Interventions to rescue the collapsed Mangaung Metro Municipality continued. The latest see Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and President Cyril Ramaphosa leading the charge to revive the bankrupt the ANC-led municipality. Dlamini-Zuma’s fact-find task began on Monday (04/04) with strategic engagements with the Free State government executive and the Mangaung council. This continues with a meeting with the business sector tomorrow, Thursday (07/04).
The climax of engagements will see Ramaphosa address the public at a Presidential Imbizo (gathering) on Saturday (09/04) at the Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein. “Input from these the Minister’s engagements will be consolidated and responded to as part of the issues at the Presidential Imbizo.”
“Engagements are meant to highlight challenges and unblock any blockages to service delivery in line with the District Development Model (DDM) which is an all of government and society approach that enables integrated and responsive planning, implementation, and budgeting through the One Plans,” said Lungi Mtshali, national spokesperson of the department of COGTA.
Efforts by Ramaphosa and Dlamini-Zuma come as earlier the plan to rescue the broke Mangaung municipality since December 2019 proof futile. Measures saw the municipality placed under administration and appointment of administration team. It was constituted of the following members: Adv. Mzwakhe Mofokeng (Office of the Premier), Masechaba Sesing (Provincial Accountant General & CA), Dineo Mokheseng (provincial COGTA)
Ernest Mohlahlo (acting head Public Works & Infrastructure) and Thomas Lindelo Mkaza. Dismal failure of the metro authorities to pay its creditors, collect revenue and delivering basic service prompted the municipality placed under administration.
More than two-years after interventions, the em¬battled municipality is still trapped in the doldrums, struggling to recover its fiscal capacity. Evidence of this includes deteriorating service delivery, inability to keep up with revised payment plan.
Owing to the bleak situation, the Mangaung Municipality’s long-term global scale was twice downgraded by Ratings agency Moody’s to junk status. Prolonged administrative problems fuelled a constant wave of public discord from disgruntled community and sharp criticisms by opposition political parties. It saw Olly Mlamleli ousted as the executive mayor late in 2020 and Adv. Tankiso Mea sacked as municipal manager in May last year.
They justified their criticism by referring to the late Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu’s report on the municipality’s financial ruin amid rescue plan being placed under provincial administration.
