Pretoria - The North West Provincial Executive Council (Exco) will today assess progress made in the interventions put in place to turn around the performance of a number of municipalities in that province.
“An urgent meeting of Exco to evaluate progress in the implementation of Section 154 intervention in Madibeng Local Municipality, Section 139 interventions in Ditsobotla, Maquassi Hills and Matlosana Local Municipalities has been convened by North West Premier Thandi Modise,” the premier’s spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele said on Wednesday.
Section 154 specifically requires of national and provincial governments to support and strengthen the capacity of municipalities. Provincial Departments of Cooperative or Local Government monitor and support the work of local government.
Modise said the meeting was aimed at determining urgent appropriate interventions where progress had not been registered since administrators and experts were deployed to the four municipalities.
“Obstruction and resistance to provincial intervention and hands-on support that is part of our local government turnaround strategy had delayed progress that needed to be registered for the benefit of our communities,” said Modise.
She added that the meeting would also consider an update report on the performance of all municipalities across the province.
Section 139 (1) (b), which is in effect in three municipalites, states that: When a municipality cannot or does not fulfil an executive obligation in terms of the Constitution or legislation, the relevant provincial executive may intervene by taking any appropriate steps to ensure fulfilment of that obligation, including assuming responsibility for the relevant obligation in that municipality to the extent necessary to: maintain essential national standards or meet established minimum standards for the rendering of a service; prevent that municipal council from taking unreasonable action that is prejudicial to interests of another municipality or the province as a whole, and maintain economic unity. - SAnews.gov.za
