180 likes | 194 Views
This presentation provides an overview of the Madibeng Local Municipality, including its background, previous interventions, current status, and proposed way forward. It highlights the challenges faced by the municipality and discusses the actions taken to address them. The presentation concludes with recommendations for future improvement.
E N D
PRESENTATION TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS ON THE STATE OF MADIBENG LM MEC C. MAINE PRESENTER 24 JUNE 2015
Presentation outline • Purpose of presentation • Background on Madibeng LM • Previous interventions in the municipality • Current status of the municipality • Way forward • Conclusion
Purpose of presentation The purpose of this presentation is to provide a brief on the status of the Madibeng Local Municipality to the COGTA Minister and COGTA Portfolio Committee
BACKGROUND • The Madibeng LM is a category B municipality situated in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality • It is a high capacity municipality with a well developed town (Brits), a number of townships and villages • It has a significant revenue base and is a highly viable municipality • It is an executive mayoral type municipality with 36 wards and 72 councillors
Background cont. • The municipality has not performed optimally over the past two terms as a result of leadership problems both politically and administratively (despite it being a high capacity municipality) • The municipality was placed under section 139(1)(b) intervention in 2010 to 2011 due to poor council oversight, lack of leadership, poor administration and alleged fraud, corruption and maladministration • There has been changes in political leadership (TROIKA) in the middle of the past term and the current term, resulting in instability • Madibeng is the municipality that has experienced the highest number of community protests in the past 10 years
Previous interventions in the municipality • The former Premier of the NW Province, Premier Edna Molewa, instituted a forensic investigation into the municipality on reported allegations of fraud, corruption and maladministration • The investigation was conducted by Gobodo and a report was presented to the Premier, however, the recommendations of the report were not implemented by the municipality • The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) also conducted an investigation in the municipality, which led to the intervention in terms of section 139(1)(b) • In 2010, the Provincial EXCO resolved to invoke section 139(1)(b) in the municipality
Previous interventions in the municipality • The section 139(1)(b) intervention was as a result of the poor financial state resulting in inability to pay creditors; poor delivery of services resulting in community protests; numerous allegations of fraud and corruption • The intervention was implemented from March 2010 until the Local Government elections of 2011 when it was automatically uplifted • The Administrator prepared a close-out report which was presented to the newly elected council in 2011
Previous interventions in the municipality • The Administrator of the previous intervention took disciplinary action against the former Municipal Manager on charges of maladministration and financial misconduct • The charges were also linked to the SIU investigation and an investigation that was conducted by a private law firm, De Swart, Vogel and Myambo Attorneys • The Municipal Manager was charged and a legal case ensued, where he ended receiving a settlement • A new Municipal Manger was subsequently appointed by the new council
Previous interventions in the municipality • The service delivery and financial problems of the municipality escalated (high debt to ESKOM, PIC loan, Tshwane Metro for bulk water) and more service delivery protests occured • The then EXCO resolved to place the municipality under section 139(1)(b) once again in December 2011 because almost all the gains of the previous intervention were reversed (especially disciplinary processes) • This was not approved by the then Minister of COGTA, who instead, established a Task Team to conduct an investigation into the affairs of the municipality prior to any intervention; and to establish if the recommendations of the previous intervention were implemented
Previous interventions in the municipality • The Ministerial Task Team conducted its investigation and made recommendations to the council on disciplinary action that must be taken against the MM, some senior officials and some councillors. The Task Team also recommended that the recommendations of the former Administrator be fully implemented • There was lack of political will and resistance on the part of council to implement the recommendations of the Task Team report • The Minister deployed a team of local government practitioners to support the council to implement the recommendations of the Task Team report in terms of section 154 of the Constitution, however, this was not effective
Previous interventions in the municipality • There was a change on the political leadership of the council (TROIKA) in 2013 • The Minister then seconded an Acting Municipal Manager after the current Municipal Manager was placed on suspension pending investigation • The department has not received the final report of the disciplinary process of the Municipal Manager, who was since re-instated into his position in 2014/15 • The municipality continues to experience service delivery and financial management problems despite all the interventions that have been put in place since 2010
Current status of the municipality • There were numerous service delivery protests recently and in the past two years that have even resulted in fatalities • The protests have mainly been about the following: • Poor water and sanitation services provision which often results in water supply disruptions • Poor water quality • Poor maintenance and operations of water infrastructure. • Uneven provision of services to communities. • Project delays due to prolonged procurement processes and possible fraud and corruption.
Current status of the municipality • To that effect, the Provincial EXCO resolved to invoke provisions of section 139(1)(b) in the municipality, specifically focusing on water and sanitation, which have been the main source of community unrest • The decision to intervene was taken in March 2015 and the terms of reference are as follows: • Planning and prioritisation of infrastructure programmes and projects on water and sanitation services (in line with the IDP) • Allocation of the budget for water and sanitation programmes and projects • Oversee the procurement of goods and services in relation to water and sanitation services • Management of the Project Management Unit • Monitoring and overseeing of water and sanitation projects and programmes
Current status of the municipality • To this end, a technical team, comprising of engineers and technicians from the Department of Water and Sanitation; DLGHS(overall Coordinator); Magalies Water and Sedibeng water have been deployed to implement the intervention on behalf of the Provincial EXCO • A Joint Operations Center (JOC) has been established and addresses water and sanitation related problems, including vandalism on a daily basis • The Technical team has identified the hot-spots and developed a recovery plan to address same (this also includes issues of electrification such as illegal connections) on a short, medium and long term basis • Water tankering still continues in the water distressed areas due to infrastructure that is still under construction or requires maintenance and refurbishment
Current status of the municipality The achievements of the intervention so far can be summarised as follows: • 11 Water forums established with the inclusion of the community in the 11 water stressed communities (mainly villages) • Water leaks and repairs have been conducted • 4 boreholes operating optimally in Majakaneng (where a lot of protests took place) • 21 Jojo tanks installed and connected to reticulation network • 10 stand-alone tanks provided for tankering until water disruption is restored in Majakaneng • Water restrictions applied to regulate use • New boreholes completed and awaiting connection and equipping
Current status of the municipality • Community members have conducted yard audits on water connection status, detection of leaks and information gathering for planning • Water provision has improved in most of the prioritised areas through restoration of water supply infrastructure • The DLGHS has allocated R10 million to refurbish the water treatment plant; R99 million of the MIG allocation for 2015/16 will be used for water and sanitation projects
Way forward • The Provincial government will continue with the intervention on water and sanitation until the end of the current term to ensure that the water challenges are addressed in a sustainable manner • The municipality will continue receiving support on financial management from DLGHS and Provincial Treasury focusing on revenue and debt management; property rates; credible budgeting and prudent financial management