Note to Editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Cllr Alison Oates, Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Eleanor Quinta and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Ana Motaung.
The DA calls for an urgent Council briefing on the withholding of Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality’s Equitable Share allocation and the financial crisis facing the Municipality, ensuring that councillors receive full and accurate information on the reasons for the decision and the steps required to restore funding and protect service delivery.
Several documents are being shared on social media, but their reliability cannot be confirmed. The Municipal Manager posts short statements on his WhatsApp status, which appears to be the only means of communication he uses. The Mayor remains silent.
The DA confirms its commitment to proper accounting procedures. Bookkeeping follows rules; many of them seem onerous, but they are the rules of the game. They apply whether you are a micro business or a municipality like MaP with a roughly R2 billion budget.
Residents must pay for the services they use, but the municipality’s billing system is failing, making it difficult to manage accounts properly.
While residents may be frustrated, municipal services remain essential. The DA encourages residents to stay involved, hold leaders accountable, and continue paying for services.
The municipality’s problems were years in the making and will take time to fix. Recovery will require cooperation, responsible leadership, and a commitment to rebuilding trust. Vote DA on 4 November.