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Auditor General Ms Tsakani Maluleke took a turn to the Free State to meet with its leadership where the state of municipalities in the province was under discussion.
The province is notorious for its mal-administered municipalities for eons on end, corruption and unaccountability has been the highlight of poor service delivery and weak financial management; and ignoring or not implementing the remedial recommendations of the AG.
During her speech at the State of the Province Address (SOPA), Premier Ms MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae expressed concern over the state of municipalities and committed to working hard in turning the tide around, ensuring service delivery and that the Free State as a whole is investor friendly and attractive.
Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae made a pledge to Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke that the impunity which previously defined municipalities in the Free State province will be brought to an end.
Maluleke met with Premier Letsoha-Mathae, the Speaker of the Free State Legislature Mr Mxolisi Dukwana and Members of the Executive Council at OR Tambo House in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, 08 April 2015.
The Auditor-General noted that one of the reasons that municipalities are not able to provide basic services to residents, is failure by management to hold corrupt officials accountable. This, she noted, breeds a culture of latitude, which deepens malfeasance at local government.
She slated the leadership of the institutions for failure to implement consequence management, which in turn has led to a number of municipalities in a dire state.
While Premier Letsoha-Mathae conceded that consequence management has not been effectively implemented, she promised that government will deal decisively with corrupt officials, adding that their conduct delays progress and worst, leaves communities worse off.
“The state of our municipalities is a serious cause for concern. Our people are living in squalor and cannot get basic services in some instances because of some corrupt officials. In my meetings with the leadership of various municipalities, I always impress upon them to take decisions, irrespective of how unpopular they might be, for the good of our people.
We have made a commitment to our people to improve the provision of services, and we are not going to allow thieving officials to stop us from fulfilling our promises,” Premier Letsoha-Mathae said.
Speaker Dukwana said the legislature will intensify its oversight work through its various committees to monitor performance improvement.
Member of the Executive Council responsible for Finance Ketso Makume acknowledged that there is lack of skills and capacity in municipalities, adding that the department, working together with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, will ensure that people who have skills and capacity are appointed to correct positions.
