Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Suzette Steyn and Sesotho by Karabo Khakhau MP.
Despite claims by the CFO, Abram Mgcina, of Mafube Local Municipality that service delivery is in “full swing,” the reality on the ground tells a different story. The municipality has been operating with an unfunded budget for the past five years, leading to poor expenditure management and weak revenue collection. The Democratic Alliance (DA) opposed the Budget and IDP, citing the lack of funding and an ineffective Financial Recovery Plan. Please see pictures here, here, here and here.
Adding to the turmoil, the acting Municipal Manager, Mothusi Lepheana, recently notified municipal workers via WhatsApp that salaries for May 2023 may not be paid due to the attachment of the municipality’s bank accounts by creditors. This situation is unacceptable and places a significant burden on the dedicated workers who continue to provide essential services.
Despite being under mandatory provincial intervention since June 2022 under section 139(4) and (5) of the Constitution as ordered by Judge van Rhyn in April 2022, the management has failed to improve revenue collection and address service delivery issues. The landfill sites are mismanaged, sewerage and water leaks are prevalent, road conditions are deteriorating, and infrastructure such as pipes and drains are collapsing. The municipality is in dire need of essential services, with no signs of improvement.
The DA stands firm in advocating for the rights of residents to receive basic services and live in clean and healthy environments. We urge the Mafube Local Municipality to urgently address the salary payment issue and prioritise day-to-day service delivery. Additionally, the DA will escalate the situation to the Provincial Legislature to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to resolve this matter. We believe that transparency and accountability are essential in ensuring that the municipality fulfils its mandate of providing quality services to its residents. Therefore, we call on all stakeholders to work together towards finding a lasting solution to this problem.