Newsletter| Last year, Zweli Mkhize announced that only 7% of municipalities in SA were fully functional. We need to start asking tough questions about the state of our municipalities if we want to take the country forward, writes Godfrey Gulston
South Africans need to start asking tough questions about the state of our municipalities because sound financial management practices are not only essential to the long-term sustainability of municipalities, but also to the process of democratic accountability.7% of municipalitiesOf the remaining 93%, only 31% are “reasonably functional”, with 31% “almost dysfunctional” and another 31% “completely dysfunctional”.
This separation of political and management roles is critical for good governance, yet it is exactly where many of the problems start. The Municipal Systems Act clearly guides municipal responsibility and prescribes cooperation, assistance and mutual support between district municipalities and the municipalities within their areas.Municipal incompetence compromises the people, especially the poor
Should problems be detected, the MFMA clearly outlines the responsibilities of the local government and finance MECs, even listing the types of provincial interventions the MEC for local government may undertake in such a case.
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