MEC for Human Settlement, Urban Planning and CoGTA Mr Lebogang Maile on Monday 23 March 2020 introduced a team of Administrators to take-over the administration in the city of Tshwane with immediate effect.
At a press briefing held at Tshwane House in Pretoria, the MEC said this follows the decision to invoke section 139(1) (c) of the constitution to dissolve and place the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Council under administration.
MEC Maile said, “The decision to dissolve the Tshwane Municipality council was not taken lightly, it was based on the sequence of events, such as disregard of the PMFA, especially regarding the procurement processes, which eroded good governance in the City.’
‘‘The issues also included unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure flagged by Auditor General including failure to spend conditional grants.
The MEC said the issues included the failure to establish Ward Committees after the 2016 local government elections, to enhance public participation and strengthening of participatory democracy, Irregular appointments of individuals in key positions and poor delivery of basic services.
“One of the burning issues is the failure to supply clean drinking water in Hammanskraal, continuous collapse of council sittings and non-appointment of a permanent Municipal Manager.’’ MEC Maile said.
He said the appointed Administration should be aware that expectations of the people of Tshwane are high and disappointments are not expected from the team in executing their mandate.
He announced the following administrators to take-over the City’s administration; Mpho Kebitsaman Nawa, Gilberto Martins, Lefadi Lucas Matibinyane, Riada Kruger, Lebogang Mahaye, Lesedi Mere, Thulisile Njapa-Mashanda, Mmasabatha Abigail Mutlaneng, Mavela Dlamini and Shiva Makotoko.
The key responsibilities of administrators as announced by MEC Maile, is to undertake all executive functions of a Municipal Council, starting with all statutory executive functions of the Executive Mayor, taking-over all fiscal and financial management functions of the Municipality, such as being signatory on the municipal primary bank account.
The administrators are expected to implement all governance systems and procedures including oversight over the Administration, ensure implementation of financial systems, policies, and procedures and approve all decisions taken by the municipal manager including assigning delegations.
The new Administration is also expected to develop a turn-around strategy for the municipality, implement a system of control and approve all expenditure. They are expected to ensure implementation of the local government Municipal Property Rates Act, 2004 ( Act No. 6 of 2004), including preparing the municipal valuation roll in terms of section 32 (3) of the said Act where applicable.
The Administration will also finalize reported fraud and corruption cases, submit monthly reports on the progress to MEC for CoGTA, review of all litigation cases against the municipality and finalization of such cases. They will assess contractual obligations of the municipality and negotiate contractual payments, scope and agreed to schedule with service providers.
They are expected to ensure implementation of remedial action plans dealing with negative findings from Auditor General and ensure that the Local Labour Forum is functional and that the resolutions are implemented by the Administration which is not to the disadvantaged of the municipality. They will review the organizational structure of the Municipality, co-ordinate a programme visits by all Gauteng Members of the Executive (MEC’s) and departments of the Municipality in order to fast-track service delivery.
It is expected that the Administration will set out a specific strategy for addressing the financial problems experienced by the Municipality, including a strategy for reducing unnecessary expenditure and increasing the collection of revenue.
Residents of Soshanguve, Mr Rodney Mashaba and Ms Ellen Mako, both reiterated the same expectation from the municipality.
“with the appointment of the new administrators, we are expecting a lot of change in the city and we hope that the decision which was taken by the government to place the city of Tshwane under administration is going to bring about intense competence within the city and we expect an improved service delivery around Tshwane,’’ they said.
