The ANC in the Northern Cape has officially welcomed the decision by the Provincial Executive Council to place the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality in Kimberley under provincial administration, a move that is widely criticised by opposition parties claiming it was a move “directed at getting access to the municipal money chest”.
The ruling party issued a statement in which it said the intervention, executed under Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution, comes because of the “deteriorating state of governance” that has left the municipality “hamstrung by persistent instability”.
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According to a statement released on 7 May, the party noted that collapsed council meetings “have stalled the machinery of local government, leading to significant delays in the delivery of essential services to the residents of Kimberley and surrounding areas”.
A key factor cited for the intervention is the “toxic environment of litigation” stemming from ongoing legal battles and tensions between the Council and the Municipal Manager, Thapelo Matlala.
The ANC stated that this friction has drained municipal resources and distracted leadership from its core mandate, calling the current situation “unsustainable and detrimental to the public interest”.
To lead the turnaround, a Provincial Executive Representative (PER) and a team of technical experts have been appointed. Their immediate tasks include stabilising municipal finances, improving infrastructure maintenance and restoring administrative discipline.
The ANC expressed full confidence in the intervention team and pledged its support to ensure a turnaround within the designated timeframe.
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Furthermore, the party extended a formal call to the seven other political parties represented in the Council to set aside partisan interests and work constructively with the provincial team.
“Service delivery is no longer held hostage by political gridlock,” the statement, issued by Provincial Secretary Deshi Ngxanga, emphasised. The party maintains that the goal of the intervention is to restore the dignity of the community through the provision of reliable water supply, electricity and refuse removal.
The ANC has committed to monitoring the progress of the intervention closely to ensure the municipality’s constitutional obligations are met.
