The Matjhabeng Local Municipality appears to operate on autopilot

Pogisho Mholo, Matjhabeng:

I write in my personal capacity as an ordinary resident of Matjhabeng and not in any official capacity as a member of the DA. These views do not represent the position of the DA Matjhabeng caucus, as I am neither a public representative nor an official spokesperson of the DA in Matjhabeng.

The Matjhabeng Local Municipality appears to operate on autopilot, with council failing to exercise effective oversight over municipal affairs.

Critical decisions with serious financial implications increasingly appear driven by the executive mayor, municipal manager and a subdued mayoral committee (Mayco), rather than through transparent and robust council processes as required by local government legislation.

This concentration of decision-making power within a small executive collective raises serious concerns about accountability, oversight and governance.

Residents frequently raise matters relating to the renovation of the Ferdi Meyer Hall, procurement of sewer jet trucks, Phakisa Raceway contract delays and the lease agreement involving land earmarked for the proposed cargo airport project.

The Auditor-General of South Africa’s (AGSA) report for Matjhabeng for the financial period ending 30 June 2025 reveals continued weaknesses in financial governance, asset management, internal controls and accountability.

Weak asset management systems and unreliable asset registers raise concerns about missing, unverified and poorly safeguarded municipal assets.

Questions remain about the location and custody of the previously displayed fleet, tractors and trucks. Large amounts were spent without corresponding improvements in service delivery. Residents continue facing sewer spillages, infrastructure collapse and poor maintenance despite significant expenditure.

Key service delivery indicators were not achieved:

■ Ndaki Road and stormwater drainage construction between Lois Street in Thandanani and Tosa TVET College.

■ Stormwater lined channel cleaning in

Matjhabeng East.

■ Substation provision and installation.

■ The AG found weak revenue collection systems, poor record-keeping, inadequate contract management, and repeated non-compliance with financial regulations.

Officials responsible for irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure were not properly held accountable.

The municipality failed to ensure effective, efficient and economical use of resources before appointing consultants. Concerns were raised about consultants such as Ntiyiso Consulting and whether the municipality received value for money.

Most alarming was approximately R239 million in fruitless and wasteful expenditure, mainly due to interest on overdue accounts, not including billions owed to third parties.

Section 160(2) of the Constitution requires municipal councils to exercise oversight over financial and executive decisions. Council cannot surrender its constitutional responsibilities.

Section 32 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) requires that irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure be investigated and liable officials or political office bearers held accountable. No public monies should be written off without proper investigations.

Section 173 of the MFMA makes it an offence for any political office bearer or councillor to deliberately or negligently undermine municipal financial management legislation.

Section 176 of the MFMA provides that officials and political office bearers may be held personally liable for losses or damages suffered by a municipality as a result of unlawful or negligent conduct.

Councillors who knowingly support unlawful or irregular decisions must understand that voting blindly in favour of unlawful items may carry serious legal consequences.

No councillor, regardless of political affiliation, was elected to protect individuals. They were elected by residents to protect public funds and serve communities.

The continued failure by council to hold the executive mayor accountable enables a culture of impunity while residents suffer deteriorating services.

The continued failure by council to hold the executive mayor accountable enables a culture of impunity while residents suffer deteriorating services.

I urge the DA in Matjhabeng to consider holding a media conference to question Councillor Thanduxolo Khalipha, whose name appears in the Madlanga Commission proceedings without clarity. The DA should urgently consider tabling a Motion of No Confidence against Councillor Khalipha to restore accountability, transparency, and proper oversight in Matjhabeng.

No municipality can survive when accountability collapses.