The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa to investigate 10 municipal managers for maladministration. The party claims these municipal managers are from the worst-performing municipalities in South Africa. According to the DA, one of the municipal managers had previously sued the party after it laid a criminal complaint against him with the police for maladministration, but lost the case.
The DA's Parliamentary Leader, George Michalakis, stated that the party had referred the 10 municipal managers to Hlabisa under Section 106(4)(5) of the Municipal Systems Amendment Act. This act empowers the CoGTA minister to request MECs to investigate maladministration within 90 days. If the MECs fail to do so, the minister's office may commence investigations itself. Michalakis emphasized that it was time for Hlabisa to act and send a clear message to the country's poorly run municipalities.
Michalakis mentioned that one of the 10 municipal managers, Advocate Dillo Sereo from Kannaland, had taken the DA to court for defamation but lost. Sereo had sought to fight a political battle in his personal capacity but lost an urgent bid in court. The DA had also sent certificates of debt to some of the other municipal managers over incomplete contractor work. This move is part of the DA's efforts to hold municipal managers accountable for their performance.
The DA's decision to refer the 10 municipal managers for investigation comes as part of its efforts to address maladministration in South Africa's municipalities. The party has been vocal about its concerns regarding the performance of some municipalities, particularly those that have been identified as poorly run. By calling on Hlabisa to intervene, the DA aims to ensure that these municipal managers are held accountable for their actions.
Minister Hlabisa's office has not yet commented on the DA's request for investigations. However, according to the Municipal Systems Amendment Act, the minister has the authority to request MECs to investigate maladministration within a specified timeframe. If the MECs fail to do so, the minister's office may take over the investigations. This process is expected to be completed within 90 days.
The DA's move has been welcomed by some as a step towards addressing the issue of maladministration in South Africa's municipalities. However, others have expressed concerns that the investigations may be used as a political tool to target specific municipalities or individuals. The outcome of the investigations and any subsequent actions taken by Hlabisa's office will be closely watched by various stakeholders.
The issue of maladministration in municipalities is a significant concern in South Africa, with many municipalities facing challenges in delivering services to their communities. The DA's call for investigations into the 10 municipal managers is part of a broader effort to address these challenges and ensure that municipalities are held accountable for their performance. The investigations are expected to shed light on the extent of maladministration in these municipalities and inform measures to prevent similar cases in the future.
Key points
- The DA has referred 10 municipal managers to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa for maladministration investigations.
