The select committee has further observed service delivery in financial management challenges related to sanitation, water litigations, irregular payments, outstanding creditors' debts and nonpayment of pension funds. During oversight, the committee observed that there is no progress made with regards to the intervention, notwithstanding the date of invocation of intervention. The root cause of this sheer lack of progress is the reluctance and failure to appreciate the purpose and objective of
section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution which focuses on ensuring that a required turnaround in the municipality is instituted. This entails hands- on support and assistance to the municipality on all the terms of reference coined from the series of challenges affecting the functionality of the municipality.
Having conducted the oversight visit to the Mahikeng local Municipality and interacted with the internal and external stakeholders, the Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs recommends the following: the NCOP approves the intervention in Mahikeng Local Municipality in terms of section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution; administratorship fast-track the process of implementing the municipal turnaround plan in accordance with the terms of reference assigned by the North West member of the executive council, MEC, for Cogta; the administrator should provide progress report on the implications of the nonpayment of pension funds, criminal steps and unaccounted funds of the municipal plan to pay Eskom debt; filling of critical vacant positions; recovery plan and service delivery plan; the North West MEC for Cogta should conduct forensic investigation on supply chain management in the municipality and table the report to the National Council of Provinces; and the North West MEC for Cogta should table quarterly
progress report on the NCOP of the status of intervention in the municipality including challenges encountered.
The Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in co-operation with the relevant portfolio committee in the North West Provincial Legislature should in future conduct a follow- up oversight visit to the municipality in order to evaluate the progress made in respect of the intervention in the municipality.
Chairperson, I table this Report in the House.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
In favour: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.