Lindelo Mkaza (local government).
The team will focus on administrative matters and strive to turn around the municipality’s service delivery and financial health as mandated by the provincial executive council.
The administrative team started with the huge task of resuscitating the trouble-ridden municipality.
The Mangaung Municipality was placed under administration in December last year under Section 139 (5) (a) and (c) of the South African Constitution.
Olly Mlamleli, mayor, said the team will assist in implementing the financial recovery plan and fast-tracking service delivery
In addition, the team will be expected to report to both the council of the Mangaung Metro and the provincial executive council on progress being made during this intervention.
Service delivery issues have been mounting for the Mangaung Metro.
- According to James Letuka, DA member of the Free State Legislature, the Mangaung crisis signals a ticking time bomb. He blamed the inability of the municipality’s current authority.
According to Johan Pretorius, chief whip of the DA in the Mangaung caucus, placing the municipality under administration has been long in coming.
“In 2015, the DA Mangaung caucus requested an urgent intervention from the Green Scorpions due to raw sewage flowing freely into stormwater channels and into homes in various areas of Mangaung. Roads and stormwater maintenance is almost non-existent. Residents have been left to fix their roads at their own expense. Finances are not properly managed and the woes seem to get deeper and deeper,” said Pretorius.
“The budgeted amount for employee-related costs as indicated in the December 2019 financial report amounts to over R2,065 billion (29,7%) of the budgeted operating expenditure of more than R6 959 billion. The expenditure of R45 million on vehicles cannot be ignored.”
