BOSHOF – Tokologo Local Municipality is facing growing scrutiny over a range of governance challenges, including financial management, oversight processes and the continued occupation of illegally invaded municipal land.
The concerns were raised by the Democratic Alliance (DA), which has called on the municipality to take decisive action to address issues it says are undermining service delivery and public confidence.
“One of the most pressing concerns is the municipality’s failure to enforce a High Court order relating to illegally occupied municipal land in Boshof. The court order, granted on 13 June 2024, directed that unlawful structures be removed and illegal occupants evicted,” said by Cllr. Johann Steenkamp, DA Councillor Tokologo Local Municipality
He says little progress has been made in implementing the ruling more than two years later.
The continued occupation has reportedly resulted in the growth of informal settlements without access to essential services such as water, sanitation and electricity.
“This has increased public health risks, placed pressure on surrounding infrastructure and contributed to criminal activity affecting nearby businesses and farms. It has also warned that the municipality could face contempt of court proceedings if the order continues to go unenforced,” says Maqhubu.
At the same time, Tokologo is among 69 municipalities whose Local Government Equitable Share allocations have been partially withheld by National Treasury because of persistent financial non-compliance. Treasury’s decision follows concerns over the municipality’s failure to pay creditors within the prescribed 30-day period, repeated adoption of unfunded budgets and unresolved unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
The municipality has been instructed to demonstrate credible financial recovery measures, including payment arrangements with creditors and plans to improve financial management before withheld funds can be released.
Financial governance has also come under the spotlight through proposed amendments to the municipality’s Unauthorised, Irregular, Fruitless and Wasteful Expenditure (UIF&W) Policy. The DA says the current policy does not adequately define the oversight responsibilities of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), which plays a key role in investigating financial misconduct and ensuring accountability.
Financial governance under the spotlight
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According to Cllr. Hismajesty Maqhubu, DA Councillor Tokologo Local Municipality, strengthening MPAC’s role would improve transparency, ensure greater scrutiny of financial irregularities and help reduce the risk of repeat adverse audit findings. It also notes that Tokologo has previously been identified by the Auditor-General of South Africa as one of the municipalities that failed to spend critical infrastructure grants over two consecutive financial years.
The combination of unresolved land invasions, financial challenges and concerns over governance has placed renewed attention on the municipality’s ability to fulfil its constitutional obligations and restore public confidence.
While the DA has pledged to continue monitoring the municipality’s compliance with court orders and National Treasury directives, residents will be looking for tangible improvements in governance, financial stability and service delivery in the months ahead.
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