COGTA says dysfunction persists in several municipalities despite interventions

CAPE TOWN - The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) says “all is not well” with several municipalities despite its interventions.

The department was briefing the COGTA committee on its implementation of the municipal turnaround programme for dysfunctional councils across the country, which struggle to provide even the most basic of services like water and sanitation.

Members of Parliament (MPs) have also raised the alarm about the level of dysfunction saying things have become worse in some cases.

The 10 most dysfunctional municipalities in the country were again the focus of discussion in parliament on Tuesday.

These include Emfuleni municipality in Gauteng, Kopanong municipality in the Free State as well as Thabazimbi in Limpopo.

Eastern Cape metros Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay also find themselves on the list of 30 “priority distressed municipalities”.

COGTA Director-General, Mbulelo Tshangana, said interventions like section 139 are in place, but things still aren’t looking good.

"What we are presenting here is not a picture that is intended to impress members of the committee. In fact, the story of this presentation is that all is not well in the municipalities, especially the ten municipalities."

Committee chairperson Zweli Mkhize said the department has to take some degree of responsibility in turning municipalities.

“Would this strategy and its implementation plan be part of the annual performance plan of the department which then binds the Director-General and the managers in relation to its implementation, to the extent that failure would actually attract censure at a senior management level at COGTA?,” said Mkhize.

Some committee members also called for the rehiring of retired municipal managers and experts to help in what is becoming a dire situation in some provinces.