By More Matshediso
Pretoria – Councillors from the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in the North West have committed to working hand in hand with the newly appointed administrator to get their house in order.
The municipality has been placed under administration after experiencing governance and administrative challenges.
The North West MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Collen Maine, announced at a meeting with municipal councillors on Thursday that Andries Boshoff is the man charged with leading intervention on behalf of the Provincial Executive Council.
Boshoff -- the former Municipal Manager of Rustenburg Local Municipality -- will be supported by a team of experts to bring about stability and proper administration in Ngaka Modiri Molema.
The municipality comprises the Mahikeng, Ramotshere Moiloa, Tswaing, Ditsobotla and Ratlou Local Municipalities.
At the meeting with councillors, MEC Maine said he expected things to turn around after the Section 139(1) (b) of the Constitution intervention in the municipality.
“Your council is advised to cooperate with the administrator to ensure that this municipality is restored,” MEC Maine told councillors.
The Provincial EXCO has charged Boshoff with ensuring that communities in the area get the kind of services they are entitled to.
MEC Maine said, however, that the council of Ngaka Modiri Molema will still remain in existence but with limited power.
“The council will only exercise powers in relation to the adoption of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget, adoption of by-laws and policies and public participation processes.
“Any other matter that might be introduced by the administrator shall be in consultation with EXCO,” he said.
During the intervention, the administrator will be expected to check on the following:
- Contravention of any law, policy and regulations by any councillor or official.
- Allegations of nepotism, unfair labour practice and irregular appointment of staff.
- Investigate noncompliance with supply chain management processes in particular procurement of services, contract management issues.
- Alleged maladministration on conditional grants and expenditure thereof.
- Alleged preferential treatment or ill treatment of service providers.
- Investigate quality of work done by service providers.
- Investigate outstanding water services debts and agreement with water boards in their local municipalities.
Head of Department for Local Government and Human Settlements, Monnapula Motlogelwa, said the intervention will be implemented as set out.
“Any other (executive) decision made by the district municipality without the approval of the administrator is illegal since the municipality no longer has the authority to make transactions that require executive decisions,” he said. - SAnews.gov.za
